BAKED SEA URCHIN with SEA URCHIN BUTTER

INGREDIENTS:

• 12 x sea urchins in shell
• 1 cup unsalted butter
• freshly-ground white pepper
• 2 tbl fish stock
• 1 tbl heavy cream
• 1 pch cyenne pepper
• Coarse salt to taste
• 1 tsp fresh lemon juice
• Seaweed (optional)
• 1 whl lemon halved

DIRECTIONS:

Heat oven to 450 degrees. Cut away the flat bottom of the sea-urchin shell with scissors; pour away liquid. Scrape out membrane with the end of a spoon's handle. Set aside the six most attractive urchins in a baking dish.

Scoop the flesh out of the remaining six to yield about 1/2 cup. Pulse in food processor for 5 to 8 seconds. Add butter, and blend until thoroughly emulsified; add more butter if necessary. Press the urchin-butter mixture through a sieve with a spatula.

Bake the whole sea urchins 4 to 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, combine stock, cream, cayenne, salt, and pepper, to taste, in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add urchin-butter mixture, stirring constantly, until resulting emulsion thickens. Adjust seasoning; add lemon juice.

Remove sea urchins from oven. Arrange them on a bed of seaweed, drizzle with Sea Urchin Butter, and garnish with lemon halves.

Serves 2.