A steamy bowl of lobster stew.

Serving lobster for Thanksgiving is actually more traditional than tucking into turkey, cranberry sauce or pumpkin pie. Shellfish such a lobster, clams and mussels were a common part of the Native American diet in 1621 and likely formed part of the original Thanksgiving Day feast. But what is the best way to serve lobster for Thanksgiving? While there are a few great ‘Thanksgiving lobster recipes’ out there (pumpkin lobster mac and cheese anyone?) many traditional lobster dishes such as lobster bisque are also a great complement to a turkey-based Thanksgiving meal. Here are some recommendations and suggestions on serving lobster as part of your Thanksgiving feast.

Thanksgiving Lobster Recipes

Lobster, pumpkin, ricotta ravioli: This creamy lobster ravioli recipe is a wonderful blend of savory and sweet. The incorporation of pumpkin and nutmeg make it a fabulous first course to your Thanksgiving feast.

Lobster with Nutmeg Vinaigrette and Chestnut Puree: This recipe, from Todd English, combines the familiar Thanksgiving flavors of nutmeg and chestnuts with delicious, freshly steamed lobster. The vinaigrette and puree can be made the day ahead leaving just the lobster-cooking to Thanksgiving Day.

Lobster Pumpkin Mac and Cheese: This simple, savory recipe would make a great Thanksgiving side dish.  Lobster is delicious combined with mac and cheese and the incorporation of pumpkin gives it a festive twist.

Sweet Potato Corn Chower with Lobster and Chorizo: This innovative dish by Stephen Richard (the 2014 Maine Lobster Chef of the Year) combines classic Thanksgiving veggies – corn and sweet potato – with lobster for a Thanksgiving dish with a twist.

Other Lobster Recipes to Serve for Thanksgiving

Because I grew up in a lobster fishing community, lobster has almost always featured in my Thanksgiving celebrations.  In my home town, lobster and clams are often steamed prior to the Thanksgiving dinner and served as part of a communal meal (the lobster meat is usually picked out prior to the meal and served buffet style alongside turkey and other traditional Thanksgiving dishes). Other friends of mine plate up boiled lobster as the focal point of their Thanksgiving feast, skipping the turkey all together.

If you want to do more than simply serve steamed lobster or plain lobster meat (what’s plain about lobster!) as part of your Thanksgiving meal, I recommend making a simple, savory lobster dish which you can serve as your first course. For previous Thanksgiving dinners I’ve made a lobster corn bisque recipe and served it as a starter.  Not only do corn and lobster compliment each other beautifully, but both foods were also likely part of the original Thanksgiving dinner.  A wedge of cornbread is a nice finishing touch.  This year I’ve been experimenting with a lobster, ricotta and pumpkin ravioli recipe.  It’s a wonderful mix of savory and sweet. I add a dollop of mascarpone cheese for an extra creamy texture and a dusting of nutmeg which compliments lobster beautifully and heightens the Thanksgiving-ness of the recipe.

If you want to go full tilt, Julia Child’s lobster bisque recipe is challenging yet rewarding and fit for a special celebration.

What Wine to Serve With Lobster

1. Champagne always goes well with lobster and is perfect for a Thanksgiving celebration. Blanc de Blanc champagne goes especially well with cream and spice-perfumed lobster dishes like lobster bisque.

2. Chardonnay and white Burgundy are also a great match for cream-based lobster dishes.

3. Finally, dry crisp white wines can go well with lobster. Sauvignon Blanc in particular is often served with lobster dishes.

Here are some more specific wine pairing recommendations for lobster dishes for all you aficionados out there.

The Best Lobster Delivery Companies

Finally, here are a few recommendations on Maine lobster delivery companies that will ship lobster to your home in time for your Thanksgiving feast.