Lobster Mac Cheese Truffle Oil (Printable)
Creamy macaroni with tender lobster and a drizzle of fragrant truffle oil for an elevated comfort dish.
# What You'll Need:
→ Pasta
01 - 12 oz elbow macaroni
→ Cheese Sauce
02 - 3 tbsp unsalted butter
03 - 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
04 - 3 cups whole milk, warmed
05 - 1/2 cup heavy cream
06 - 6 oz sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
07 - 3 oz Gruyère cheese, shredded
08 - 2 oz Parmesan cheese, grated
09 - 1/2 tsp kosher salt
10 - 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
11 - 1/4 tsp smoked paprika
12 - 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
→ Lobster
13 - 12 oz cooked lobster meat, chopped into bite-sized pieces
→ Topping
14 - 2 oz panko breadcrumbs
15 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
16 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
17 - 2 tsp white or black truffle oil
# Directions:
01 - Preheat your oven to 375°F. Grease a 2-quart baking dish with butter or cooking spray.
02 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the elbow macaroni until al dente according to package directions. Drain thoroughly and set aside.
03 - In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt 3 tbsp butter. Whisk in the flour and cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly, until the mixture is lightly golden and fragrant.
04 - Gradually whisk in the warm milk and heavy cream. Continue stirring constantly for 4-5 minutes until the sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon.
05 - Remove the saucepan from heat. Stir in the cheddar, Gruyère, and Parmesan cheeses until completely melted and smooth. Season with kosher salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, and cayenne pepper.
06 - Gently fold the cooked macaroni and chopped lobster meat into the cheese sauce until evenly distributed and fully coated.
07 - Pour the macaroni and lobster mixture into the prepared baking dish, spreading it evenly.
08 - In a small bowl, combine the panko breadcrumbs, melted butter, and fresh parsley. Mix until the breadcrumbs are evenly coated.
09 - Sprinkle the breadcrumb mixture evenly over the macaroni. Bake for 20-25 minutes until the top is golden brown and the cheese is bubbly around the edges.
10 - Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes to set. Drizzle with truffle oil just before serving.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The cheese sauce develops this crazy velvety texture that coats every single curve of pasta
- Lobster turns ordinary mac and cheese into something that feels like a celebration
- That finish of truffle oil creates this aromatic moment when everyone leans in closer
02 -
- Warming your milk first prevents the dreaded lumpy sauce disaster
- Take the cheese sauce off the heat before adding cheese or it might separate
- Letting it rest for those five minutes makes serving so much easier
03 -
- Grate your own cheese because pre-shredded just does not melt the same way
- Do not skip the resting time or it will be too loose to serve neatly