Chef JJ Johnson’s 3 Romantic Recipes You Need For Valentine’s Day

Deep Dish Lobster Mac & Cheese 

Source: Chef JJ Johnson / Chef JJ Johnson

Recipe Courtesy of Chef JJ Johnson 

Ingredients: 

4 cups half & half 

1 egg, whisked  

4 tablespoons butter  

5 garlic cloves, chopped  

1 tablespoon tarragon  

¾ cup cream cheese 

2 cups gruyere cheese 

2 cups mozzarella 

2 cups lobster tail, chopped in chunks  

1 pound pipe rigate pasta, cooked 

1 block Parmesan for grating  

Method: 

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. 
2. Add the half & half, egg, and butter to a large pot over medium heat. Make  sure the egg is incorporated evenly into the half & half. 
3. Add the garlic and tarragon as the butter begins to melt and the mixture  comes up to a low simmer. 
4. Add in the cream cheese and 1 cup each of the gruyere and mozzarella  cheeses. Stir to combine so the cheese can begin to melt.  
5. Once the cheeses are melted, incorporate the lobster tail and stir to coat in  the sauce. 
6. Add in the pasta and season with cracked black pepper. Stir until all of the  ingredients are well combined. Adjust seasonings if necessary.  7. Add half of the mac and cheese into a 9×13 baking dish and sprinkle ½ a cup  each of the gruyere and mozzarella cheeses over the top. Pour the remaining  mac and cheese on top and sprinkle the remaining ½ cup each gruyere and  mozzarella. Then finely grate an even layer of parmesan cheese over the top. Place the mac and cheese in the oven and bake until golden  brown and bubbly.