Corn, Tomato, and Lobster Salad

A luxurious summer salad featuring sweet lobster meat, fresh corn kernels, and colorful heirloom tomatoes, dressed in a bright citrus vinaigrette and served on crisp Bibb lettuce leaves.

4 servings

1 hr 18 min

Published October 4, 2025

Ingredients

•2 cups roughly chopped ripe tomatoes
•2 cups dry white wine
•½ cup water
•1 cup thinly sliced onions
•3 whole black peppercorns
•2 sprigs fresh tarragon
•1 whole lobster
•2 tablespoons minced shallot or red onions
•2 tablespoons champagne vinegar or white wine vinegar
•2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
•½ teaspoon grated lemon zest
•⅓ cup extra-virgin olive oil
•½ teaspoon salt
•⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
•1¼ cups fresh corn kernels
•1 pint mixed tiny heirloom tomatoes
•2 tablespoons chopped fresh tarragon leaves
•1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley leaves
•8 leaves Bibb lettuce leaves
•1 to taste freshly ground black pepper

Cooking Instructions

1.
Fill a large bowl with ice and cold water, and set it aside.
2 min
2.
In a 4- to 6-quart Dutch oven, or other heavy-bottomed pot with a tight-fitting lid, combine the chopped tomatoes, wine, water, onions, peppercorns, and tarragon sprigs. Bring to a boil over high heat, uncovered; then reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes.
20 min
3.
Raise the heat to high, add the lobster to the pot, and cover the pot immediately with a heavy, tightfitting lid. Steam the lobster for 13 minutes, until it is bright red and the long feelers are easily removed from their sockets. Immediately plunge the lobster into the bowl of ice water, and let it cool for 5 minutes.
18 min
4.
Remove the lobster from the ice water and set it on a rimmed baking sheet. Using kitchen shears, remove the lobster meat from the tail and claws. Use a knife to chop the lobster meat into bite- size pieces. You should have about 1 cup; set it aside.
10 min
5.
In a medium non-reactive mixing bowl, combine the shallot, vinegar, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Whisk in the 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and the cayenne. Add the corn kernels and mix together. Set aside for 10 minutes.
15 min
6.
Cut the tiniest heirloom tomatoes in half, and quarter the larger ones. Add the tomatoes to the corn mixture. Add the lobster, tarragon, and parsley, and mix gently to combine.
8 min
7.
In a medium bowl, gently mix the Bibb lettuce leaves with the remaining 1/2 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil, and season them lightly with salt and black pepper. Stack 2 lettuce leaves on each of four plates. Divide the lobster salad evenly among the lettuce cups, and serve immediately.
5 min

Ingredients

•2 cups roughly chopped ripe tomatoes

•2 cups dry white wine

•½ cup water

•1 cup thinly sliced onions

•3 whole black peppercorns

•2 sprigs fresh tarragon

•1 whole lobster

•2 tablespoons minced shallot or red onions

•2 tablespoons champagne vinegar or white wine vinegar

•2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

•½ teaspoon grated lemon zest

•⅓ cup extra-virgin olive oil

•½ teaspoon salt

•⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper

•1¼ cups fresh corn kernels

•1 pint mixed tiny heirloom tomatoes

•2 tablespoons chopped fresh tarragon leaves

•1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley leaves

•8 leaves Bibb lettuce leaves

•1 to taste freshly ground black pepper

Cooking Instructions

Fill a large bowl with ice and cold water, and set it aside.

2 min

In a 4- to 6-quart Dutch oven, or other heavy-bottomed pot with a tight-fitting lid, combine the chopped tomatoes, wine, water, onions, peppercorns, and tarragon sprigs. Bring to a boil over high heat, uncovered; then reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes.

20 min

Raise the heat to high, add the lobster to the pot, and cover the pot immediately with a heavy, tightfitting lid. Steam the lobster for 13 minutes, until it is bright red and the long feelers are easily removed from their sockets. Immediately plunge the lobster into the bowl of ice water, and let it cool for 5 minutes.

18 min

Remove the lobster from the ice water and set it on a rimmed baking sheet. Using kitchen shears, remove the lobster meat from the tail and claws. Use a knife to chop the lobster meat into bite- size pieces. You should have about 1 cup; set it aside.

10 min

In a medium non-reactive mixing bowl, combine the shallot, vinegar, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Whisk in the 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and the cayenne. Add the corn kernels and mix together. Set aside for 10 minutes.

15 min

Cut the tiniest heirloom tomatoes in half, and quarter the larger ones. Add the tomatoes to the corn mixture. Add the lobster, tarragon, and parsley, and mix gently to combine.

8 min

In a medium bowl, gently mix the Bibb lettuce leaves with the remaining 1/2 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil, and season them lightly with salt and black pepper. Stack 2 lettuce leaves on each of four plates. Divide the lobster salad evenly among the lettuce cups, and serve immediately.

5 min