New england clambake salad - country living

4 servings

Ingredients

Quantity Ingredient
Lemon-Basil Dressing (recipe follows)
Water
1¼ pounds Small red potatoes
1¼ pounds Fingerling potatoes (see Note)
4 Ears fresh yellow corn, shucked and silk removed
4 1-lb lobsters
12 Mussels, scrubbed and beards removed
12 Littleneck clams, scrubbed
2 Sprigs fresh basil

Directions

1. Prepare Leinon-Basil Dressing; refrig- erate while preparing salad.

2. Fill an 8-quart saucepot with 2½, inches water; heat to boiling. Add potatoes and cook 12 to 15 minutes or until potatoes are tender but still retain their shape. Meanwhile, cut each ear of corn into quarters; add corn quarters to potatoes during last 2 minutes of cooking. With slotted spoon or strainer, remove potatoes and corn to large serving bowl or platter and set aside.

3. Drain off all but 1 inch of cooking water; reheat to boiling. Add lobsters to pot, head first; cover and cook 10 to 12 minutes or until bright red and one small leg pulls off easily, indicating lobster is completely cooked. Reserving cooking water, remove lobsters to colander; finse and set aside to drain and cool.

4. Add mussels and clams to simmering water remaining in pot; cover and cook 3 minutes or until all shellfish have completely opened.

Drain mussels and clams very well. (Discard any that don't open.) Arrange with potatoes and corn in large bowl or on serving platter.

5. Remove claw and tail meat from all lobsters and arrange in large bowl with vegetables and shellfish. Garnish with basil sprigs, if desired, and serve with Lemon-Basil Dressing.

Lemon-Basil Dressing: In food processor fitted with chopping blade or blender, process or blend 1 ¼ C packed fresh basil leaves, ½ C mayonnaise, 3 tablespoons lemon juice, 1 T olive oil, 1 clove garlic, chopped, ¼ teaspoon sugar, and ¼ t ground black pepper until smooth. Thin with 1 to 2 T water or until mixture has the consistency of salad dressing. Makes about 1 cup.

Note- Fingerling potatoes are a yellow-fleshed variety and are about 1 inch in diameter and 2 to 4 inches long, Their waxy texture makes them a good choice for salads. If unavailable, any large yellow-fleshed or smooth white-fleshed potatoes can be substituted.

If using large potatoes, cut each into 2-inch pieces.

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