Wolfgang Puck's 2007 Oscar Recipes

Feb. 23, 2007 — -- For the 13th year in a row, Wolfgang Puck has created an Oscar-worthy menu for the hottest post-award show ticket in town: the academy's Governors Ball.

This year, there are two things that are different: For the first time ever, the Governors Ball menu is composed of completely locally grown, sustainable organic ingredients, second, some of the cooking is happening inside the ballroom.

With the recipes below, you can eat like the stars on Oscar night.

Spiny Lobster Shanghai Style With Crispy Spinach
(Recipe courtesy Wolfgang Puck)
Yield: Serves 2

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F.

2. Peel the ginger, reserving the peels, and cut it into fine julienne strips. Cut the peels into coarse strips and set aside.

3. In a small saucepan, cook the ginger and garlic with ½ cup of the plum wine and the rice wine vinegar until 1 tablespoon of liquid remains. Remove from the heat and reserve.

4. Place a heavy heatproof 12-inch skillet over high heat until it is very hot. Add the oil and heat it almost to the smoking point. Carefully add the lobster halves, meat side down. Cook 3 minutes. Turn the lobster over and add 1 tablespoon of the butter. Continue to saute until the lobster shells get red and the butter is nutty red. Transfer the lobster to the oven for about 10 minutes, or until the lobster is just cooked. Remove from the oven, remove the lobster from the skillet and keep warm.

5. Add the scallions, ginger peels and curry powder to the skillet. Saute the mixture lightly for 10 to 15 seconds, then whisk in the remaining plum wine and the white wine, stock, chili flakes and the vinegar. Reduce the liquid to ½ cup. Add the cream and reduce it by half. Add any liquid from the julienne of ginger, then whisk in the remaining tablespoon of butter. Season the sauce to taste with salt and pepper.

6. Crack the lobster claws with the back of a large chef's knife. Arrange the lobster halves on a warm oval platter, meat side up. Strain the sauce over the lobster, then sprinkle the sweet ginger on top. Garnish with Fried Baby Spinach Leaves (recipe follows).

Fried Baby Spinach Leaves
(Recipe courtesy Wolfgang Puck)

Wash some large spinach leaves, cut off the stems and dry them well. Heat peanut oil to 375 degrees F. Fry the spinach until crisp and translucent. Be careful not to get splattered. Remove the leaves to paper towels to drain and salt them lightly (just like potato chips). The spinach should have a jade green color.