Recipes

Creamy Tuscan Lobster Pasta

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Description

Quick, creamy, and packed with lobster, this Tuscan pasta brings the Italian coast to your table.

Ingredients

  • 4 small fresh shell-on lobster tails (about 1 pound, 2 ounces total)
  • 12 ounces uncooked fettuccine
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 5 garlic cloves, thinly sliced (2 tablespoons)
  • 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
  • 1 1/4 pounds cherry tomatoes (4 cups), divided
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh oregano
  • 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 4 cups fresh baby spinach (about 5 ounces)
  • 1 1/2 ounces parmesan cheese, grated with a microplane grater (about 1 cup), plus more for sprinkling
  • thinly sliced fresh chives

Directions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over medium-high. Add lobster tails; cook, undisturbed, until shells turn red but meat is still slightly translucent, about 2 minutes (lobster should be undercooked). Using tongs, transfer lobster to a large bowl; let cool 5 minutes. Using kitchen shears and working over the bowl to catch any juices, cut down the center of each lobster tail shell; transfer meat to a cutting board. Discard shells and juices. Remove and discard digestive tract from lobster tails. Cut lobster meat crosswise into 1/2-inch-thick slices, and place in a medium bowl; cover and chill until ready to use.
  2. Return lobster cooking water to a boil over high. Add pasta, and cook until al dente, about 12 minutes; drain, reserving 3/4 cup cooking liquid. Set aside pasta and reserved cooking liquid.
  3. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium. Add garlic, crushed red pepper, and 2 cups of the tomatoes; cook, stirring occasionally, until tomatoes are softened and burst, about 5 minutes.
  4. Add cream, oregano, salt, and black pepper to skillet; bring to a simmer over medium. Gradually add spinach; cook, stirring often, until spinach is wilted, 1 to 2 minutes.
  5. Increase heat in skillet to medium-high. Stir in cooked pasta and remaining 2 cups tomatoes. Cook, stirring constantly, until sauce thickens enough to coat pasta and tomatoes begin to soften, about 3 minutes. Gradually stir in reserved cooking liquid, as needed, to reach desired consistency. Remove from heat, and stir in lobster and Parmesan until well combined and cheese is melted, about 1 minute.
  6. Divide pasta evenly among 6 bowls; sprinkle with additional Parmesan, and garnish with chives.