Pumpkin Lobster Mac and Cheese

One Halloween I decided to try out a macaroni and cheese recipe using pumpkin, and it turned out to be a huge hit. The combination of the cheeses and the pumpkin made it so very rich and creamy. The next time I decided to make this dish I added some cooked lobster I had left over, and from there I just fell in love. I have had lobster macaroni and cheese dishes before, but never anything like this. All of this may sound strange and unusual but once you try this dish you will never get it out of your head. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve with fresh bread or dinner rolls.

• Preparation Time: 15 mins
• Cooking Time: 1 hr 15 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 30 mins
• Calories: 427 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1 cup canned pumpkin puree
• 1 (12 fluid ounce) can evaporated milk
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons margarine
• 1 (8 ounce) container mascarpone cheese
• 2 tablespoons margarine, melted
• ⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• salt and ground black pepper to taste
• 1 (8 ounce) package shredded Cheddar cheese
• 1 tablespoon minced shallot
• 1 pinch garlic powder, or to taste
• 1 pinch ground nutmeg, or to taste
• 1 pinch paprika, or to taste
• ½ cup panko bread crumbs
• 2 dashes hot sauce, or to taste
• 1 (12 ounce) package uncooked shell pasta
• 1 pound cooked lobster tails, peeled and chopped
• 1 (12 ounce) package green peas, thawed if frozen

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

Step 2

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a rolling boil. Cook pasta shells at a boil until tender but still slightly firm, about 10 minutes; drain and set aside.

Step 3

Grease a 9x13-inch casserole dish.

Step 4

Melt 2 tablespoons margarine in a skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir shallot in melted margarine until lightly browned, about 5 minutes.

Step 5

Whisk flour into margarine and shallots to form a smooth paste.

Step 6

Slowly whisk evaporated milk into flour mixture until it forms a smooth sauce; simmer until thickened, 2 to 4 minutes.

Step 7

Whisk shredded Cheddar cheese and mascarpone cheese into sauce until cheeses have melted, about 5 minutes.

Step 8

Stir pumpkin puree, lemon zest, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, paprika, nutmeg, and hot sauce into the sauce until combined.

Step 9

Lightly mix in lobster tail meat, green peas, and cooked pasta shells until heated through, about 5 minutes.

Step 10

Pour pasta mixture into prepared casserole dish; top with panko crumbs and Parmesan cheese. Drizzle 2 tablespoons of melted margarine over the casserole.

Step 11

Bake in the preheated oven until topping is brown and crisp, 40 minutes.