Pumpkin Lobster Mac and Cheese

Featured in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser on October 16, 2019.

Pumpkin Lobster Mac and Cheese

Ingredients:

Pumpkin Lobster Mac and Cheese

  • 1 (12-ounce) package uncooked shell pasta
  • 2 tablespoons margarine
  • 1 tablespoon minced shallot
  • 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
  • 1 (12-ounce) can evaporated milk
  • 1 (8-ounce) package shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 (8-ounce) container mascarpone cheese
  • 1 cup canned pumpkin puree
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest
  • Salt and ground black pepper to taste
  • 1 pinch garlic powder, or to taste
  • 1 pinch paprika, or to taste
  • 1 pinch ground nutmeg, or to taste
  • 2 dashes hot sauce, or to taste
  • 1 pound cooked lobster tails, peeled and chopped
  • 1 (12-ounce) package green peas, thawed if frozen
  • 1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
  • 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 tablespoons margarine, melted

Directions:

  1. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil.
  2. Cook pasta shells until tender but still slightly firm, about 10 minutes; drain and set aside.
  3. Heat oven to 375°F.
  4. Grease a 9x13-inch casserole dish.
  5. In a medium skillet on medium heat, melt margarine.
  6. Add shallot and stir until lightly browned, about 5 minutes.
  7. Whisk flour into margarine and shallots to form a smooth paste.
  8. Slowly whisk evaporated milk into flour mixture until it forms a smooth sauce; simmer until thickened, 2 to 4 minutes.
  9. Whisk cheddar cheese and mascarpone cheese into sauce until cheeses have melted, about 5 minutes.
  10. Stir pumpkin puree, lemon zest, salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, nutmeg, and hot sauce into the sauce until combined.
  11. Lightly mix in lobster tail meat, green peas, and cooked pasta shells until heated through, about 5 minutes.
  12. Pour pasta mixture into prepared casserole dish; top with panko crumbs and Parmesan cheese.
  13. Bake in oven until topping is brown and crisp, 40 minutes.

Serves 12.

Approximate Nutrient Analysis per serving (based on 1 pound lobster meat):
450 calories, 23 g fat, 11 g saturated fat, 85 mg cholesterol, 400 mg sodium, 36 g carbohydrate, 2 g fiber, 6 g sugar, 25 g protein

Approximate Nutrient Analysis per serving (based on meat from 1 pound lobster tail with shell):
430 calories, 23 g fat, 11 g saturated fat, 70 mg cholesterol, 350 mg sodium, 36 g carbohydrate, 2 g fiber, 6 g sugar, 20 g protein

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