Recipes
Lobster fondue mac and cheese with crispy bacon topping
20
mins of preparation + 15
cooking time
4
servings
Ingredients
Lobster fondue mac and cheese:
- 2 lobster tails
- 2 1/4 cups (225g) cavatappi or other short cut, macronni-type pasta
- 1 cup (250 mL) crisp, dry white wine
- 1 tsp (5 mL) kosher salt
- 1 clove garlic, grated
- 3/4 cup (180 mL) 2% evaporated milk
- 1 tbsp (15 mL) cherry brandy or liqueur
- 1 cup (100g) Gruyere cheese
- 1 cup (100g) Emmental cheese
- Ground black pepper
Cripsy bacon topping:
- 1 cup (250 mL) fresh bread crumbs
- 1/2 package duBreton Black Forest Bacon
- 1 clove garlic, sliced thinly
- 1 tbsp (15 mL) butter
- 1/8 cup (15g) freshly grated parmesan
Preparations
Lobster:
- Add 1 cup of water in a pressure cooker and set the two lobster tails on a pressure cooker safe trivet, shell side down.
- Steam on low pressure for 3 minutes.
- Immediately shock the lobster in an ice bath to stop if from cooking further.
- Remove shell, chop lobster meat and set aside.
Cripsy bacon topping:
- Chop uncooked bacon into to small pieces and fry in a small pan until it starts to get crispy.
- Drain all but approximately 1 tbsp (15 mL) of bacon grease from the pan. Add garlic to bacon grease. Stir around for approximately 30 seconds and add butter.
- Add bread crumbs and toss with the bacon bits until evenly coated. Continue frying for until the bread crumbs are brown and crispy (approximately 3-4 minutes)
- Grate parmesan over top of the bread crumbs, fold in and continue cooking for 30 seconds.
- Remove from heat and set aside.
Mac and cheese:
- Add pasta, water, wine, salt and grated garlic to pressure cooker pot. Cook on high pressure for 4-5 minutes.
- Change pressure cooker to sauté setting, and bring remaining water and pasta to a simmer. Add evaporated milk and cherry liqueur.
- Continue simmering for approximately 3 minutes. Turn off pressure cooker.
- Remove pot from pressure cooker and add lobster to pasta. Add cheese, a handful at a time, stirring constantly until it’s melted and creamy.
- Ladle the pasta into a bowl and top each bowl with a generous handful of crispy bread bacon toppings.
- Serve with salad.
Don’t have a pressure cooker?
Lobster can be easily cooked a number of ways, including:
- Boiled in salted water for 1 minute per ounce.
- Broiled in the oven at 370F/190C for 1.5 minutes per ounce.
- Pan seared over medium heat in butter or oil for approximately 3 minutes per side.
- Grilled over medium heat for 3-5 minutes per side.
For the Mac and Cheese:
- In a large pot, bring 2 ½ cups (625 mL) water, white wine and salt and grated garlic to a boil
- Add the pasta and cook on medium heat until pasta is cooked al dente (refer to pasta package for recommended cooking times)
- Add the evaporated milk, brandy and simmer for 3 minutes
- In the meantime, toss the grated cheese in 2 tsp (10 mL) cornstarch (cornstarch not included in the ingredients above)
- Gradually add the cheese, stirring frequently to make sure the cheese melts and becomes a creamy consistency. Add the lobster
- Ladle the pasta into a bowls and top each bowl with a generous handful of crispy bread bacon toppings.