Making homemade lobster stock is relatively easy. If you don’t steam a lot of lobsters at home or have access to lobster shells in your area—or making seafood or fish stocks simply isn’t your thing—you can buy good-quality prepared fish/seafood stocks from your local fishmonger or online (see Sources).

　　

Ingredients

Makes about 2 1/2 quarts

　　2 tablespoons canola oil

　　3 pounds lobster shells (from 4 2-pound lobsters), coarsely chopped

　　1/2 cup brandy

　　1/2 cup dry sherry

　　1 tablespoon tomato paste

　　2 plum tomatoes, chopped

　　1 medium Spanish onion, chopped

　　2 medium stalks celery, chopped

　　12 sprigs fresh flat-leaf parsley

　　6 sprigs fresh thyme

　　1 bay leaf

　　12 black peppercorns

　　

Step 1

Heat the oil in a large stockpot over high heat until it begins to smoke. Add the lobster shells and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes. Add the brandy and sherry and boil until completely evaporated. Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 30 seconds.

　　

Step 2

Add the tomatoes, onion, celery, parsley, thyme, bay leaf, peppercorns, and 3 quarts cold water. Bring to a boil over high heat, reduce the heat to medium-low, and simmer, skimming the surface occasionally, for 45 minutes.

　　

Step 3

Strain the stock though a strainer lined with cheesecloth into a large bowl, pressing on the solids to extract as much liquid as possible; discard the solids. Let the stock come to room temperature; then cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

　　Reprinted with permission from Bobby Flay's Bar Americain Cookbook by Bobby Flay with Stephanie Banyas and Sally Jackson, (C) 2011 Clarkson PotterBOBBY FLAY, a New York Times bestselling author, is the chef-owner of six fine dining restaurants, including Mesa Grill, Bar Americain, and Bobby Flay Steak, and an expanding roster of Bobby's Burger Palaces. He is the host of numerous popular cooking shows on Food Network, from the Emmy-winning Boy Meets Grill and Grill It! with Bobby Flay, to the Iron Chef America series, Throwdown! with Bobby Flay, and Food Network Star. Brunch @ Bobby's debuted on the Cooking Channel in fall 2010 and America's Next Great Restaurant debuted in March 2011 on NBC. This is his eleventh book. His website is BobbyFlay.com.