An elegant French stew with sweet, tender lobster, grilled fennel, red and yellow bell pepper, shallots, dry white wine, cream, tomatoes, parsley and saffron.

Maine Lobster Ragout with Grilled Fennel

16-ounces cooked Maine lobster meat
1 fennel bulb
1 red bell pepper
1 yellow bell pepper
Olive oil to coat the vegetables
2 tablespoons minced shallots
1/2 cup dry white wine
1 cup Maine lobster stock or clam juice
Pinch saffron
1/4 cup whipping cream
1 (19-ounce) can chopped plum tomatoes
1 bay leaf
Sea salt and freshly ground pepper
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley

1. Cut the lobster meat into bite-sized pieces and set aside in the refrigerator.
2. Cut the fennel bulb into quarters, brush with olive oil and grill over a medium-hot flame until fork tender. (Fennel may also be roasted in a 450°F (230°C) oven for about 10 minutes.)
3. Brush the peppers with olive oil and roast in a 450°F (230°C) oven until the skin blisters. Place the peppers in a paper bag and let cool, about 15 minutes.
4. Under running cool water, remove the skins and discard the seeds and the stems. Strain and reserve the liquid.
5. Cut the peppers and the fennel into julienne strips.
6. In a large saucepan, sauté the shallots in 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add the white wine and cook until reduced by half.
7. Add the lobster stock, saffron and cream. Add the tomatoes and the bay leaf and simmer gently for about 5 minutes. Season to taste with sea salt and freshly ground pepper. Remove the bay leaf.
8. Add the fennel, lobster meat and peppers and reserved juice and gently heat through. Use caution not to boil the mixture, as the lobster will become tough.
9. Ladle the Maine Lobster Ragout into four bowls, garnish with freshly chopped parsley and serve with some crusty bread.

Makes 4 servings.

Nutritional analysis per serving: 286 calories, 28 grams protein, 16 grams carbohydrates, 11 grams fat, 848 mg. sodium, 4 grams fiber.

Recipe provided courtesy of Maine Lobster Promotion Council.