Lobster Mac and Cheese
- Total Time
- 1 hour 40 minutes
- Rating
- Comments
- Read comments
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Ingredients
- Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste
- 1½pound lobster
- 2tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1cup cottage cheese
- 2cups whole milk
- 1teaspoon dry mustard
- Pinch cayenne pepper
- Pinch freshly grated nutmeg
- 1pound sharp Cheddar cheese, grated
- ½pound macaroni or elbow pasta, uncooked
Nutritional analysis per serving (8 servings)
493 calories; 26 grams fat; 14 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 7 grams monounsaturated fat; 1 gram polyunsaturated fat; 28 grams carbohydrates; 1 gram dietary fiber; 5 grams sugars; 36 grams protein; 847 milligrams sodium
Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
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Preparation
- Step 1
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.
- Step 2
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.
- Step 3
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.
- Step 4
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.
- Step 5
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.
Private Notes
Comments
13 x 9 inch pan is too big, the casserole comes out less than an inch thick. Use 9 x 9.
Used double the amount of lobster and would not use less.
Used ricotta instead of cottage cheese and a 3/4 provolone/1/4 parmesan mix instead of cheddar.
Cheese does overpower the lobster flavor.
An hour to cook is too long. 45 minutes and the pasta is fully cooked. More and it starts to dry out.
Many people test the recipes, and have for more than 40 years. I'm curious what happened in your case. With two cups of milk, a cup of cottage cheese, a pound of cheese, some butter and reserved lobster juice in the recipe, "dry rather than creamy" is not a complaint we've heard, and it's not a result we've experienced.
Two notes:
1) Parboil the mac by simply placing the uncooked pasta into the lobster water after removing the lobster, leave it in the hot water for a few minutes to soak up some of that delicious sea flavor, and then drain.
2) Cheddar is way too strong, and I never use cottage cheese. Substitute 1/2 cup ricotta cheese and a 1/2 cup mascarpone and use about 3/4 cup grated parmigianno.
And if you have any fresh basil, shred it and sprinkle over the casserole after baking.
How I did it: 🦞 Lobster Mac and Cheese (The Ashley Version) Fresh lobster tails, shell-infused milk, lemon, garlic, and a Better Than Bouillon-backed slaw to balance the richness. Poach the Lobster & Infuse Milk Simmer lobster tails in a broth of water, lemon halves, garlic, bay, parsley, peppercorns, and optional wine/onion for 5 min. Ice bath 3–5 min. Remove, chop, and set aside. Reserve 1 cup broth. Sauté shells in 1 tbsp butter, add 3 cups milk, simmer 10–15 min, strain. Mine reduced to 2 cups. Cook Pasta Boil 1 lb elbow or cavatappi 2 min shy of al dente. Drain and toss in oil. Cheese Sauce Sauté 2 minced garlic cloves in 6 tbsp butter, whisk in 4 tbsp flour. Slowly add infused milk, ½ cup broth, and 1 cup cream. Simmer 5–7 min. Add Dijon, paprika, salt, and pepper. Off heat, stir in 12 oz ricotta, 6 oz provolone, 2 oz Parmesan, and 2 oz Gruyère. Finish with lemon zest, juice, and 2 tsp chives. Assemble Fold in pasta and lobster. Fill one 9” deep pie dish a loaf pan. Topping Mix 1½ cups panko, 3 tbsp melted butter, 2 oz Parmesan, 9 crushed Ritz, and chives. Sprinkle on top. Bake 375°F for 30–35 min until bubbling. If needed, cover with foil and bake 10 more. Rest 10 min.
How I did it: 🦞 Lobster Mac and Cheese (The Ashley Version) Fresh lobster tails, shell-infused milk, lemon, garlic, and a Better Than Bouillon-backed slaw to balance the richness. Poach the Lobster & Infuse Milk Simmer lobster tails in a broth of water, lemon halves, garlic, bay, parsley, peppercorns, and optional wine/onion for 5 min. Ice bath 3–5 min. Remove, chop, and set aside. Reserve 1 cup broth. Sauté shells in 1 tbsp butter, add 3 cups milk, simmer 10–15 min, strain. Mine reduced to 2 cups. Cook Pasta Boil 1 lb elbow or cavatappi 2 min shy of al dente. Drain and toss in oil. Cheese Sauce Sauté 2 minced garlic cloves in 6 tbsp butter, whisk in 4 tbsp flour. Slowly add infused milk, ½ cup broth, and 1 cup cream. Simmer 5–7 min. Add Dijon, paprika, salt, and pepper. Off heat, stir in 12 oz ricotta, 6 oz provolone, 2 oz Parmesan, and 2 oz Gruyère. Finish with lemon zest, juice, and 2 tsp chives. Assemble Fold in pasta and lobster. Fill one 9” deep pie dish a loaf pan. Topping Mix 1½ cups panko, 3 tbsp melted butter, 1½ oz Parmesan, 9 crushed Ritz, and chives. Sprinkle on top. Bake 375°F for 30–35 min until bubbling. If needed, cover with foil and bake 10 more. Rest 10 min.
This recipe was not creamy, not even a little. I didn’t change anything and used full fat Daisy brand cottage cheese and whole milk. I even weighed the macaroni. This one is not a keeper for me.