Lobster Mac and Cheese

I don't always make low fat meals and this definitely might be one of my favorite recipes. Definitely not something to eat everyday but a great treat now and then. Since it is Lent I made this on a relaxing Friday night. The only change that I would make is to toast the panko bread crumbs with a little olive oil before putting them on top of the finished mac and cheese. I also substituted white cheddar with orange cheddar, it added really nice color. It came out great even though I would make a change and the color looks great with the Emile Henri blue baker. Definitely recommend this dish!

Lobster Mac and Cheese

The Neely's: Down Home with the Neely courteous of the FoodNewtork.com

8 Servings

Ingredients

4 tbsp of butter, plus 1 for greasing the dish

kosher salt

1 pound penne

2 small shallots, finely chopped

2 garlic cloves, chopped

2 tbsp tomato paste

5 tbsp all-purpose flour

1/4 cup white wine

4 cups heavy cream

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

1/2 tsp sweet paprika

1 bay leaf

2 cups shredded white cheddar ( I substituted orange cheddar)

2 cups shredded Gruyere

2 - 8 oz lobster tails, defrosted if frozen, meat removed from shell, chopped

1/4 panko bread crumbs

1/4 cup freshly chopped parsely

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and adjust racks to the middle. Grease a 13 by 9-inch baking dish with butter.

In a large pot of boiling salted water over medium heat, add the pasta and cook until al dente. Drain the pasta and reserve.

Add 4 tablespoons butter to a large pot over medium heat. Once the butter shimmers, add the shallots and garlic and saute until translucent. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Add the tomato paste and flour and stir to toast, about 3 to 4 minutes. Add the white wine and reduce, by half, about 2 minutes. Slowly add the cream, whisking well to remove any lumps. Add the paprika, cayenne, and bay leaf. Bring the cream up to a simmer and turn the heat to low. Let reduce until the cream is thick and can coat a spoon, about 5 to 10 minutes. When thickened, remove the bay leaves.

Stir in the grated cheeses, a handful at a time, combining well after each addition. Add the chopped lobster meat to the sauce and stir well. Add the pasta and stir. Add to the greased baking dish and sprinkle with the panko crumbs and parsley. Bake for 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and let rest for 10 minutes before serving. Sprinkle individual servings with parsley.