Lobster , artichoke and spinach bake is the most decadent, creamy crustacean bake filled with greens and tang of the artichoke. A show stopper dish at the holiday table!
It has almost become a Holiday tradition for the man of this herd to make us happy with a cheese and crustacean bake every year.
I must say I was apprehensive to see him mix cheese, spinach and artichoke for the first time but my God! it turned out to be sooo delicious. You can read the earlier drama here š . He uses crab in the bake usually but moving to the East Coast was the perfect opportunity to experiment with lobster.
Oh ya! I am all game when it comes to food. I can clean live cooked lobster like a pro and he can drive us to the end of the earth looking for the best and finest cooked food.
He gets up one long weekend morning and asks me, “Do u want to try freshest wild caught lobster?” I said I would love to and in about 15 minutes the herd was in the car. Where are we going… to Maine???? He chuckled . . . and my facial expression cannot be mentioned here :)) U won’t believe we crossed two states just to try lobster. It was phenomenal I have to admit some surprises are worth it. Now am I the crazy foodie here or he? š
Lobster secrets :
Which lobster is the sweetest?
Maine lobster are in fact the best. Cold water produces sweeter Lobster. The meat is much sweeter when compared to lobsters grown in warm conditions cold water keeps the meat from absorbing the salt in the water.
Smaller the better – Well I buy the chix as the meat is believed to be juicy and tender. The larger ones not only have heavier shell weight but also doesn’t seem economical to me.
So here is the red, white and green dish. Perfect for the season!
Lobster artichoke spinach bake
INGREDIENTS :
- 1 full Lobster -cooked ā (steamed with shell ) or buy two tails insteadĀ (it is easier to cut)
- 1 can Artichoke ā Canned ( 14 oz can)
- 500 gms Spinach – 2 bags( 8 oz each)
- 8 oz Ricotta cheese -around 225 gms
- 8 oz Sour cream – around 225 gms
- 1/2 cup Mozzarella cheese ( 1/2 cup or more)
- 1 tbsp Butter – melted
- 1 tsp Dry herb mixture (Rosemary,parsley, thyme,oregano, basil)
- 1 tsp Garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp Red chili flakes
- Salt and freshly cracked pepper to taste
INSTRUCTIONS :
PREP WORK:
- Keep the ricotta cheese and sour cream on a strainer to drain of excess liquid.(Put cheese cloth on sieve if it has big holes to prevent cheese and cream flowing off)
- Crack the shell of the cooked lobster and cut it into chunky pieces. Keep claw meat pieces separate to use later. Check youtube for perfect cleaning videos.
- Lightly cook the spinach in half cup water when all the leaves are wilted drain off all the water and keep it on a stainer until most of the water is gone.
- Drain the artichoke and roughly chop it also chop the spinach if u like.
BAKING :
- When the above ingredients are ready add it to half of mozzarella cheese,mix spices to hot melted butter to warm up the fragrances, Ā mix Ā everything well till combined and bake at 350Ā°F for approximately 15-20 minutes in middle rackĀ
- Once u see the liquid in the mixture is almost dry spread the claw pieces of lobster and remaining mozzarella cheese bake for 5 more minutes until the top browns well. Do not let the mixture over bake a s the lobster will become chewy and rubbery.
- Note: Ā the baking time will differ depending on the water content in the spinach,cheese n sour cream, also type baking dish used. Please keep a close eye after 15 minutes.
- Allow it to cool slightly then serve as a dip with chips or serve it with bread or buns.
NOTES :
Note :My local grocer cooks the live lobster for me.I am yet to muster courage to bring live ones home.:)))
Did u know lobster was considered trash and later as poor man’s food in 1800s. When did it get fancy? When the railroads started in America, the inland passengers did not know how the coast looked upon it and treated lobster as exotic. Lobster demand has not seen a bad day ever since. What a game changer !
Hope you like it.
Meena
Here are more Holiday side dish ideas from Food Network friends:Feed Me Phoebe:Butternut Squash Gratin with Gruyere and Pistachios
The Lemon Bowl:Spinach and Artichoke Stuffed Mushrooms
Homemade Delish:Fennel and Potato Gratin
The Mom 100:Broccoli Rabe with Preserved Lemon
Napa Farmhouse 1885:Rye & Roasted Butternut Squash Dressing
Red or Green:Green Beans with Chipotle Butter
The Mediterranean Dish: Shrimp Bruschetta
The Wimpy Vegetarian:Fail-Proof Cheesy Mashed Potatoes
Elephants and the Coconut Trees: Lobster, Artichoke and Spinach Bake
Creative Culinary:Baked Mushrooms in a Parmesan Cream Sauce
Healthy Eats:7 Holiday Sides That Won’t Spoil Dessert
FN Dish: 5 Indulgent Side Dishes to Deck Your Holiday Table
This is everything good put together – cannot go wrong with this one. :). And that is a sweet story!. – Sreelatha
Going on a unplanned food adventure…oh how exciting it sounds. I love such adventures. Your hubby did take the pain to treat you in a wonderful way.
Never tasted lobster and your dish is making me want to give it a taste Meena š
I love Lobster and what a dish to make during holidays. I never made lobster before but after seeing your post – I am dying to try!! Thank you for sharing this recipe š And i am glad that you're back.
Meena your husband sounds super adventurous! Lovely story, and that bake looks killer!
Thank u. Come over anytime Sathya.
Thank u Sreelatha. I always feel he has got a better taste for cooking than me.
whoo you crossed two states just to try lobster ? thats one adventure ..that dish looks so creamy and too delicious .Wish i could taste it
I know I get such surprises often. I felt so bad Jyothi I complained till I reached there š
Lobster tastes like shrimp a lil more chewier though.
Thank u Dolphia I am so glad to hear that. It is lil work to get the meat out of the claws, its better to buy tail meat and start from there.
He is very much Richa š Thank u dear for dropping by.
Wonderful story and beautiful clicks! that lobster click is a killer!! Amazing… š
Oh god…u guys crossed 2 states to taste lobster…the entire family seems to be foodie :)..
Mr lobster is a great poser…nice clicks there and that cheesy look of the dish is wanting me to dig into it.
That first picture is just wow!!! And the story that followed, even more wow!!! I guess we women in our mind love such surprises but then keep nagging about it as well hehe… I feel that's just so sweet of jiju to do… and that bake, no words! I may not touch it, since I will go all red immediately š but looks really beautiful and definitely a treat to those who love it… now realise the difference between lobster and crab… hehe… š
I had to see what you.did with the bright red crustacean. Fortunate you, man of the house did really good…and all that cheese with it -yum. Can you drive to New England and catch me one too. JKš
The lobster artichoke and spinach bake looks simply amazing!! I was amused to read how you got the lobster, sometimes its worth it, isn't it?