Description
Classic seafood pasta combines succulent Maine lobster with creamy sauce in this irresistible bake. Cheesy, herbed pasta layers deliver rich coastal flavors that comfort and delight diners you’ll want to share this with.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup lobster meat (cooked, chopped)
- 8 oz (226 g) elbow macaroni
- 1 cup sharp Cheddar cheese (shredded)
- 1 cup Gruyère cheese (shredded)
- 2 cups whole milk
- ½ cup breadcrumbs (mixed with melted butter)
- 2 tbsps unsalted butter
- 2 tbsps all-purpose flour
- 2 tbsps fresh parsley (chopped, for garnish)
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Pasta Preparation: Cook macaroni until al dente, drain, and set aside for later incorporation.
- Roux Foundation: In a saucepan, craft a smooth roux by melting butter and whisking in flour until achieving a golden complexion, creating a rich base for the sauce.
- Sauce Development: Gradually introduce whole milk to the roux, stirring constantly to maintain silkiness, simmering until the mixture thickens into a luxurious consistency.
- Flavor Infusion: Remove from heat and integrate sharp cheddar, gruyère, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper, blending until a uniform, velvety sauce emerges.
- Ingredient Fusion: Tenderly combine cooked macaroni and succulent lobster meat with the cheese sauce, ensuring complete and even coating.
- Baking Preparation: Warm the oven to 350°F and lightly grease a 2-quart baking dish for the pasta mixture.
- Topping Application: Mix breadcrumbs with melted butter, then generously distribute across the pasta surface to create a crisp, golden crown.
- Final Baking: Bake for 20 minutes until thoroughly heated, then broil for 2-3 minutes to achieve a perfectly bronzed, crunchy exterior.
- Serving Refinement: Allow the pasta bake to rest briefly, enabling the sauce to set and flavors to harmonize before presenting this decadent dish.
Notes
- Pasta Precision: Cook macaroni just until al dente to prevent mushy texture and maintain ideal pasta bite.
- Roux Mastery: Whisk flour and butter carefully to avoid burning, creating a smooth base for the creamy sauce.
- Cheese Melting Technique: Remove sauce from heat before adding cheese to prevent separation and ensure silky consistency.
- Topping Tip: Broil briefly to create a golden, crispy breadcrumb crust without burning the entire dish.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 590
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 680 mg
- Fat: 27 g
- Saturated Fat: 16 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 58 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg