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Today is very exciting for a couple of reasons – one, the lovely Chelsea at Chelsea’s Messy Apron has rounded up a bunch of our blogging friends, and we’ve pooled together to give you guys a $300 Amazon gift card, you know, just because it’s summer and all. Two, I finally tried my hand at recreating this lobster spaghetti aka the best lobster I’ve ever had that Kevin and I ordered on our last day in Santorini. I kind of touched on it before, but basically I’d been told time and time again, by local after local, website after website, that an absolute must food-wise, was to go down to Amoudi Bay and have lobster spaghetti at one of the taverns on the water. After copious amounts of research, surveying cabbies and restaurant reviews, we finally settled on Taverna Katina, said to have some of the freshest seafood in all of Santorini.
We arrived pretty early by island standards, about 11:30am so we initially had the place solely to ourselves. After we sat down, what I would guess is the owner or manager took us back into the kitchen where he proceeded to explain how ordering works. The seafood is priced per kilo, all of which is on display for diners to see. You pick out which fish you want, how you want it prepared, and then mosey on back to your table where you can see most of it being prepared from a giant outdoor grill just steps away from all of the tables.
In our case, the lobster spaghetti was actually prepared back in the kitchen where diners cannot see, apparently the preparation and ingredients it a top secret family recipe, shared with no one. The only information I could muster out of them was, 1. It was steamed 2. The sauce was made from lobster juices 3. Garlic and butter were two of the other ingredients. Nothing else.
After a 30 minute wait (everything is made fresh), our lobster spaghetti for two arrived, in what looked like enough food to feed a family of six nonetheless – bring it on.
We immediately dug in.
And we.could.not.stop.eating.
There was almost a deafening silence (in between inaudible sounds of mmmmm and OMG) as we carefully plucked out each and every single piece of lobster meat we could forage – we would leave nothing behind. In between tender bites of lobster, we twirled piles of spaghetti onto our forks, and what I though was going to be just afterthought of pasta, was equally as delicious and addictive as the lobster itself. The sauce was unlike anything I’d tasted before – it was light, tremendously flavorful and had just a touch of underlying lobster essence that wasn’t overpowering in the least.
Best lobster I’ve ever had.
I literally still daydream about it, but because they wouldn’t share their recipe, in my recreation, all I could go off of was my taste buds.
While my version is very similar in taste to the one we had that day, it isn’t identical which I was a little disappointed about at first, but you know what? I’ve realized I’m ok with that, because of course, some recipes are meant to stay exactly where they are.
- 2 whole live lobsters
- ½ pound spaghetti
- 4 tablespoons butter, divided
- 2 garlic cloves
- ½ small onion, finely chopped
- ⅓ cup sweet vermouth
- 2 teaspoons tomato paste
- Pinch of red pepper flakes
- 2 teaspoons honey
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- 2 whole cloves
- Pinch of cinnamon
- Salt to taste.
- Before steaming, take a very large knife and cut right behind the lobster’s eyes straight back. Place lobsters in a large pot filled with about an inch and a half of water. Bring to a boil and reduce to a medium heat. Steam for 7-8 minutes (for a 1 ½ pound lobster). Remove and reserve cooking liquid. Split lobster in half lengthwise. You
- In the same pot you cooked the lobsters in, fill with water and bring to a boil. Season with plenty of salt, it should taste like the sea. Add spaghetti. Cook until just under al dente. Reserve at least 1 ½ cups of cooking liquid. Drain, but do not rinse.(You want it to be under, because it will cook to aldente later in the sauce).
- In another large pot, melt 1 tablespoon butter over a medium heat. Add onion and garlic. Cook until softened, about 3 minutes. Season with salt. Add tomato paste, honey and red pepper flakes, cook 1 minute. Add vermouth, cook until reduced by half, about 2 minutes . Add reserved lobster cooking liquid, paprika, cloves and pinch of cinnamon. Simmer 2-3 minutes. Add in remaining butter.
- Place lobster back into sauce, spoon some of the sauce on the lobster, you just want the lobster to re-heat. Remove, and cover with a foil tent.
