Baked Lobster Tails

This Kiribati speciality's name - Baked Lobster Tails expresses it all: lobster tails are roasted in the oven with seasoning and served with a coconut curry dipping sauce on the side. The creamy sauce is made with coconut milk, curry powder, turmeric, ginger, and salt, while the lobster tails are normally only drizzled with oil and baked. The dish is often served as an appetizer and is frequently accompanied by rice.

Ingredients:

8 oz lobster tail (225 g or 2 tails), 3 tablespoons butter, melted; 1 teaspoon salt; 1 teaspoon black pepper; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 teaspoon paprika; 1 teaspoon fresh parsley, chopped; 1 teaspoon lemon juice; 2 wedges of lemon, to serve; broccoli, cooked, to serve.

Instruction:

1. Using a clean pair of scissors or kitchen shears, cut along the middle of the top of the shell towards the fins of the tail, making sure to cut in a straight line. Do not cut through the end of the tail.
2. Using a spoon, separate the meat from the two sides of the shell, then lift the meat up and out from inside the shell.
3. Press the two sides of the shell together, then lay the meat over the seam where the two shells meet.
4. If you are having difficulty opening the shell up to lift out the meat, flip the tail over and make cuts along the carapace where the legs meet the bottom part tail. This will help break the rigid structure of the shell and allow it to be more flexible.
5. While cutting through the shell, you may have also cut into the meat, which is perfectly okay. Make a shallow cut through the middle of the lobster meat so that you can peel down the thin layer of meat over the sides. This gives the lobster tail its signature look.
6. Preheat the oven to 450°F (230°C).
7. In a small bowl, combine the butter, salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, lemon juice, and parsley, then brush the mixture evenly over the lobster meat.
8. Place the tails onto a baking sheet, then bake for approximately 12-15 minutes, until the lobster is fully cooked but not rubbery.
9. Serve with a side of broccoli and a lemon wedge. Enjoy!