Dayrecipe Food Community

DIRECTIONS

Bring an 8-quart kettle three fourths full with water to a boil for lobsters.

Mince garlic and in a bowl stir together with fish sauce, lime juice, brown sugar, water, and chili paste. Dipping sauce may be made up to this point 1 day ahead and chilled, covered.

Plunge 2 lobsters headfirst into boiling water and cook 3 minutes (lobsters will be only partially cooked). Transfer lobsters with tongs to a colander to drain and cool. Return water to a boil and cook remaining 4 lobsters in same manner.

When lobsters are cool enough to handle, twist off tails and break off claws at body of each lobster, discarding bodies. With kitchen shears halve tails (including shells) lengthwise. (Do not remove tail or claw meat from shells.) Lobsters may be prepared up to this point 1 day ahead and chilled, covered. (If making ahead, chill lobster immediately and keep chilled until ready to grill.)

Prepare grill.

Chop cilantro and mint and stir into dipping sauce. Measure out 1/4 cup dipping sauce to use for basting lobster tails. Grill claws on a rack set 5 to 6 inches over glowing coals, covered, turning them occasionally, until liquid bubbles at open ends, about 5 minutes, and transfer to a serving platter.

Arrange tails on grill, cut sides up, and brush with basting sauce. Grill tails, covered, basting occasionally, 6 minutes, or until meat is opaque.Serve lobster with dipping sauce and lime halves.

DIRECTIONS

Peel jícama and cut enough into 1/4-inch dice to measure 1/2 cup. In a food processor pulse dates to a paste and transfer to a bowl. Stir diced jícama, lime juice, scallion, and mint into dates and season with salt. Date mixture may be made 1 day ahead and chilled, covered.

Cut remaining jícama into 1/4-inch-thick slices and cut each slice into as many 1 1/2-inch triangles as possible. Jícama triangles may be made 1 day ahead, wrapped in damp paper towels, and chilled in a sealable plastic bag.

Top jícama triangles with some date mixture and garnish with small mint leaves.

DIRECTIONS

Trim asparagus and have ready a large bowl of ice and cold water. In a large saucepan of boiling salted water cook asparagus until just tender, 3 to 4 minutes, and with tongs transfer to ice water to stop cooking. Drain asparagus well in a colander and pat dry.

Gently toss asparagus with vinaigrette and salt and pepper to taste.

DIRECTIONS

Pat chicken dry and season with salt and pepper. In a 12-inch nonstick skillet heat oil over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking and sauté chicken, skin or skinned sides down, 3 minutes, or until golden. Turn chicken over and sauté 1 minute more. Reduce heat to moderately low and cook chicken, covered, until just cooked through, about 10 minutes. Coarsely chop capers and in a large bowl toss chicken with any juices from skillet, capers, and vinaigrette. Serve chicken warm or at room temperature.