Lobster Cantonese With Savory Sauce

Lobster Cantonese With Savory Sauce

The Spruce / Maxwell Cozzi

Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 8 mins
Total: 23 mins
Servings: 4 to 6 servings

Everyone knows that lobster tastes great served simply with some clarified butter and a splash of lemon. For a Chinese variation on the theme, pair your crustacean with a bit of pork and a melange of spices. Then, prepare your taste buds and your senses for the dizzying assault. This recipe is reprinted with permission from Madame Wong's Long-life Chinese Cookbook.

"Who needs a special occasion for lobster? Tuesday nights are just fine for a luxury protein. This recipe cooks up fast, which makes it completely worthy of a weeknight dinner. The nuanced flavors also bring some mid-week excitement. Have this with a side of steamed rice and bok choy for a well-rounded plate." —Renae Wilson

Chinese Cantonese Lobster Tester Image
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • 2 (1-pound) lobster tails

  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt

  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

  • 1 clove garlic, minced

  • 1 tablespoon salted black beans, also called fermented black beans, pounded and soaked in 1 tablespoon water

  • 2 to 4 cups oil, for deep-frying and stir-frying

  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped ginger

  • 1 scallion, finely chopped

  • 1/4 pound ground pork

  • 2 tablespoons sherry

  • 1 tablespoon light soy sauce

  • 1 cup chicken stock

  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch, dissolved in 2 tablespoons water

  • 2 scallions, cut into 1-inch pieces

  • 1 large egg, beaten

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Lobster Cantonese With Savory Sauce

    The Spruce / Maxwell Cozzi

  2. Cut each lobster tail in half. Wash thoroughly. Drain.

    Cut each lobster tail in half

    The Spruce / Maxwell Cozzi

  3. Cut tails into pieces 1 1/2 inches in length, leaving shells on.

    cut lobster tail into pieces

    The Spruce / Maxwell Cozzi

  4. Sprinkle 1/2 teaspoon of salt and the flour on the lobster.

    lobster with salt and flour in a bowl

    The Spruce / Maxwell Cozzi

  5. Mix garlic with black bean mixture in a bowl. Stir well.

    Mix garlic with black bean mixture in a bowl

    The Spruce / Maxwell Cozzi

  6. Heat oil to 375 F for deep-frying. Put in lobster pieces. Deep-fry until shells are red, about 30 to 40 seconds. The lobster is only par-cooked at this stage.

    lobster frying in a pot of oil

    The Spruce / Maxwell Cozzi

  7. Remove and drain on paper towels.

    fried lobster on a paper towel lined plate

    The Spruce / Maxwell Cozzi

  8. Reheat 1 tablespoon of the oil from deep-frying in a wok. Stir-fry the black bean mixture 30 seconds. Remove to a small bowl.

    black bean mixture cooking in a wok with oil

    The Spruce / Maxwell Cozzi

  9. Reheat 2 tablespoons of oil in the wok. Stir-fry the ginger and scallion until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add pork. Stir-fry on high heat until no longer pink.

    Stir-fry ginger and scallion with pork in a wok

    The Spruce / Maxwell Cozzi

  10. Add 1 tablespoon of sherry, soy sauce, black bean mixture, and stock. Bring to boil.

    Add 1 tablespoon of sherry, soy sauce, black bean mixture, and stock to the mixture in the wok

    The Spruce / Maxwell Cozzi

  11. Add lobster to meat mixture. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon sherry. Cover. Cook 3 minutes.

    add lobster to the sauce in the wok

    The Spruce / Maxwell Cozzi

  12. Remove lid. Add dissolved cornstarch to thicken the gravy. Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Add the large scallion pieces.

    add scallions to the lobster mixture in the wok

    The Spruce / Maxwell Cozzi

  13. Slowly pour in beaten egg. Stir-fry about 10 seconds. Remove from heat and serve immediately.

    Lobster Cantonese With Savory Sauce in a wok

    The Spruce / Maxwell Cozzi

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
372 Calories
31g Fat
8g Carbs
15g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 6
Amount per serving
Calories 372
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 31g 40%
Saturated Fat 4g 18%
Cholesterol 75mg 25%
Sodium 667mg 29%
Total Carbohydrate 8g 3%
Dietary Fiber 1g 2%
Total Sugars 1g
Protein 15g
Vitamin C 2mg 12%
Calcium 38mg 3%
Iron 1mg 7%
Potassium 252mg 5%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)