Sometimes you just need to add a little something special to your mac and cheese. How about using amazing cheeses, like Fontina, Aged White Cheddar, and Asiago Fresco? If that's not enough, how about some seafood? Now we're talking. Super cheesy. Super creamy. Super amazing.
Fontina and Aged White Cheddar give this cheesy sauce a bit of a punch, and the Asiago Fresco (a softer, milder, better melting version of Asiago) makes it extra creamy and delicious. Boiling the pasta in the lobster cooking liquid adds extra seafood flavor to this Cheesy Shrimp and Lobster Penne.
Cheesy Shrimp and Lobster Penne
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: Serves 4
Ingredients
Units Scale
- 1 pound penne pasta
- 1 pound shrimp, peeled and de-veined
- 2 lobster tails
- 1-2 tablespoons olive oil
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 4 cups whole milk, heated but not boiling
- 1 cup Fontina, freshly grated
- 1 cup Aged White cheddar, freshly grated
- 1 cup Asiago Fresco (make sure it's the fresco variety...should be soft, not hard like Parmesan)
- salt and pepper, to taste
- pinch of nutmeg
- few drops of Frank's Red Hot sauce
Instructions
- In a large pot, bring 3 quarts of water to a boil. Add 1 tablespoon salt and the lobster tails. Boil gently for 5-7 minutes. Remove lobster tails to a dish and set aside. (Do not discard the cooking liquid...keep it simmering.)
- Meanwhile, in a large skillet, saute the shrimp in the olive oil until cooked through, about 2-3 minutes per side. Remove from heat.
- In a large saucepan, melt the butter. Add flour, whisking until smooth. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, about 5 to 7 minutes until lightly golden. Gradually add milk, whisking constantly. Bring to a boil, and cook for 10 minutes, stirring constantly. Add cheeses, nutmeg, hot sauce, and season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Cook the penne in the lobster cooking liquid until al dente.
- Meanwhile, remove the lobster meat from the shell and cut into bite-size pieces.
- Add the lobster, cheese sauce, and the drained penne to the large skillet with the shrimp. Stir to combine, and adjust seasonings as needed.
chef mimi
Fabulous! This looks so delicate and decadent!
Evensonge
This looks amazing! I'll definitely try this recipe out.