Crayfish Salad with French Cocktail Sauce Recipe

Ingredients
The salad:

1 pink grapefruit
2 ripe avocados
1/2 lemon
1 head Boston lettuce, washed, dried, and cut into thin strips
4 plum tomatoes, peeled, seeded, and finely chopped
12 leaves tarragon, finely sliced

The crayfish:

The reserved grapefruit rind (see method)
1/2 bunch tarragon, leaves and stems
1/4 cup salt
1 teaspoon cracked peppercorns
Pinch of cayenne pepper
3 pounds crayfish, preferably live, rinsed under cold running water, or 1 pound peeled cooked crayfish

The cocktail sauce:

The reserved grapefruit juice (see method)
1 large egg yol
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
Salt and freshly ground white pepper
Small pinch of cayenne pepper
1/4 cup vegetable oil, preferably grapeseed or safflower oil
2 1/2 tablespoons ketchup
1 teaspoon white wine vinegar
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon Cognac or Armagnac
2 tablespoons sliced blanched almonds, toasted, for serving

Directions

1. Peel the grapefruit, reserving the rind for cooking the crayfish. Using a small knife, slice away the bitter pith and with it the thinnest possible layer of fruit. Cutting against the membranes, release each section of grapefruit intact; remove any seeds. Set the sections aside for the moment and, working over a bowl, squeeze as much juice from the membranes as you can, to use in the cocktail sauce; discard the membranes.

2. Halve, pit and peel the avocados, then rub the exposed fruit with the cut lemon to keep it from darkening. Slice each avocado half into 3 wedges and give the wedges a squirt of lemon juice.

3. Arrange the lettuce in an even layer in the bottom of a large shallow bowl. Mound the tomatoes in the center of the bowl and surround them with alternating slices of grapefruit and avocado. Sprinkle the tarragon over the tomatoes. Cover the salad and keep it refrigerated until serving time. (The salad can be made a couple of hours ahead of time and kept tightly covered and chilled.)

The Crayfish: 1. If the crayfish are cooked and peeled, move on to the cocktail sauce. If they're live, bring 1 gallon of water to a boil in a stockpot. Add all the ingredients, return to the boil, and simmer, uncovered, for 2 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat and cool the crayfish in the water for 10 minutes. Drain and discard the cooking liquid.

2. To peel crayfish, twist off and discard the head. Peel off the upper three sections of shell, then, holding the meat in one hand and the tip of the tail in the other, squeeze the tail while pulling the meat out of the shell. The vein in the center of the crayfish should come off with the shell. If it doesn't, remove it by hand, then use your finger to rub off any yellow coral that clings to the meat. Set the crayfish aside.

The Cocktail Sauce: 1. Boil the grapefruit juice until it is reduced to 2 teaspoons; cool.

2. Whisk the yolk, mustard, salt and pepper to taste, and cayenne together in a medium bowl. Whisking constantly, add the oil in a slow stream. When the mixture is emulsified, like mayonnaise, whisk in all the other ingredients, including the cooled grapefruit juice. Taste and adjust the seasonings if necessary. (The sauce can be kept in a tightly covered container in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days.)

To serve: Arrange the crayfish on the tomatoes sprinkle with almonds, and serve the sauce on the side.

To drink: A light, dry Alsatian Gewurtztraminer or, perhaps, a Muscat Sec