**Lobster Mac and Cheese: A Luxurious Twist on a Classic Comfort Food**
Lobster mac and cheese is a delectable dish that combines the rich, buttery flavor of lobster with the creamy, cheesy goodness of macaroni and cheese. It's a perfect blend of luxury and comfort, making it a popular choice for special occasions or simply as a treat. This article presents three variations of lobster mac and cheese, each with its unique flavor profile. From a classic baked version to a lighter, skillet-cooked option, and a decadent lobster mac and cheese with a crispy breadcrumb topping, these recipes offer something for every palate. Get ready to indulge in a culinary journey that elevates the classic mac and cheese to new heights of deliciousness.
LOBSTER MAC AND CHEESE
For an elegant seafood dish, Ina Garten adds tender, buttery lobster and Gruy�re to her Lobster Mac and Cheese recipe from Barefoot Contessa on Food Network.
Provided by Ina Garten
Categories main-dish
Time 1h25m
Yield 6 to 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- Drizzle oil into a large pot of boiling salted water. Add the pasta and cook according to the directions on the package, 6 to 8 minutes. Drain well.
- Meanwhile, heat the milk in a small saucepan, but don't boil it. In a large pot, melt 6 tablespoons of butter and add the flour. Cook over low heat for 2 minutes, stirring with a whisk. Still whisking, add the hot milk and cook for a minute or two more, until thickened and smooth. Off the heat, add the Gruyere, Cheddar, 1 tablespoon salt, the pepper, and nutmeg. Add the cooked macaroni and lobster and stir well. Place the mixture in 6 to 8 individual gratin dishes.
- Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter, combine them with the fresh bread crumbs, and sprinkle on the top. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbly and the macaroni is browned on the top.
LOBSTER MAC AND CHEESE
Steps:
- Fill a large pot with lightly salted water and bring to a rolling boil over high heat. Once the water is boiling, stir in the macaroni, and return to a boil. Cook the pasta uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the pasta has cooked through, but is still firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Reserve about 2 cups of the hot pasta water, then drain the pasta in a colander set in the sink, and rinse with cold water to cool. Set aside.
- Return the pasta water to the large pot, and place the lobster halves in the pot, cut-side up. Return the water to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and steam the lobster just until the meat firms and turns opaque, about 3 minutes. Remove the lobster and allow to cool for a few minutes, then remove the meat and cut into bite sized pieces. Reserve the shells.
- Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the onion and cook until the onion has softened and turned translucent, about 5 minutes; scrape the onions into a small bowl and set aside. Place the reserved lobster shells, garlic, shallots, peppercorns, and milk into the saucepan. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat, and cook for 20 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- Melt 5 tablespoons of butter in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Whisk in the flour, and stir until the mixture becomes paste-like and light golden brown, about 10 minutes. Strain the milk through a mesh sieve. Gradually whisk the milk into the flour mixture, and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Cook and stir until the mixture is thick and smooth, 10 to 15 minutes.
- Stir the Gruyere, Cheddar, and Romano cheeses into the thickened milk mixture until melted and smooth. Season to taste with salt and pepper, then stir in the reserved lobster, onions, and macaroni. Pour the macaroni into a 4 quart casserole and smooth the top. Sprinkle evenly with the panko crumbs.
- Bake in the preheated oven until the sauce is bubbly, and the top is golden brown, 8 to 12 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 912.7 calories, Carbohydrate 55.4 g, Cholesterol 217.7 mg, Fat 49.2 g, Fiber 2.5 g, Protein 60.9 g, SaturatedFat 29.7 g, Sodium 1112.7 mg, Sugar 5.5 g
CHEF JOHN'S LOBSTER MAC AND CHEESE
You can actually prep these ahead and bake before that romantic, possibly Valentine's, dinner. You probably want to take them out and let them warm up for 30 minutes before baking. By the way, only bake these until the tops are browned and the inside is just hot.
Provided by Chef John
Categories Seafood Shellfish Lobster
Time 1h
Yield 2
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Butter 2 gratin dishes.
