Michele Williamson
@micbutterflywil
Lobster Mac and Cheese Bake
Indulge in this creamy and decadent Lobster Mac and Cheese, featuring tender elbow macaroni, succulent lobster meat, and a blend of rich cheeses. Perfect for special occasions or a comforting dinner at home.
Details
- Difficulty:hard
- Estimated Cost:N/A
- Ingredients:15
- Views:6
Recipe Information
- Prep time35 min.
- Cook time1 min.
- Total time36 min.
- Servings8
Ingredients
- 1 (16 ounce) package
- 1 (2 pound), split
- 7 tablespoons, divided
- 1 small, diced
- 2 cups
- 1, chopped
- 10
- 1 clove, minced
- 5 tablespoons
- 1 pound, shredded
- 3 cups, shredded
- 1 cup, grated
- to taste
- to taste
- 3 tablespoons
Cooking Instructions
Follow our step-by-step guide on how to make Lobster Mac and Cheese Bake.
Step 1
Start by gathering all your ingredients to make the cooking process smooth and enjoyable.
Step 2
In a large pot, bring lightly salted water to a rolling boil.
Step 3
Once boiling, add the elbow macaroni and cook it, stirring occasionally, until it reaches that perfect al dente texture—this should take about 8 minutes.
Step 4
Remember to reserve 2 cups of the hot pasta water before draining the macaroni.
Step 5
Rinse the drained macaroni with cold water to cool it down, then set it aside for later.
Step 6
Next, pour the reserved pasta water back into the pot and place the lobster halves in, cut-side up.
Step 7
Bring the water back to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low.
Step 8
Cover the pot and steam the lobster until the meat turns firm and opaque, which should take around 3 minutes.
Step 9
Once done, carefully remove the lobster from the pot and let it cool for a few minutes.
Step 10
When it’s cool enough to handle, extract the meat from the shells and chop it into bite-sized pieces.
Step 11
Don’t forget to keep the shells for later use! In a saucepan, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat.
Step 12
Add the diced onion and sauté until it becomes soft and translucent, which should take about 5 minutes.
Step 13
Once cooked, transfer the onions to a small bowl and set them aside.
Step 14
In the same saucepan, combine the reserved lobster shells, milk, chopped shallot, peppercorns, and minced garlic.
Step 15
Bring this mixture to a gentle simmer over medium heat and let it cook for 20 minutes to allow all those wonderful flavors to meld together.
Step 16
While that simmers, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
Step 17
In a separate saucepan, melt the remaining 5 tablespoons of butter over medium-low heat.
Step 18
Whisk in the flour and cook until the mixture becomes pasty and light golden brown, which should take about 10 minutes.
Step 19
After that, strain the milk mixture through a mesh sieve and gradually whisk it into the flour mixture.
Step 20
Bring this to a simmer over medium heat, stirring continuously until it thickens and becomes smooth—this should take about 10 to 15 minutes.
Step 21
Once thickened, remove it from the heat.
Step 22
Now, stir in the Gruyère, Cheddar, and Romano cheeses until they melt into a creamy delight.
Step 23
Season the mixture with salt and pepper to taste, then gently fold in the reserved lobster meat, sautéed onions, and cooked macaroni until everything is well combined.
Step 24
Transfer this luscious mixture into a 4-quart casserole dish, smoothing the top for an even bake.
Step 25
To finish, sprinkle panko bread crumbs evenly over the surface for that perfect crunchy topping.
Step 26
Pop the casserole into your preheated oven and bake until the sauce is bubbling and the top is a beautiful golden brown, which should take about 8 to 12 minutes.
Step 27
As it bakes, the aroma will fill your kitchen, making it hard to resist! Enjoy your delicious lobster macaroni and cheese, a comforting dish that’s sure to impress!.