Christmas Eve Delight

Every Christmas Eve, my family hosts a party for all the relatives. My mother usually makes a Lobster Risotto. This dish is gone in minutes when it is put out for everyone to eat. It takes time to make but it is all worth it once you taste your first bite. The ingredients are:

1 tablespoon of salt (add more as you prefer)

2(1 1/2 lbs) whole live lobsters

2 1/2 quarts of water, plus more if needed

freshly ground pepper

1 medium leek, washed and chopped, and white and light green parts only

1/4 cup of olive oil

1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped

2 cups of Arborio or Carnaroli rice

1 cup of dry white wine

1/4 cup of finely grated Parmesan cheese, add more if preferred

1/3 minced fresh chives

finely grated zest from a medium lemon

1 tablespoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice, add more if needed

The steps to making this dish are as followed:

1. Fill a large pot with a tight fitting lid with 1 inch of water and stir in the salt. Add a steamer rack to the pot. (If you do not have a rack, lightly bunch a long piece of foil so that it looks like a rope. Then make a figure eight out of the foil and place it in the pot.)
2. Bring the water to a boil over high heat. Add the lobsters, head first, to the pot, cover, and return the water to a full boil. Reduce the heat and cook at a gentle boil until the lobsters are bright red, about 14 minutes from the time they go into the pot. Check their doneness by pulling out an antenna: If it comes out with no resistance, then it is done. Remove the lobsters to a rimmed baking sheet and let them sit till cool enough to handle. Wash out the large pot.
3. Using your hands, twist and separate the tail from the body. Then twist and remove both of the claws where they meet the body; set the claws aside. Reserve the head and torso.
4. Starting with the tail, remove the small, wispy flippers on the underside of the shell. Using a fork, slowly twist and pull the tail meat out of the shell in one piece. Rinse any debris off the tail meat and set it aside on a cutting board. Reserve the shell of the tail.
5. Twist the claws and separate them from the legs; set aside the legs. Gently wiggle and pull the small part of the pincer off each off claw. Using a seafood cracker, gently crack the claws, remove the meat, and set it aside on the cutting board. Crack the legs, remove the meat, and set it aside on the cutting board. Reserve the shells from the claws and the legs. Repeat with second lobster.
6. Check the meat for any cartilage or shell and discard it. Chop the meat into 1/2-inch pieces, place in a medium bowl, and place in the refrigerator until needed. (You should have about 2 cups.)
7. Rinse the reserved lobster shells, including the heads, of any residue. Place all the shells back in the large pot and add the 2 1/2 quarts of water, peppercorns, bay leaf, and leek. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to medium low and simmer for 1 hour. Discard the large shells and strain the lobster broth through a fine-mesh strainer set over a medium saucepan. Set the strained broth over low heat and keep it at a bare simmer.
8. In a large wide pot or Dutch oven, heat the measured oil over medium heat until shimmering. Add the onion and a large pinch each of salt and pepper and cook, stirring often, until the onion is translucent, about 5 minutes.
9. Add the rice and cook, stirring, until the kernels start to crackle, about 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in the wine and let simmer, stirring often, until all of the liquid has been absorbed, about 2 to 4 minutes. Pour a ladleful of the simmering lobster broth over the rice. Let simmer, stirring constantly, until the rice absorbs the liquid. Continue adding the broth, stirring and letting it absorb, until the rice is al dente, about 20 to 30 minutes (you may not use up all of the broth). Taste as you go for doneness, seasoning with salt and pepper as needed.
10. When the rice is done, remove from heat and stir in the reserved lobster meat, Parmesan, chives, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Taste and season with more salt, pepper, Parmesan, and lemon juice as needed. Just before serving, loosen the risotto to the desired consistency with a little more broth or hot water and serve immediately. Drizzle each serving with olive oil.