Maine Lobster and Corn Chowder

3.1

(39)

By

Martha Stewart Editors

Updated on May 16, 2017

Servings:

8

Few things are as delicious as succulent chunks of Maine lobster vying for space in a buttery broth brimming with tender sweet corn, summer squashes, and slivered basil.

Ingredients

8 cups water
2 lobsters (1 ½ pounds each)
1 ½ ounces (3 tablespoons) unsalted butter
1 large leek, halved lengthwise and rinsed well, ½ coarsely chopped and ½ thinly sliced crosswise
3 cups fresh corn kernels (from 3 ears), cobs reserved and halved crosswise
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 small zucchini, cut into ¼-inch dice
1 small summer squash, halved lengthwise and sliced crosswise into ¼-inch slices
Coarse salt
1 cup fresh basil leaves, thinly sliced, for garnish

Directions

Bring water to a boil in a 12-quart stockpot. Add lobsters, cover, and cook 13 to 15 minutes. Set a colander in a large bowl. Working over colander, snip the tip of each lobster claw to release juices into bowl. Separate lobster meat from shells, and cut into bite-size pieces. Reserve meat and shells separately. Strain cooking liquid through a fine sieve lined with cheesecloth into bowl with lobster juices.
Using the same stockpot, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium-high heat. Add chopped leek, corncobs, and reserved lobster shells. Cook, stirring, for 4 minutes. Add reserved lobster liquid, and simmer gently for 20 minutes. Strain through a cheesecloth-lined sieve. Discard solids.
Puree 1 cup lobster broth with 1 cup corn kernels. Melt remaining 1 tablespoon butter in a large pot over low heat. Add sliced leek, and cook for 2 minutes. Sprinkle in flour, and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Stir in pureed corn mixture, and cook, stirring often, until broth thickens, about 2 minutes. Add remaining lobster broth, raise heat, and simmer. Add zucchini, summer squash, and remaining 2 cups corn, and cook until squashes are tender, about 2 minutes.
Stir in reserved lobster meat, and heat until warmed through, about 1 minute. Season with salt, and garnish with basil. Serve immediately.

Cook's Notes

Feel free to substitute three pounds of shell-on shrimp for the lobsters. Cook shrimp in step 1 until pink and cooked through, three to five minutes. Remove and reserve the shells, and continue with step 2.