- Heat oil in a skillet over high heat. Cook lobster tails in skillet until slightly golden and about halfway cooked-through, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer tails to a plate to rest. When cool enough to handle, remove lobster meat from shells and chop meat. Reserve shells.
- Melt 2 tablespoons butter in the same skillet over medium heat. Whisk in flour; cook and stir until a paste forms and flour taste cooks off, 1 to 2 minutes. Add cold milk to flour mixture; whisk until completely incorporated. Bring to a simmer; reduce heat to low, and stir in paprika, nutmeg, and cayenne pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until thick, 3 to 4 minutes. Season sauce with salt.
- Stir Cheddar cheese and Gruyere cheese into milk mixture until cheese is melted. Remove from heat and stir Worcestershire sauce into cheese sauce.
- Bring a large pot of water with reserved lobster tails and a pinch of salt to a boil. Cook elbow macaroni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, until cooked through but firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Remove and discard lobster shells, drain pasta.
- Stir macaroni into cheese sauce with thyme leaves. Divide macaroni mixture between the 2 prepared gratin dishes. Top macaroni with chopped lobster meat, poking meat down into macaroni mixture with a fork.
- Stir bread crumbs and melted butter together in a bowl. Add Parmesan cheese and stir. Top each gratin dish with bread crumb mixture.
- Bake in the preheated oven until golden and bubbly, 15 to 20 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 974.8 calories, Carbohydrate 61.8 g, Cholesterol 282.6 mg, Fat 53 g, Fiber 2.1 g, Protein 63.3 g, SaturatedFat 30.1 g, Sodium 1767.3 mg, Sugar 10.4 g
ULTIMATE LOBSTER MAC AND CHEESE
Make and share this Ultimate Lobster Mac and Cheese recipe from Food.com.
Provided by Elizabeth W.
Categories One Dish Meal
Time 57m
Yield 6 ramekins, 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
- Add pasta to salted boiling water and cook according to directions on the package (usually 7 minutes). Drain well.
- Meanwhile, heat milk in a small saucepan, but do not boil it. In a large pot, melt butter and add flour. Cook over low heat for 3 minutes, stirring with a whisk. While whisking, add in the hot milk and cook for another two minutes until thickened and smooth. Remove from heat.
- Add in the cheeses, salt to taste, pepper, and nutmeg. Add the cooked pasta and lobster and stir well.
- Spoon mixture into 6 individual serving-sized ramekins.
- Bake for 30 to 35 minutes until bubbly and the lightly browned on top.
LOBSTER MAC AND CHEESE
Provided by Alex Guarnaschelli
Categories main-dish
Time 1h35m
Yield 2 to 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- For the lobster and sauce: Bring a large stockpot filled three-quarters of the way with water to a rolling boil over high heat. Add the lobsters to the pot, making sure that each lobster is completely submerged. Cook the lobsters until they are bright red, about 8 minutes, then drain and set aside.
- For the mac and cheese: Add the 1 quart heavy cream, Parmesan, Dijon, Worcestershire, hot sauce, pepper and a pinch of salt to a large skillet over medium heat. Simmer gently, whisking until smooth. Add the Gruyere and turn off the heat. Carefully stir and let melt. Taste for seasoning and stir occasionally until melted and smooth.
- Bring 4 quarts water to a rolling boil in a large pot over medium heat. Add salt and bring the water back to a boil. Add the macaroni and stir with a wooden spoon to ensure the macaroni does not stick to the bottom of the pot. Cook until the macaroni is still quite firm, about 7 minutes. Drain and transfer to a glass bowl. Add the cheese sauce and stir to combine; keep warm.
- Carefully remove the lobster meat from the tails, claws and legs, taking care to remove any cartilage from the claw meat. Cut the meat into bite-size pieces, put in a medium bowl and then season with a pinch of salt. Discard the tail and body shells but keep the heads. Cut the heads in half.
- For the lobster sauce: Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a medium skillet over medium-low heat. Add the shallots and cook until tender, about 4 minutes, then add the head halves and steam in the shallot butter, about 3 minutes. Carefully add the cognac and cook down until there is very little liquid left in the skillet, 2 to 3 minutes, then add the shrimp stock. Raise the heat to high and cook until reduced by about half, 3 to 4 minutes.
