Summer Lobster Pasta is simple and decadent and I want it on repeat for the rest of these summer weeks. If you've made my turkey meatballs with angel hair pasta, or my Ratatouille Pasta, you know I love a summery twist on my favorite thing- pasta!!
Table of Contents
Why I Love This Recipe
It’s been a minute since I’ve had lobster in any form… and that’s not okay with me. I missed out on our annual trip to Maine so I’m remedying my lobster cravings with a few things…. one is this Summer Lobster Pasta. And two… lobster rolls!!
Today, we're diving into this Lobster Pasta! Lobster pasta is equal parts luxurious and decadent that combines the rich, sweet flavors of lobster with our favorite carb here on WGC... pasta. This seemingly elegant (yet incredibly simple) meal if made with white wine, butter and fresh herbs, making it the perfect choice for special dinners in the summer months. Whether you’re hosting a chic dinner party or making dinner for two, lobster pasta is the fastest way to impress!
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Lobster Tails or Cooked Lobster Meat
- Pasta
- Olive oil
- Shallots
- Garlic
- Red pepper flakes
- Cherry tomatoes
- Dry white wine
- Unsalted butter
- Kosher salt and freshly cracked pepper
- Basil leaves
- Lemon
How to Make
- If using whole lobsters, cook them in boiling water for 6-8 minutes until bright red. The lobster is done when the shell is bright red, and the meat is white and opaque. Remove from boiling water, cool completely and remove the meat from tail, claws and knuckles, and chop into large chunks.
- Bring a pot of water to a boil and cook pasta.
- While the pasta is cooking, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add shallots and cook for 1 minute, until fragrant. Add garlic and red pepper and cook for 30 seconds. Add tomatoes and season generously with salt and pepper, let cook until the tomatoes start to burst. Add the white wine and cook until reduced. Add lobster meat and butter, stir to coat, and cook for 1 minute, then turn off heat.
- When pasta is al dente, drain it and add to skillet, and season with salt and pepper. Toss well and transfer to a large serving platter. Add basil, lemon zest and lemon juice and toss the Lobster Pasta once more and serve immediately.
Tips & Tricks
Let's talk about cooking lobster. It's expensive so it's worth investing a few minutes to know the tricks of the trade before making Lobster Pasta. Also I should note, you could easily buy the pre-cooked lobster tails if you want to avoid having to cook the lobster yourself – no shame in that game!!
If you're making it yourself, here’s the deal!
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
- Reduce the heat to a soft boil and add a few tablespoons of kosher sea salt.
- Drop the lobster tails into the water, one at a time, and set your timer for 6-8 minutes.
- Once cooked, use a pair of tongs to carefully remove the tails from the water.
- Run cold water over the cooked lobster tails right away to stop the cooking.
- Remove the shell and use the meat as needed.
And if you aren't anywhere where live lobster is sold, I have ordered it with great luck from here before!
FAQ's
How do you pick the best lobster?
Live Lobster: Choose live lobsters with lively movements. They should be kept cool and moist.
Weight: Typically, a 1.5 to 2-pound lobster is ideal for most recipes.
Freshness: If buying lobster tails or meat, ensure they are fresh and have no strong fishy smell.
How do you cook lobster?
There are 4 different ways to cook live lobster for this Lobster Pasta:
Boiling:
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil.
- Add the lobster headfirst into the pot.
- Cook for 6-8 minutes for a 1-pound lobster, adding 2-3 minutes for each additional pound.
- The lobster is done when the shell is bright red, and the meat is white and opaque.
Steaming:
- Add 2 inches of water to a large pot and bring to a boil.
- Place the lobster on a steaming rack or basket.
- Cover and steam for 10-12 minutes for a 1-pound lobster, adding 2-3 minutes for each additional pound.
Grilling:
- Pre-cook the lobster by boiling or steaming for about 5 minutes.
- Split the lobster in half lengthwise.
- Brush with butter or oil, and grill shell-side down for 5-6 minutes until the meat is opaque.
Baking:
- Pre-cook the lobster by boiling or steaming for 5-7 minutes.
- Split the lobster or tails in half lengthwise.
- Place in a baking dish, brush with butter, and bake at 375°F (190°C) for 10-12 minutes.
If you tried this recipe, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting today
Similar Recipes
Summer Lobster Pasta
Ingredients
- 4 lobster tails 8oz-10oz each, (or 1 pound cooked lobster meat)
- 1 pound pasta
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 large shallots finely diced
- 6 garlic cloves minced
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes halved
- ½ cup dry white wine
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- Kosher salt and freshly cracked pepper
- 2 handfuls basil leaves torn or roughly chopped
- 1 Lemon, zested and juice
Instructions
- If using whole lobsters, cook them in boiling water for 6-8 minutes until bright red. Remove from boiling water, cool completely and remove the meat from tail, claws and knuckles, and chop into large chunks.
- Bring a pot of water to a boil and cook pasta.
- While the pasta is cooking, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add shallots and cook for 1 minute, until fragrant. Add garlic and red pepper and cook for 30 seconds. Add tomatoes and season generously with salt and pepper, let cook until the tomatoes start to burst. Add the white wine and cook until reduced. Add lobster meat and butter, stir to coat, and cook for 1 minute, then turn off heat.
- When pasta is al dente, drain it and add to skillet, and season with salt and pepper. Toss well and transfer to a large serving platter. Add basil, lemon zest and lemon juice and toss once more and serve immediately.
Have to tell you. Made this tonight and it was a huge hit. Thank you so much for such a great tasting recipe. Loved making it almost as much as I loved eating it. My hubby told me at least 5 times how good it was!!
Yum yum yum! Definitely making this
Is there a good substitute for the dry white wine?
How many servings is this, Gaby? It’s a pound of pasta, and at 2 oz per serving, thqt would be 8–? I have a few lobster tails in the freezer and want to downsize this for two.
Enjoy Boston! I used to live there and now all our kids do, so I know it well. Don’t miss getting cannoli from Mike’s or Modern Bakery in the North End ( and of course having a dinner or two there as well).. Mike’s also has a shop in Cambridge. Living on the West Coast, good cannoli is something I miss.
serves 6
. Thanks, making this tonight!
This dish was amazing— I made this dish for my daughter and her husband the first night home after birthing a beautiful baby boy. The new parents first met in Boston so it seemed like the perfect welcome home meal— and it was truly perfect!! We love you Gaby, my daughter is one of your HS buds- Tyler.
omg sending you guys all my love!! congratulations!!
Does this same recipe work with shrimp?
yes!
Thanks so much for your reply.
I love your recipes. xo
This is legit my heaven.
I made this dish last night and it was amazing. I used spaghetti and it was delicious.
Thanks for this easy keeper recipe!
Enjoy Boston! Eat all the lobster and then ship me this plate of goodness, please? Mm k thanks!
What kind of pasta is that? Kinda wavy, kinda spirally - looks delish! Definitely making this!
It looks like canule but sometimes freshly made spaghetti it’s a wave in it. Canule is a top shelf type pasta.
I just love all the simple, tasteful summer recipes! Thank you for keeping me motivated!!
You're doing Summer right! Can't say no to this lobster pasta!
Oooof those chunks of lobster have me all a flutter!!
It looks yummy! What type of pasta is this?
This looks incredible - can't wait to try!