Baked Lobsters

Baked lobster consists of lobster and coral, mushrooms, bechamel and cream reinserted into the shells before baking.

Place a live lobster in boiling fish broth; when it is cooked, drain and split it in half lengthwise, pick the meat out of the tail and claws, cut it in small pieces, and mix in an equal quantity of mushrooms, also cut in dice. Place the coral of the lobster in a mortar with a little butter, pound, and pass it through a fine hair sieve. Put a few tablespoonfuls of bechamel sauce in a stewpan with a little cream and melted glaze, stir over the fire until it is well reduced, then mix with it the pieces of lobster and mushrooms, sprinkle in a little cayenne, and add the pounded coral. Clean the two shells of the lobster, fill them with the preparation, sprinkle bread crumbs on the top, pour a little warmed butter over each, and brown in the oven. Place a folded napkin on a dish, lay the shells on it, and serve at once.