Description
Garten’s luxurious lobster mac n cheese elevates classic comfort with succulent seafood and rich, creamy sauce. Cheese lovers will savor this indulgent blend of tender lobster meat, sharp cheddar, and perfectly cooked pasta that promises restaurant-quality elegance at home.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound cavatappi or elbow macaroni
- 1 ½ pounds cooked lobster meat
- 12 ounces Gruyere cheese, grated (4 cups)
- 8 ounces extra-sharp Cheddar, grated (2 cups)
Dairy and Liquid Ingredients:
- 1 quart milk
- 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, divided
Seasoning and Topping Ingredients:
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 ½ cups fresh white bread crumbs (5 slices, crusts removed)
- Kosher salt
- Vegetable oil
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius).
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add of olive oil and pasta, cooking according to package instructions until perfectly al dente, approximately 6-8 minutes. Drain pasta completely in a colander.
- Warm the milk in a small saucepan over gentle heat, ensuring it does not reach a boiling point. In a separate large pot, melt of unsalted butter, then gradually whisk in the flour to create a smooth roux.
- Cook the roux over low heat, continuously whisking for 2 minutes to eliminate any raw flour taste. Slowly incorporate the heated milk, whisking consistently until the mixture thickens and becomes silky smooth.
- Remove the sauce from heat and fold in the Cheddar and Gruyere cheeses. Season with ground black pepper, freshly grated nutmeg, and of salt, stirring until ingredients are fully integrated.
- Gently fold the cooked lobster meat and prepared pasta into the cheese sauce, ensuring even distribution of ingredients.
- Transfer the mixture evenly into 6-8 individual gratin dishes, creating uniform portions.
- Melt the remaining of butter and toss with fresh bread crumbs. Sprinkle the buttered bread crumbs evenly over the top of each gratin dish.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, watching for a golden-brown crust and bubbling sauce that indicates the dish is perfectly heated through.
Notes
- Select live lobsters from reputable seafood markets for peak freshness and sweetness.
- Dice bread chunks uniformly to ensure consistent crumb coverage and crunch throughout the casserole.
- Grate cheese directly before mixing to maintain maximum melting potential and robust flavor profile.
- Control oven temperature precisely between 375-400°F for golden-brown topping without burning delicate ingredients.
- Remove dish when cheese bubbles and edges turn crispy golden, signaling perfect doneness and caramelization.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 665 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 38 g
- Saturated Fat: 22 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 29 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg