Description
Ina Garten’s lobster & shells recipe combines succulent seafood with perfectly cooked pasta in a creamy, luxurious sauce. Home cooks can easily recreate this elegant dish with fresh ingredients and simple techniques.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound (454 g) cooked fresh lobster meat, medium-diced
- 1 pint (473 ml) cherry tomatoes, halved
- 4 ears of corn, kernels removed (about 3 cups or 360 ml)
- ½ pound (227 g) small pasta shells (such as Ronzoni)
- ¼ cup (60 ml) good olive oil
- ¾ cup (177 ml) mayonnaise
- ½ cup (120 ml) sour cream
- ¼ cup (60 ml) freshly squeezed lemon juice (2 lemons)
- ¾ cup (12 g) minced fresh dill
- 6 scallions, white and green parts, thinly sliced
- 1 yellow or orange bell pepper, seeded and small-diced
- 1 tbsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Pasta Preparation: Heat a generously sized pot of water, seasoning with kosher salt and a hint of olive oil. Cook pasta until al dente, introducing corn kernels during the final cooking moments. Drain simultaneously and transfer to a spacious mixing vessel.
- Ingredient Integration: Combine lobster meat, scallions, bell pepper, and cherry tomatoes with the pasta-corn blend. Toss gently to ensure harmonious distribution, allowing the mixture to cool slightly and meld flavors.
- Dressing Creation: Whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, lemon juice, kosher salt, and ground black pepper in a separate bowl until achieving a silky, uniform consistency.
- Final Assembly: Pour the creamy dressing over the pasta mixture, stirring methodically to coat each component thoroughly. Gently incorporate fresh dill, adjusting seasoning with additional salt and pepper to elevate the flavor profile.
- Flavor Development: Seal the salad with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 6 hours, allowing ingredients to marinate and intensify. Prior to serving, perform a final taste check and adjust seasonings as needed. Present chilled or at ambient temperature for optimal gustatory experience.
Notes
- Boost Pasta Texture: Add olive oil to boiling water to prevent pasta from sticking and enhance overall flavor profile.
- Corn Cooking Hack: Introduce corn kernels during final 2 minutes of pasta cooking to maintain perfect crispness and avoid overcooking.
- Dressing Balance Trick: Whisk mayonnaise and sour cream thoroughly to create a smooth, creamy consistency that evenly coats every ingredient.
- Flavor Development Secret: Refrigerate salad for up to 6 hours before serving, allowing ingredients to marry and intensify taste sensations.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 670
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 45 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 36 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 46 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg