Lobster Macaroni and Cheese
A luxurious twist on classic mac and cheese featuring succulent lobster, shrimp, and crab meat in a rich Fontina cheese sauce. This sophisticated seafood pasta dish combines the sweetness of shellfish with creamy, cheesy comfort.
Ingredients
- •1 whole 1 3/4- to 2-pound live lobster
- •2 tablespoons olive oil
- •12 pieces large shrimp
- •1 cup chopped onion
- •¾ cup chopped peeled carrots
- •¾ cup chopped celery
- •2 cloves garlic
- •1 leaf Turkish bay leaf
- •1 tablespoon tomato paste
- •¼ cup Cognac or brandy
- •3 cups water
- •4 tablespoons butter
- •2 tablespoons all purpose flour
- •1 cup whipping cream
- •1½ cups grated Fontina cheese
- •8 ounces shell or gemelli pasta
- •6 ounces fresh crabmeat
- •2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
Cooking Instructions
- 1.
Plunge lobster headfirst into pot of boiling water; boil 4 minutes. Using tongs, transfer to cutting board. Cut off tail and claws. Crack tail and claws and remove meat. Cut meat into 1/2-inch pieces. Cut body and shells into 2-inch pieces. Chill meat; reserve shells.
15 min
- 2.
Heat 1 tablespoon oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add lobster body, lobster shells, and shrimp shells to skillet and sauté 4 minutes. Add onion and next 4 ingredients; sauté 6 minutes. Add tomato paste; stir 1 minute. Remove from heat; stir in Cognac. Add 3 cups water; bring to boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer 30 minutes.
45 min
- 3.
Strain mixture into bowl, pressing on solids to extract liquid; discard solids. Set stock aside. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in same skillet over medium-high heat. Add shrimp; sauté until just opaque in center, about 3 minutes. Cool slightly. Coarsely chop shrimp.
10 min
- 4.
Melt 2 tablespoons butter in large saucepan over medium heat. Add flour; stir 1 minute. Add stock and cream; simmer until sauce is reduced to 2 cups, about 5 minutes. Add cheese; stir until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Remove from heat.
10 min
- 5.
Meanwhile, cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water until just tender but still firm to bite. Drain. Stir lobster, shrimp, pasta, crab, and 2 tablespoons butter into sauce. Stir over medium-low heat until heated through, about 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Serve topped with chives.
15 min