- Add the 1/2 cup heavy cream and the remaining 2 tablespoons butter. Stir to combine and return to a simmer until the butter melts, then remove from heat. Add the lemon juice, then strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl and add the chopped tarragon. Add the lobster and gently toss to fully coat. Season to taste with salt.
- Fill serving bowls halfway with macaroni and cheese and top with the lobster and sauce. Repeat with another layer of macaroni and top with the remaining lobster and sauce. Finish with a pinch of salt.
LOBSTER MAC AND CHEESE
"Lobster mac and cheese lends itself perfectly to an elegant dinner with friends, but my favorite occasion to make it is girls' night with my two daughters," says Ree.
Provided by Ree Drummond : Food Network
Categories main-dish
Time 1h
Yield 6 to 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook the macaroni until still very firm, about 4 minutes (it should be too firm to eat right out of the pot). Drain and set aside.
- Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Generously butter a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. When it just starts to brown, throw in the lobster and cook 1 minute. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.
- Add the remaining 4 tablespoons butter to the same skillet. Sprinkle in the flour, whisking to combine. Let the roux cook for a minute or so, whisking constantly. Pour in the milk, whisking constantly, then cook the white sauce until thick and bubbling, 3 to 5 minutes. Next, add the half-and-half, 1 teaspoon salt and plenty of pepper, and stir to combine. Add the parmesan (hold back some for topping!), cheddar, fontina and goat cheese and stir them around to melt. Stir in the lobster and macaroni.
- Pour the mac and cheese into the prepared baking dish and top with the reserved parmesan. Bake until bubbling and a slight crust forms on top, 20 to 25 minutes.
GOOEY LOBSTER MAC AND CHEESE
Super cheesy and super gooey! A smooth creamy blend of Swiss and sharp Cheddar with the sweetness of lobster. Side dish for many, or a main course for about 10 people, give or take. A great guilty pleasure!
Provided by laujm2
Categories Seafood Shellfish Lobster
Time 59m
Yield 10
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook cavatappi in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 12 minutes. Drain.
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
- Melt butter in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir in flour until a paste forms, about 2 minutes. Stir in heavy cream slowly; cook until heated through, 3 to 5 minutes. Add 1 package Swiss cheese and 1 package Cheddar cheese; stir until melted, about 2 minutes. Season sauce with nutmeg, salt, and pepper.
- Combine cooked pasta, sauce, lobster, and lobster cooking liquid in a large bowl. Stir in half of the remaining Swiss cheese and Cheddar cheese. Transfer to a 9x13-inch baking dish. Sprinkle remaining Swiss cheese and Cheddar cheese on top.
- Bake in the preheated oven until cheeses are melted and bubbly, 20 to 30 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 753.3 calories, Carbohydrate 40.7 g, Cholesterol 187.4 mg, Fat 49.7 g, Fiber 1.7 g, Protein 37.3 g, SaturatedFat 30.8 g, Sodium 661.3 mg, Sugar 0.9 g
PUMPKIN LOBSTER MAC AND CHEESE
One Halloween I decided to try out a macaroni and cheese recipe using pumpkin, and it turned out to be a huge hit. The combination of the cheeses and the pumpkin made it so very rich and creamy. The next time I decided to make this dish I added some cooked lobster I had left over, and from there I just fell in love. I have had lobster macaroni and cheese dishes before, but never anything like this. All of this may sound strange and unusual but once you try this dish you will never get it out of your head. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve with fresh bread or dinner rolls.
Provided by ScottySauce
Categories Seafood Shellfish Lobster
Time 1h30m
Yield 12
Number Of Ingredients 19
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a rolling boil. Cook pasta shells at a boil until tender but still slightly firm, about 10 minutes; drain and set aside.
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
- Grease a 9x13-inch casserole dish.
- Melt 2 tablespoons margarine in a skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir shallot in melted margarine until lightly browned, about 5 minutes.
- Whisk flour into margarine and shallots to form a smooth paste.
