#African Dish: Langouste  à la Vanille, the national dish of Comoros

 Langouste  à la Vanille( Lobster a la vanilla) is the national dish of Comoros Islands. It is made with fresh South African lobster that is caught regularly in the Comorian waters and newly harvested vanilla beans which is a major agricultural crop. Other ingredients include butter, olive oil, shallots, white wine, vinegar, vidalia onions, clover sprouts, and spinach.

Ingredients

• 2 1 1/4 lb. live lobsters
• 2 tbsp. olive oil
• 2 tbsp. unsalted butter
• 3 shallots, minced
• ¹⁄₄ cup white wine
• 2 vanilla beans, split and seeds scraped
• ¹⁄₂ cup heavy cream
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions for Preparing Langouste a la Vanille

1. Prepare the lobsters for cooking by piercing between the eyes with a sharp knife. This will sever the spinal cord.
2. Use a hammer or cleaver to crack the claws.
3. Preheat a large roasting pan in the oven at 450 degrees and place the lobsters in it. Drizzle with olive oil and roast for fifteen minutes until they become red.
4. Remove the pan from the oven and set aside to cool.
5. Melt two teaspoons of unsalted butter in a saucepan.
6. Sauté the shallots in the butter for about three minutes until soft.
7. Pour in the wine and vinegar.
8. Cook on medium high heat for about five minutes
9. Turn off the stove when the liquid has been reduced to about a tablespoon.
10. Stir in six tablespoons of butter, one at a time
11. Prod the seeds out of the halved vanilla bean and add to the sauce
12. Strain the sauce into a clean saucepan, and discard the diced shallots
13. Season the sauce with a sprinkle of salt and black pepper. Set aside.
14. Remove the meat from the lobster claws.
15. Detach the heads and tails.
16. Slice the tails lengthwise in half and Remove the meat.
17. Chop the meat into ¼ inch chunks and place the meat chunks into a container and cover with aluminum foil to keep warm
18. Melt a tablespoon of butter in a pan and sauté the spinach and onions. Cook until the spinach is tender.
19. Season with salt and pepper
20. Arrange the greens onto the serving dish, and then place the warm lobster on top of it.
21. Reheat the sauce and pour it over the lobster.
22. Garnish with tender clover sprouts and serve.