Lobster tails are one of the best seafood you can have for any special occasion, may it be for birthdays or any festivities. And this Homemade Broiled Lobster Tails recipe is incredibly easy to follow and makes the most buttery, juicy and tender Lobster Tails.
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It's amazingly easy to butterfly and broil Lobster Tails that look and taste incredible. Clean up after broiling is a breeze too as they need minimum kitchen pans/utensils. A quick video below will show you the exact process of how to butterfly Lobster Tails and broil them in your oven to perfection each time, along with some tips and tricks.
Quick, easy to follow video with step-by-step instructions of how to Broil Lobster Tails:
Why eat Lobsters?
Cooking Lobster Tails in oven isn’t just super easy and quick, but these delicate Lobster tails taste delicious too. Apart from that, Lobsters are really good for you as they have high nutritional value. Rich in proteins, omega-3 fatty acids and all essential amino acids, Lobsters are packed with vitamins and minerals. They have minimal fat and are low in calories too.
How to Butterfly Lobster Tail?
Butterflying Lobster Tail might seem complex by the looks of it, but it’s not that hard really. All you need is to be slightly gentle and have a bit of patience.
Flipping the Lobster Tail over and cracking the ribs from bottom is important or else you will have a hard time separating the meat from the shell. Next important point to remember is NOT to cut the tail fan when cutting the shell from top.
Finally, before trying to separate the meat from top, first separate it from bottom of the Lobster Tail by wiggling your finger in between the meat and the shell. After meat from bottom is separated, gently separate the meat on both sides, but remember to leave the meat at the base of tail connected.
That’s it, then you just need to squeeze the shell together, place meat on top, discard any dark veins and spread (butterfly) the meat out. Check out a quick video above to understand how to butterfly Lobster Tails more clearly.
Although it might sound and look complex in the video, it is really quite easy and once you have tried and had a go at it once or twice, it will keep getting easier.
But spending some extra time and putting some extra effort into Butterflying Lobster Tails will definitely pay off as they look incredible after broiling and are perfect to serve to your special guests.
Just mix a few ingredients up
Making this broiled Lobster Tails recipe is as easy as 1-2-3. All you need to do after butterflying Lobster Tails is just mix a few ingredients up, apply to the meat and broil, that’s it!
You only need a few simple ingredients for this butterflied Lobster Tails recipe which should already be available in your kitchen.
I like to use unsalted butter and add salt separately so that salt in the recipe can be adjusted to taste.
If you want to make this recipe spicier or if you don’t have or don’t like paprika powder, you can substitute it with red chilli powder and add it as per your taste.
I have used garlic powder in this recipe as using it distributes garlic flavour evenly all over Lobster Tails meat. You can use garlic paste if you don’t have garlic powder, but avoid using chopped garlic as it might burn while broiling/grilling before the Lobster meat gets fully cooked.
You can always adjust the ingredients to your taste to make these grilled Lobster Tails more or less spicy, salty and sour.
Be generous while applying the mixture to the Lobster meat and remember to coat mixture everywhere including the sides and bottom of the meat.
Broiling Lobster Tails to Perfection
Preheat the broiler/grill at 465°F/240°C and then place the butterflied Lobster Tails in. Always place them on middle rack of the oven as placing too close to broiler/grill will burn them as the surface of the meat will get cooked much before the inside of the meat gets a chance to cook.
As the size of the Lobster Tails vary, cooking time will vary as well. After cooking, the Lobster meat will turn from translucent to opaque and its internal temperature will reach 140°F/60°C.
Lobster meat is delicate and gets cooked really quickly. Keep an eye on butterflied Lobster Tails when they are in the oven and avoid overcooking them. Overcooked Lobster meat will feel tough and gummy and won’t be as pleasant to eat as it should be.
As cooking Lobster Tails doesn’t take that long, the best time to cook them is after your guests arrive, just before serving. Lobster Tails will taste the best as soon as they are out of the oven.
Drizzle some more melted butter on top if you like and serve these Grilled Lobster Tails with some lemon wedges, roasted asparagus and roasted broccoli on the side and enjoy!
If you want to try something different check out OvalShelf’s Tandoori Salmon recipe.
