Description
Summer’s delectable lobster pasta salad from Ina Garten combines fresh seafood and crisp vegetables in a light mayonnaise dressing. Mediterranean flavors blend seamlessly, offering coastal charm that delights palates on warm afternoons.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups (454 g) lobster meat, chopped
- 1 lb (454 g) pasta (fusilli or farfalle)
- ½ cup (120 ml) mayonnaise
- ¼ cup (60 ml) sour cream
- 2 tbsps (30 ml) lemon juice
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) Dijon mustard
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- ½ cup (75 g) celery, finely chopped
- ½ cup (75 g) red bell pepper, finely chopped
- ¼ cup (40 g) red onion, finely chopped
- ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste
- ¼ tsp (1.25 ml) Old Bay seasoning (optional)
Instructions
- Pasta Preparation: Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a vigorous boil. Cook pasta until perfectly al dente, then swiftly drain and rinse under cold water to immediately halt cooking. Allow pasta to cool completely.
- Dressing Creation: Whisk mayonnaise, sour cream, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, kosher salt, black pepper, and Old Bay seasoning in a small bowl until smooth and fully integrated.
- Ingredient Fusion: In a spacious mixing bowl, combine cooled pasta, tender lobster meat, cherry tomatoes, celery, red bell pepper, red onion, and fresh parsley. Gently fold ingredients to maintain delicate texture.
- Flavor Infusion: Pour prepared dressing over the mixture, carefully folding to ensure even coating without fragmenting the lobster meat. Ensure each ingredient is delicately enrobed in the creamy dressing.
- Chilling and Serving: Seal the bowl with plastic wrap or a tight lid, then refrigerate for 60-90 minutes. This crucial resting period allows flavors to meld and intensify. Serve thoroughly chilled, presenting a harmonious and refreshing pasta salad with vibrant maritime essence.
Notes
- Pasta Perfection: Cook pasta exactly 8-10 minutes for ideal al dente texture, then immediately rinse with cold water to stop cooking and prevent clumping.
- Dressing Dynamics: Whisk mayonnaise, sour cream, and seasonings thoroughly to create a smooth, well-blended sauce that coats ingredients evenly without overwhelming.
- Seafood Sensitivity: Handle lobster meat gently during mixing to prevent breaking delicate pieces, ensuring each bite maintains its luxurious texture.
- Flavor Fusion: Refrigerate salad for minimum 60-90 minutes before serving, allowing ingredients to marinate and develop a deeper, more complex taste profile.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 576
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 1025 mg
- Fat: 36 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 30 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg