Grilled Crayfish (or Spiny Lobster) with Dressings

Name: Grilled Crayfish (or Spiny Lobster) with Dressings
Prep time: P0Y0M0DT0H25M0.000S
Cook time: P0Y0M0DT0H35M0.000S
Total time: P0Y0M0DT1H0M0.000S
Yield: 1 serving per crayfish
Cuisine: american
Ingredients: Crayfish or spiny lobster; Dressings, recipes follow, optional; 1 large ripe tomato; 1 small finger fresh root ginger, peeled; 1 large lemon, juiced; 1/2 cup virgin olive oil; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 3 1/2 ounces (100 grams) butter; 1 smallish red onion, peeled and finely diced; 1/2 red chile, medium heat, diced; 1 lime, juiced; 1 large handful cilantro (fresh coriander), roughly chopped; 1/2 teaspoon sea salt

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Total: 1 hr

Prep: 25 min
Cook: 35 min

Yield: 1 serving per crayfish

Total: 1 hr

Prep: 25 min
Cook: 35 min

Yield: 1 serving per crayfish

Ingredients

Crayfish or spiny lobster

Dressings, recipes follow, optional

Ginger and Tomato Dressing:

1 large ripe tomato

1 small finger fresh root ginger, peeled

1 large lemon, juiced

1/2 cup virgin olive oil

1/2 teaspoon salt

Red Onion, Chile, and Cilantro Butter:

3 1/2 ounces (100 grams) butter

1 smallish red onion, peeled and finely diced

1/2 red chile, medium heat, diced

1 lime, juiced

1 large handful cilantro (fresh coriander), roughly chopped

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

Directions

Regardless on the size of your crayfish, they are best cooked whole. This way the carapace acts like an oven itself, whereby the shell heats up and bakes the flesh inside.
However, if you are cooking a fairly large crayfish it's advisable to split it down the back with a sharp heavy knife. This will help it to cook quicker and make it more manageable to serve once it's cooked.
I love cooking it on a barbecue, but it can be cooked just as well at home under a domestic grill, if split in half. Cooking times will vary, but a whole crayfish of around 1 to 1 3/4 pounds will take about 15 to 20 minutes above a hot barbecue, turning it around to cook through evenly. If the crayfish is halved, it will take between 10 to 15 minutes. A large crayfish, around 2 pounds, will take 25 to 35 minutes and if split, about 15 minutes.
Serve grilled crayfish very simply with a little olive oil and lemon juice, or melted butter. However, the following dressings add a little oomph to this delicious meat.

Ginger and Tomato Dressing:

Yield: scant 1 cup

Place all of the above in a blender and puree to a thick dressing. Taste for seasoning, then let rest for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Red Onion, Chile, and Cilantro Butter:

Yield: 1/4 cup sauce

Heat the butter in a small pan, when it?s bubbling add the onion and chile and cook over a moderate heat until the onion just begins to soften, about 2 minutes. Take it off the heat, stir in the juice, cilantro, and salt. Serve immediately.