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Brown butter two days in a row? Oops.

Brown Butter Lobster, Bacon + Crispy Kale and Fontina Pasta | halfbakedharvest.com

I was not planning on posting this today, but then I thought “why the heck not?”.

Two days of brown butter can never be a bad thing, especially when one is sweet and the other is savory. It is kind of perfect actually.

That and like I said yesterday, I have brown butter on the brain. Expect more because I promise it is coming.Brown Butter Lobster, Bacon + Crispy Kale and Fontina Pasta | halfbakedharvest.com

I read somewhere in one of my millions of magazines I subscribe to that I let sit in a drawer for weeks upon weeks and then finally quickly flip through when I realize I am a month behind, that lobster is in season in September. To be honest, I really had no idea seafood had seasons. I mean, don’t fish live all year round?

I mean, I know they do, but maybe it is easier to catch them in the warmer months? Yeah, I am sure that has to be it. Right?

Ugh. Who knows, I think I need to do some reading. I feel like I should know this stuff.

Brown Butter Lobster, Bacon + Crispy Kale and Fontina Pasta | halfbakedharvest.com

Anyway, my point is lobster is in season all September long and that means it is probably going to be on sale (it already is here) and that means it’s time to eat some lobster!

Heck yes.

I can always be down with that.

Brown Butter Lobster, Bacon + Crispy Kale and Fontina Pasta | halfbakedharvest.com

Especially, when the lobster involves butter. Lobster and butter just go hand in hand. They work together to make each other better.

It’s a beautiful thing.

Brown Butter Lobster, Bacon + Crispy Kale and Fontina Pasta | halfbakedharvest.com

I used lobster tails for this because one, they are on sale, and two?

Well, I am way too scared to actually go and buy a live lobster, kill it, de-shell it and eat it. Sure, I think I could do it, but I really do not want to. I like lobster tails and they are easy and quick and well – already dead. Plus, I live in Colorado, in a small mountain town and I am pretty sure I would have to go to Denver to find a live one and even then I still think it might be hard.

So yeah, I am sticking with the tails. They never fail me.

Brown Butter Lobster, Bacon + Crispy Kale and Fontina Pasta | halfbakedharvest.com

The best part is that this dish is really simple.

It’s not like these Brown Butter Lobster Ravioli I made back in February that require a little more time. Although, that time is worth it. Those ravioli are still my all time favorite lobster dish, better than any restaurant. They are amazing and if you have the time and want to make some of the best homemade ravioli than you need to go and make those. Really you do.

But if you are looking for a quicker fix then this is your dish, it’s still totally amazing.

The crispy kale, the bacon, the fontina! It’s all so good and then topping if off with some fresh basil and a generous drizzle of brown butter?

Yeah, it’s pure awesomeness.

Brown Butter Lobster, Bacon + Crispy Kale and Fontina Pasta | halfbakedharvest.com

Brown Butter Lobster, Bacon + Crispy Kale and Fontina Pasta

Author: Tieghan Gerard
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings: 6 Servings
Calories Per Serving: 425 kcal

Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.

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Ingredients

  • 4 slices thick cut bacon
  • 4 ounce lobster tails 4-8
  • 6 tablespoon butter divided
  • 2 cloves garlic minced or grated
  • 1 leaves bunch kale torn away from the stem
  • 2 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons parmesan cheese
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
  • 1 pound angel pasta
  • 1/2 lemon juiced
  • 1 pint grape tomatoes halved
  • 6-7 ounces fontina cheese cubed
  • 1/4 cup fresh basil or parsley or both chopped

