Simple Seasonal

Healthy Seasonal Recipes Inspired by Your Local Farm and CSA

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Recipes
  • How-To
  • Farm to Table
  • Playing With Food
  • Contact

Langostino Mac ‘n Cheese

February 13, 2020 By Rachel Leave a Comment

Share8
Pin
Tweet
Yum
Share
Flip
8 Shares

Langostino Mac n’ Cheese – This rich, creamy, and romantic comfort dish has all the flavor of lobster mac & cheese but with a much smaller price tag!

Table Set with Langostino Mac 'n Cheese

I love lobster. In addition to tasting amazing, I associate lobster with romantic memories. I remember getting it on my honeymoon. I’ve since ordered it on many a date night and I’ve even prepared it on Valentine’s Day.

langostinos in a strainer
Making Mac 'n Cheese Sauce
Mixing Langostino Mac 'n Cheese in a Casserole Dish

My love for lobster extends beyond date night. For a while I had a reoccurring dream about lobster. I’m not sure if I should share it, though, because it’s sort of embarrassing. But surely I’m not the only one with weird dreams…

Cooked Casserole Dish of Langostino Mac 'n Cheese

In the dream I’m wandering around Maine with a large inflatable lobster looking for lobster to eat. And, yes, in the dream I’m wearing a lobster bib. Bib or not, it doesn’t matter, because every time I have the dream the darn lobster evades me!

Two Dishes of Langostino Mac 'n Cheese

Fortunately for me, today’s recipe is for Langostino Mac ‘n Cheese. I don’t need dream lobsters because in real life I have langostinos! They are what I like to call “mini lobsters.” In addition to tasting exactly like lobster tails, they look just like cute little lobster tails that have been simply shrunk down in size. Even better, their price is shrunk down in size when compared to lobsters. Sounds like a dream come true to me!

Close Up of Langostino Mac 'n Cheese

I decided to make Mac ‘n Cheese with my Langostino tails. With it being a chilly February I wanted to make a meal that’s a cross between comfort food and romance. This recipe has both of those things. The homemade cheese sauce with a blend of three cheeses and the addition of shallots and garlic means the pasta is smothered in a creamy and flavorful sauce. The flavor perfectly compliments the pretty, pink langostinos for a touch of romance. It’s the stuff of dreams!

Fork Full of Langostino Mac 'n Cheese

Back to the topic of dreams… If you’re a dream expert, I’d love to hear your take on the meaning of my lobster dream. I haven’t had it in a number of years. Perhaps that’s because I found what I was looking for when I met my husband. That, and I’ve also found delicious little langostinos!

Langostino Mac 'n Cheese

Langostino Mac n’ Cheese

Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

This rich, creamy, and romantic comfort dish has all the flavor of lobster mac & cheese but with a much smaller price tag!

Ingredients

Mac ’n Cheese

  • 8 oz box pasta*
  • 1 12 oz package frozen langostino tails, thawed**
  • 1/4 C (1/2 stick) butter
  • 1 C sweet onion, finely chopped
  • 1/4 C shallots, finely chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1/4 C flour
  • 2 1/2 C 2% milk
  • 3 C (1 8 oz block) cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 1 C freshly grated parmesan, shredded
  • 4 slices American cheese, torn into shreds