Check out the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), Recipe Card and Step-by-Step Instructions with Photos below.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Broiled Lobster Tails:
• Where to buy Lobster tails from?
You can buy Lobster tails from any supermarket, grocery store or your local seafood store. If you want really fresh Lobster tails, it will be best to visit seafood market.
But keep in mind that at many places Lobsters are available seasonally. At some places Lobsters might be available throughout the year, but prices will vary widely and they will be cheaper during season.
So, if you have searched everywhere but still can’t find Lobster tails, they are probably not in season currently where you live and will be available when they are in season.
• Can I use frozen Lobster tails?
Yes, you can but you will first have to thaw Lobster Tails completely. For thawing frozen Lobster Tails, keep them in refrigerator for 24 hours before cooking. Always check Lobster Tails before cooking to see that they have thawed completely. Larger Lobster Tails might need longer time to thaw.
If you are short of time and can’t wait for 24 hours, you can place them in sealed plastic bag and start defrosting Lobster Tails in a large bowl full of cold water. For thawing Lobster Tails, water should be cool to touch, not warm or hot and Lobster Tails should be fully submerged in water. Keep changing water every 20-30 mins till Lobster Tails have fully thawed.
Never refreeze thawed Lobster Tails.
• Can I broil Lobster Tails in advance, before serving?
It’s best to eat baked Lobster Tails as soon as they are out of the oven. If you grill Lobster Tails in advance, they won’t really taste the same.
If you are busy and short of time, you can always separate the meat from shell, butterfly Lobster Tails and keep them covered in the refrigerator in advance. Preparing and applying the mixture and broiling doesn’t take much time really, which you can do just before serving.
• How will I know if Lobster Tails are cooked?
As Lobster Tails are of different sizes, their cooking time varies as well. When Lobster Tail gets cooked, its meat converts from translucent to opaque. But the best way to know if your Lobster Tail is cooked is to check the internal temperature of the meat. When Lobster Tail cooks, its internal temperature reaches 140°F/60°C
• How to re-heat Broiled Lobster Tails?
When cooking Lobster Tails at home, it’s always best to cook only as many as needed as Garlic Butter Lobster Tails taste best when freshly cooked. Stored and reheated Lobster Tails don’t really taste the same. But sometimes it does happen that some are left over, especially when you are serving guests.
So, to reheat any left-over Lobster Tails in oven, add some butter on each Lobster Tail and wrap each one separately in aluminium foil. Place these garlic Lobster Tails in a pre-heated oven at 180°C/350°F for 5-10 mins or until warm. Serve immediately.
• How to cook Lobster Tails in Air Fryer?
Butterfly Lobster Tails and apply the mixture to the meat as mentioned in the recipe. Pre-heat the Air Fryer to 200°C/390°F. Then place the Lobster Tails in the air fryer basket and air fry Lobster Tails for around 5-7 mins and until meat turns opaque and its internal temperature reaches 140°F/60°C.
Check out the Recipe Card and Step-by-Step Instructions with Photos below.
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Step-by-step instructions with photos for Easy Broiled Lobster Tails:
• Flip the Lobster Tail over and crack the ribs from centre.
• With kitchen scissors/shears carefully cut top of the Lobster shell up to the base of the tail. Do not cut the tail fan.
• Slightly spread shell halves apart.
• Gently wiggle a finger to separate meat and shell from the bottom.
• Gently pry away the shell from the meat on both sides but leave the meat at the base of the tail connected. Take care - Do not break the shell.
• Once the meat is well separated lift it up.
• Squeeze the shell together and place the meat on top.
• Butterfly the meat out and discard any dark veins. Follow the same process for second lobster tail.
• Mix melted unsalted butter, paprika powder, salt, garlic powder, lemon juice and black pepper powder in a bowl.
• Generously apply this mixture to the top, bottom and sides of the meat.
• Preheat Broiler/Grill at 465°F/240°C. Place the Lobster Tails in a baking pan.
• Broil/Grill at 465°F/240°C for 6-7mins. Time can vary depending on size of lobster tail. Broil/Grill till internal temperature of the meat reaches 140°F/60°C or till meat turns opaque.
• Delicious Lobster Tails are ready. Serve immediately.
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