- Add spaghetti to sauce, along with about ¼ cup of reserved pasta cooking liquid, toss to coat in sauce (the heat should still be on medium). Add more reserved pasta cooking liquid if needed. Cook until sauce is thickened and pasta is aldente. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Place spaghetti on a big platter, and top with lobster pieces.
- Dig in!
Giveaway: Eligible to one (1) winner residing in one of the 48 contiguous states. Must be 18 years of age to enter giveaway. Starts 12 am 7/14/2014 (EST time) and ends 12 am 7/21/2014 (EST time). To enter the giveaway, you must participate in at minimum, one of the listed entries in the widget and an email address must be provided. Winner will be announced via email and must respond within 24 hours of deliverance. Failure to respond will forfeit your chance in winning and a new winner will be chosen. Please be advised items may appear different from the photo shown. The persons participating in this giveaway are not held responsible for missing/broken items received by the winner. Good luck and thank you for your entries.
Kathy @ Olives & Garlic says
I am a sucker for anything seafood especially a good lobster dish. WOW Nicole, this one is a winner. It looks spectacular and I bet it tastes even better.
Nicole says
Thank you so much Kathy! It was delicious!
Thuy says
Thanks so much for the recipe. Your post doesn’t get old. We had delicious lobsters spaghetti today without setting foot on Santorini. if course, it is on my bucket list but since the lock down, we haven’t been able to go. I had similar dishes in Rome but didn’t even try to replicate. This taste is unique and delicious which I have not found at any restaurant around me. All my family approved thanks to you!
Ps: I don’t have any sweat vermouth so I used regular white wine. It is probably even better if I have it.
Nicole says
So glad you like it!
Erin | The Law Student's Wife says
Wow WOW. I love creating dishes from places I’ve traveled at home, and this has to be the most elegant. I was in Santorini 2 years ago and am killing myself for not having tried this!
Nicole says
Aww thanks Erin, you are too sweet! I can’t believe you didn’t have this! There’s always next time isn’t there? 🙂
Ciara (@My Fussy Eater) says
This looks absolutely incredible! And its making me want to go to Santorini just to have this dish!
Nicole says
Hahah good!! Thank you Ciara!!
Taylor @ Food Faith Fitness says
I LOVE me some lobster, but I have yet to make it myself! I find it totally intimidating. But this looks gorgeous, and I may be inspired to try it!! Pinned!
Nicole says
It’s SO easy Taylor!! You need to try it! Thanks girl!
Thalia @ butter and brioche says
now this is a decadent dish! its similar to the BEST lobster spaghetti dish i ordered in Bali.. this post definitely brought back some nostalgia. thanks for sharing, i’ve saved this recipe to recreate myself!
Nicole says
You’re so welcome! And THANK YOU!
Chris @ Shared Appetite says
This looks like a pretty special, divine, indulgent dish. I’ve yet to try making lobster myself, but you’re definitely giving me some courage and inspiration here! This looks fabulous!
Nicole says
It’s all of those things Chris! This was my first time cooking a whole lobster, and I have to say, it was SO easy! You need to give it a try!
Christine @ Cooking with Cakes says
oh my god this looks simply SPLENDID. going through a serious lobster roll obsession at the moment so this is sooo fitting my vibe – pinning!
Nicole says
Mmmm I would kill for a lobster roll right now!
Shashi @ runninsrilankan says
This dish looks WONDERFUL – tasting similar is better than tasting not at all like the real thing – right? 🙂
And thanks for hosting such an awesome giveaway too!!
Nicole says
Absolutely! Thank you so mu Shashi!
Justine@CookingandBeer says
Oh, how I miss good and fresh lobster!! We don’t get an abundance of the little guys here in Colorado, sadly, but I LOVE THIS! I may just have to splurge one day just so I can make this pasta dish. Yum! Pinned!
Nicole says
It’s definitely a splurge to buy the whole lobster, but it’s SO worth if for a special occasion! Thanks Justine!
Sarah @ Running On Brie says
Oh, I adore lobster! Hadn’t had any in awhile and then last week, tried some while visiting family on the Jersey shore. Reminded me how amazing it is. This recipe looks delicious!
Nicole says
Thank you so much Sarah!