Bread Crumb Topping

  • 1 C smashed Ritz Crackers
  • 3 Tbsp butter, melted

Instructions

    1. The night before, place the bag of langostino tails in a bowl in the refrigerator to thaw.
    2. Preheat oven to 350ºF. Begin bringing a large pot of water to a boil. Place a strainer in a large bowl and drain any excess liquid off of the langostino tails, then set aside. 
    3. Over medium heat sauté together the butter, sweet onion, and shallots until translucent for about 3-5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and sauté for another minute.
    4. Make a roux by adding the salt, pepper, and flour to the pot with the onions. Cook until the butter/flour mixture begins to bubble (about 1 minute).
    5. Next, slowly add the milk to the pot, stirring constantly. Bring to a boil and then remove from the heat. The milk mixture will be thick and creamy at this point. 
    6. Slowly stir the cheese into the pot until completely melted. Set aside for a few minutes.
    7. Cook 8 ounces pasta in salted water per the package instructions. Use the longer cook time, not the al dente cook time. Once cooked, drain the water through a strainer. 
    8. While the pasta is cooking, grease a 2.5 quart baking dish with vegetable oil or cooking spray. Drain the thawed langostino tails to remove any excess liquid. Also, prepare the Ritz cracker topping by combining 1 C of smashed Ritz Crackers with 3 Tbsp of melted butter. 
    9. In the baking dish evenly combine the cooked pasta, langostino tails, and cheese sauce. Spread the mac ’n cheese out so that it evenly fills the dish. Top with the crushed Ritz Crackers. 
    10. Cook in a 350ºF oven for 30-40 minutes. The Lagostino Mac ’n Cheese is done cooking once it’s bubbly and the middle of the dish has reached an internal temperature of 160ºF. Serve hot. 

Notes

*I used cavatappi pasta 

**To thaw the langostino tails, place their package in a bowl in your refrigerator and allow to thaw for 24 hours. Don’t allow the tales to sit in your refrigerator for more that 24 hours due to the risk of bacteria growth. If you forgot to defrost your langostino tails, defrost them in a bowl of cold water, changing the water every 15 minutes until the tails are thawed. Don’t allow the water to get too warm due to the risk of bacteria growth. Once thawed, drain the tails in a strainer and wring them lightly in paper towels to remove any excess liquid. 

© Rachel Hanawalt
Cuisine: American / Category: Entrees
Dish of Langostino Mac 'n Cheese

You may also enjoy…

Surf and Turf Cheese Fondue
Surf and Turf Cheese Fondue
Oyster Stew
Oyster Stew
Lobster Linguine in Blushing Saffron Sauce
Lobster Linguine in Blushing Saffron Sauce

Get Your Next Meal In Your Inbox!

Enter your email address to get the latest recipes and relevant seasonal content on the blog!

I agree to have my personal information transfered to AWeber ( more information )

I will never give away, trade, or sell your email address. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Share8
Pin
Tweet
Yum
Share
Flip
8 Shares

Filed Under: Casserole, Entree, Entrees, Holidays, Meal Types, Meat, Eggs, and Dairy, Recipes, Seafood, Seasons, Specific Audiences, Valentine's Day, Winter Tagged With: #langostino, Cheesy, lobster, mac 'n cheese, pasta salad, romantic, Valentine's Day

« 3 Kid’s Tea Party Sandwiches
Berry Swirl Cheesecake Bars »

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Hi, I'm Rachel! Welcome to Simple Seasonal, a resource for simple, healthful, and delicious recipes that help you make the most of seasonal produce from your local farmer's market, CSA, or home garden. Simple Seasonal is committed to a whole foods diet. With an occasional cookie... ;)


Recipes in Your Inbox!

Sign up to get free updates!

Search

Connect With Us

  • Bloglovin
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Tumblr
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Connect With Us!

If you're active on social media, you'll find Simple Seasonal there as well. Feel free to connect, share, and say hello!

  • Bloglovin
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Tumblr
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Discover Fall Recipes

Honey Butter with a Touch of Cinnamon
Square Picture of Baked Rutabaga Fries in a Basket
One-Skillet Shrimp and Okra
glazed sheet pan delicata squash and pears
Sticky Chipotle Cauliflower Wings
Bowl of Cheddar Grits

Discover Fall Recipes

Slow Cooker Fall-Off-the-Bone Baby Back Ribs
Apple cinnamon streusel muffins on a plate
candied North Georgia candy roaster squash
Senposai, Daikon and Chili Garlic Chicken Wrap
One-Pot Asian Meatballs with Bok Choy and Peanut Sauce

Copyright © 2021 · Simple Seasonal · Privacy Policy · ↑ Back to top

Privacy Policy