Chef John's Lobster Mac and Cheese is a delectable dish that combines the richness of lobster with the comforting flavors of macaroni and cheese. This indulgent recipe is perfect for special occasions or when you want to treat yourself to a luxurious meal. With its creamy sauce, tender lobster, and perfectly cooked pasta, this dish is sure to satisfy even the most discerning palate. From selecting the best lobster to mastering the art of creating a perfectly smooth sauce, this article will guide you through every step of the process, ensuring that you create a dish that is both delicious and visually stunning. So, gather your ingredients, preheat your oven, and get ready to embark on a culinary journey that will leave you craving for more.
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
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.
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.
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
CHEF JOHN'S LOBSTER MAC AND CHEESE
Learn how to cook lobster tail for decadent mac and cheese to take this classic dish up a notch. You can actually prep ahead and bake just 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 Baked Macaroni and Cheese
Time 1h
Yield 2
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Butter two 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 raw 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 shells 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 lobster shells and set aside, or discard. Drain pasta.
- Stir macaroni into cheese sauce with thyme leaves. Divide macaroni mixture between the two prepared gratin dishes. Top macaroni with chopped lobster meat, poking meat down into the 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
Tips:
- Use high-quality ingredients: Fresh, high-quality ingredients will make a big difference in the final dish. Use the best lobster you can find, and be sure to use a good quality cheese.
- Cook the lobster properly: Lobster should be cooked until it is just opaque. Overcooking will make it tough and rubbery.
- Make sure the cheese sauce is smooth: A smooth cheese sauce is essential for a good mac and cheese. Be sure to whisk the sauce constantly while it is cooking, and add a little milk or cream if it becomes too thick.
- Don't overcook the pasta: Pasta should be cooked al dente, or slightly firm to the bite. Overcooked pasta will be mushy and unpleasant.
- Serve immediately: Lobster mac and cheese is best served immediately after it is made. The pasta will start to absorb the cheese sauce and become soggy if it sits for too long.
Conclusion:
Lobster mac and cheese is a delicious and decadent dish that is perfect for a special occasion. It is easy to make, but it does require a bit of time and effort. By following the tips above, you can make a lobster mac and cheese that is sure to impress your friends and family.
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