LOBSTER WITH PASTA AND MINT

Lobster With Pasta and Mint image

Provided by Mark Bittman

Time 1h

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 7

Salt
1 1 1/2-pound live lobster
4 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon minced garlic
Crushed red chili flakes to taste
1 pound long pasta, like linguine
1/2 cup chopped mint, or to taste

Steps:

Bring a large pot of water to a boil and salt it. Put about an inch of water into another large pot, add a not-too-big pinch of salt, put in lobster and cover pot. Steam lobster until it is red, about 3 minutes; you do not have to cook it through. Remove it and keep water simmering with cover off. As soon as you can, remove lobster's tail and claws; return body to simmering liquid. Remove meat from claws and tail and return shells to pot; chop meat roughly.
Put olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and lobster meat and toss; cook until it sizzles, then add chili flakes and lower heat. Strain lobster-cooking water, discarding body and shells; you will want a couple of cups.
Meanwhile, cook pasta until it is not even close to tender, but just bending. Drain it, reserving some cooking liquid if you have less than 2 cups of lobster liquid. Add pasta to lobster/garlic mixture, with about a cup of lobster liquid. Cook, stirring occasionally, until pasta is tender, adding more liquid as necessary. Stop cooking when pasta is tender, taking care not to add too much liquid.
Taste and add more salt, chili flakes or olive oil if you like. Stir in the mint and serve.