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, add kale, olive oil, parmesan cheese, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Toss to coat with your hands and massage kale for about 1 minute. Spread on a baking sheet and bake for 15-18 minutes, tossing 1-2 times while cooking, until crispy. Remove and set aside.
  • Bring pasta water to a boil and prepare pasta according to directions.
  • While the kale is cooking and the water comes to a boil start working on the bacon. Cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until the fat has rendered and the bacon is crispy, about 7 minutes. Remove bacon from pan and set aside on paper towels to drain. Once cooled, crumble. Drain all but 1 tablespoon of bacon fat.
  • To prepare the lobster, lay the lobster tails flat on a cutting board with the shell side facing upward. Using a very sharp, large knife, cut the tail in half lengthwise and slice all the way through the shell. Season the meat side lightly with salt and pepper.
  • Bring the skillet used for bacon back to medium-high heat. Once it’s hot, add 1 tablespoon butter and swirl to coat. Place the lobster tails meat-side down in the pan and sear for 5 minutes or until the shells turn bright red. Remove tails from the pan and set aside.
  • To the same skillet add another tablespoon of butter. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds, add the pasta, crushed red pepper, cayenne and a pinch of salt and pepper. Toss well and cook for 2 minutes, just until the pasta is hot. Once the pasta is hot add the tomatoes and cubed fontina cheese. Then remove the pasta from the heat, drizzle with lemon juice and toss well. Add in the crispy kale.
  • In a separate small skillet melt 4 tablespoons butter over medium heat until just browned. Butter will melt, foam and froth, then begin to brown along the bottom. Whisk browned bits off of the bottom of the pan.
  • Pop the lobster meat out of the shells and divide the pasta among plates or bowls. Top each plate with lobster meat and a sprinkle of chopped basil. Drizzle with browned butter and top with the crumbled bacon.
View Recipe Comments

Brown Butter Lobster, Bacon + Crispy Kale and Fontina Pasta | halfbakedharvest.com

Oh and the crispy kale? Yeah, expect a lot more of that too. It too is awesome.

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Comments

  1. You can do brown butter everyday of the week if it all looks this AMAZING!!! I want this for lunch, dinner, whatever – I just want this!!!

    Reply

  2. Oh Wow! Tieghan – this dish is like heaven!
    I didn’t know seafood had a season either – I was with you in thinking they “lived year long” !!! 🙂

    Reply

  4. 1) nothing wrong with multiple posts of brown butter recipes and 2) I totally agree about the live lobster, i could never do it either. This looks amazing.

    Reply

  5. Holy. moly. I think you just put all my favorite words into one AMAZING dish, Tieghan! You really know your flavor pairings, and this truly shows it! This meal is so mouthwatering I don’t even know where to begin… Great job!

    Reply

    1. Oh wow! Thank you!!

      Wish I could send you a giant plate full! Actually, I’ll trade you for some of the pumpkin muffins you made! I am still dreaming about them!

      Reply

  8. You made me laugh out loud at this post! Especially with this line, “I mean, don’t fish live all year round?” –so funny. It’s definitely one of those things you don’t think about though!

    Apparently they come to the shore to get closer to the warmer waters in the summer/early September! Love this dish, that big fat lobster tail is killing me. So delicious!

    Reply

  9. I’m pretty sure you could talk about brown butter 7 days in a row and no one would complain. 😉 Gorgeous dish!
    Started following you on twitter now. 🙂

    Reply

  10. It’s been ages since I have had lobster and this looks incredible!! I should make this for the bf – I’m positive a marriage proposal would follow.. 😉 This is beautiful, comforting and looks so fresh. LOVE me that brown butter, sister!

    Reply

  11. Good grief Tieghan–everything you make i want to jump into the pic and eat it with you. Can I come over for dinner? lol

    Reply

  13. I have to restrain myself from commenting on everything you post because I feel I would become repetitive, but this… I can’t help myself. Lobster is like… my favorite thing ever. Besides all my other favorite thing. This looks incredible.

    Reply

  14. I’m glad you decided to post this cause it is AMAZING. Can’t go wrong with brown butter and lobster. Wish it was on sale in our area. Not gonna happen.

    Reply

  15. Looks amazing! Everything is better with butter and bacon. And angel hair has to be my favorite pasta.

    Reply