And today we have: imitation lobster, also known as poor man’s lobster. I don’t like calling it poor man’s lobster though, it makes it sound cheap, and you don’t have to be poor to enjoy this. And let’s be honest, sometimes eating lobster is too much work for the reward, you won’t have to fight through lobster claw or tail to get to every tasty morsel.
I’ve seen this made a couple different ways: with sugar and with a potato. I can’t for the life of me find a recipe that uses a potato anywhere on the internet though, I’m starting to think I imagined it. I decided to poll some of my fishing friends to see how they make imitation lobster, and I came up with another way- boiling the fish in 7-Up! Because I just can’t give up on my potato recollection, yet I didn’t want to commit to using a potato and then failing, I decided to try all three methods and do a little experiment. Here we go!
You need your basics: fish (I used cod, thick fillets of fish work best I think, and you can use any white meat fish, like halibut) and melted butter. Then your option of either 1) 1/4 cup sugar, 2) 1/2 a potato, or 3) enough 7-Up to boil the fish in.
Ok whatever, I couldn’t find 7-Up at my local convenience store on the way home, they had sprite or sierra mist. I went with Sierra Mist.
Option 1- the sugar:
Add the sugar to about a quart of water, bring to a boil. Add the fish and boil for about 10 minutes, depending on the size of your fillets, it should start to flake easily with a fork and break apart when it’s done.
Option 2- the potato:
Add the sliced potato to about a quart of water, bring to a boil. Add the fish and boil for about 10 minutes, depending on the size of your fillets, it should start to flake easily with a fork and break apart when it’s done.
Option 3- the Sierra Mist:
Add the Sierra Mist to a sauce pan, bring to a boil. Add the fish and boil for about 10 minutes, depending on the size of your fillets, it should start to flake easily with a fork and break apart when it’s done.
You can see the fillet starting to flake here.
Now, regardless of your option, remove the fish from the pan and serve immediately with freshly drawn butter (fancy way to write melted butter…). Does it taste like lobster?? I think so, it even kind of smells like lobster.
I like to eat this along side roasted asparagus and some cheddar biscuits (arguably the best thing on Red Lobster’s menu).
After sampling all three, I am pleased to report that option potato was my favorite. All three tasted like lobster, but option sugar and option Sierra Mist gave the fish a little sweet taste, which wasn’t bad, but I prefer the non-sweetened fish.
- 2 fillets of cod (or other white meat fish such as halibut), I think the thicker cut fillets work better
- 1 stick butter, melted
- ¼ cup sugar OR ½ potato OR 20 oz 7-Up or other lemon/lime soda
- Boil the fish in either: 1) water + ¼ cup sugar, 2) water+1/2 potato, or 3) lemon/lime soda, for about 10 minutes or until the fish begins to flake apart.
- Serve immediately, dip in drawn butter.
What kind of potato? Starchy Idaho, red russet,…?
Boiling for way to long. The fish should begin to float in the first 45 seconds, once that begins boil another 30. Take out of boiling water and let rest for 5 minutes.