Lobster tagliatelle

by Francesco Mazzei
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servings4
2 hours 15 minutes

Ingredients

Lobster tagliatelle

  • 2 lobsters, Scottish, 600g each
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 10g of thyme
  • 10g of red chillies
  • 10g of spring onions
  • 20ml of brandy
  • 2 star anise
  • 100g of cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 350g of tagliatelle, dried
  • 80ml of extra virgin olive oil, plus extra to finish the sauce
  • 10g of flat-leaf parsley, chopped
  • 10g of basil, chopped
  • micro basil
  • salt
  • pepper

Tomato sauce

  • 200g of San Marzano tomatoes, skinned and roughly chopped
  • 1 garlic clove, crushed
  • 20g of onion, chopped
  • 1 handful of basil, roughly chopped
  • olive oil

Lobster stock

  • 400g of lobster shell
  • 1 onion, large dice
  • 1 celery stick, large dice
  • 1 carrot, large dice
  • 25ml of brandy
  • 125ml of white wine
  • 1 star anise
  • 1 tsp tomato paste

Method

1
For the tomato sauce, add a thin film of olive oil to a medium saucepan and place over a medium heat. Once hot, sweat the garlic until golden, then add the basil and onion and stir for a further 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes and cook for 5 minutes to break down, then pass through a mouli and set aside to cool
  • olive oil
  • 1 garlic clove, crushed
  • 20g of onion, chopped
  • 1 handful of basil, roughly chopped
  • 200g of San Marzano tomatoes, skinned and roughly chopped
2
Preheat the oven to 200˚C/gas mark 6
3
For the lobster stock, place the lobster shells, onion, celery and carrot on a baking tray and roast in the oven for 10 - 15 minutes
  • 1 onion, large dice
  • 400g of lobster shell
  • 1 celery stick, large dice
  • 1 carrot, large dice
4
Meanwhile, add the brandy to a large saucepan, reduce until almost dry then add the wine and reduce until almost dry again
  • 25ml of brandy
  • 125ml of white wine
5
Stir in the star anise and tomato paste, then add the roasted shells and vegetables. Cover with water and simmer for approximately 1 1/2 hours, skimming off any scum that floats to the surface. Once ready, pass through a fine strainer and set aside
  • 1 star anise
  • 1 tsp tomato paste
6
To begin the sauce, place a pan over a medium heat and add the extra virgin olive oil. Once hot, gently fry the garlic, thyme and chilli until tender, then add the spring onions and stir through. While they are still alive but insensate, quickly and firmly cut the lobsters in half lengthways, remove the claws from the lobster and freeze or use for another dish. Add the lobsters to the hot pan and pour in the brandy
  • 2 lobsters, Scottish, 600g each
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 10g of thyme
  • 10g of red chillies
  • 10g of spring onions
  • 20ml of brandy
  • 80ml of extra virgin olive oil, plus extra to finish the sauce
7
Add the star anise, tomatoes, the tomato sauce and a good ladle of lobster stock. Cover with a lid and simmer for approximately 5 - 8 minutes
  • 2 star anise
  • 100g of cherry tomatoes, halved
8
Meanwhile, drop the tagliatelle into salted boiling water and stir thoroughly for the first 1 - 2 minutes - this will ensure it does not stick together. Cook until al dente for 7 - 8 minutes
  • salt
  • 350g of tagliatelle, dried
9
Just before the pasta is ready, remove the lobster halves and use strong kitchen scissors to trim off the legs and antennae so you are left with neat body portions. Strain the pasta and add to the pan with the sauce, along with a splash of the pasta water. Finish the pasta with a dash of olive oil, salt, pepper, parsley and basil and toss to coat
  • pepper
  • salt
  • 10g of flat-leaf parsley, chopped
  • 10g of basil, chopped
10
To serve, use a pair of tongs or carving fork to gather the pasta and arrange left of centre on each plate. Add the lobster, any remaining sauce from the pan and micro basil. Serve immediately
  • micro basil