- Slowly whisk evaporated milk into flour mixture until it forms a smooth sauce; simmer until thickened, 2 to 4 minutes.
- Whisk shredded Cheddar cheese and mascarpone cheese into sauce until cheeses have melted, about 5 minutes.
- Stir pumpkin puree, lemon zest, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, paprika, nutmeg, and hot sauce into the sauce until combined.
- Lightly mix in lobster tail meat, green peas, and cooked pasta shells until heated through, about 5 minutes.
- Pour pasta mixture into prepared casserole dish; top with panko crumbs and Parmesan cheese. Drizzle 2 tablespoons of melted margarine over the casserole.
- Bake in the preheated oven until topping is brown and crisp, 40 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 427.3 calories, Carbohydrate 33.9 g, Cholesterol 82.9 mg, Fat 23.6 g, Fiber 2.8 g, Protein 22.6 g, SaturatedFat 11.9 g, Sodium 492.6 mg, Sugar 6.5 g
LOBSTER MAC AND CHEESE
This recipe for lobster mac and cheese, a variation on a classic plain recipe that Julia Moskin published in The Times, is a rich and shockingly flavorful addition to any feast, and requires only a single lobster to serve six or eight. Or try serving it as a main course for a weeknight dinner.
Provided by Sam Sifton
Categories dinner, casseroles, main course
Time 1h40m
Yield 6 to 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Fill a large pot with salted water and set it over high heat to come to a boil. Plunge lobster into water and cover pot. Cook for 8 to 10 minutes, or until it is bright red. Check doneness by pulling an antenna; if it comes off without resistance, the lobster is done. Remove lobster to a bowl and allow to cool.
- Meanwhile, heat oven to 375 degrees, with a rack in the upper third of the oven. Use a tablespoon of butter to butter a 9-by-13-inch-square baking pan.
- In a blender, purée cottage cheese, milk, mustard, cayenne and nutmeg, and lightly season with salt and pepper. Transfer mixture to a large bowl, add grated cheese and uncooked pasta and stir well to combine. Pour into prepared pan, cover tightly with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile, crack lobster claws and tail over the bowl and remove the meat, reserving all liquid that comes out of the lobster. Roughly chop lobster meat.
- Uncover baking pan, gently stir in lobster meat and up to 2 tablespoons of the reserved lobster juices, and dot with remaining tablespoon of butter. Bake, uncovered, for 30 minutes more, until browned on top. Let cool for 15 to 20 minutes before serving.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 495, UnsaturatedFat 8 grams, Carbohydrate 26 grams, Fat 26 grams, Fiber 1 gram, Protein 37 grams, SaturatedFat 15 grams, Sodium 856 milligrams, Sugar 5 grams, TransFat 1 gram
Tips:
- Use fresh lobster meat for the best flavor. You can boil or steam the lobster yourself, or you can purchase pre-cooked lobster meat from the seafood counter at your local grocery store.
- Make sure the macaroni is cooked al dente, or slightly firm to the bite. This will help it hold its shape and texture in the casserole.
- Use a good quality cheese blend for the sauce. A combination of sharp cheddar, Gruyère, and Parmesan cheeses will give you a rich and flavorful sauce.
- Don't be afraid to experiment with different add-ins. You can add vegetables like broccoli or cauliflower, or protein like cooked chicken or shrimp.
- Serve the lobster mac and cheese immediately, while it's still hot and bubbly. You can garnish it with fresh parsley or chives.
Conclusion:
Lobster mac and cheese is a delicious and decadent dish that's perfect for a special occasion or a weeknight dinner. With its rich and flavorful sauce, tender lobster meat, and perfectly cooked macaroni, it's sure to be a hit with everyone at the table. So next time you're looking for a new and exciting way to enjoy lobster, give this recipe a try.
Are you curently on diet or you just want to control your food's nutritions, ingredients? We will help you find recipes by cooking method, nutrition, ingredients...
Check it out »
#time-to-make #course #main-ingredient #preparation #occasion #main-dish #eggs-dairy #seafood #dinner-party #lobster #cheese #shellfish #4-hours-or-less
You'll also love