Dec 13, 2018

Lobster Pot Pie

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
The filling of this pot pie is seasoned with a hint of cayenne and chopped fresh tarragon, which compliments and enhances the flavor of the lobster.
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In this recipe, chunks of lobster meat are combined with a creamy base loaded with potatoes, carrots, leeks and shallots and topped with buttery, flakey puff pastry. The filling of this lobster pot pie is seasoned with a hint of cayenne and chopped fresh tarragon, which compliments and enhances the flavor of the lobster.

The holidays are the perfect time to splurge a little on an elegant dish. It is my family’s tradition to eat seafood on Christmas Eve and this pot pie might just make the rotation.

Lobster Pot Pie

What’s in the Filling?

  • Lobster
  • Shallots
  • Leeks
  • Carrots
  • Celery
  • Red Potatoes
  • Herbs
Lobster Pot Pie lobster shelled

Ingredients in Lobster Pot Pie

Lobster

While during the summer I usually buy live whole lobsters and cook them myself for dishes such as this Maine lobster pot pie or creamy lobster pasta, during the cooler winter months a lot of times I opt to have the fishmonger boil or steam them so that I can just pick them up. Easier still, you can find lobster meat already cooked, broken down and removed from the shell at some specialty seafood markets.

Puff Pastry 

Also known as pâte feuilletée, this dough creates very flakey, crisp layers. It’s made with laminated dough with plenty of butter throughout. Since it’s a more complex dough I typically opt to use store bought puff pastry rather than making it. 

Mirepoix 

The combination of carrots, onion and celery is referred to as mirepoix. This aromatic combination of vegetables is a classic base for soups and recipes like this. 

Shallots

I use shallots in this recipe for their mild, slightly sweet flavor though they can easily be swapped with yellow onion. 

Leeks 

Leeks are an allium that add sweet, oniony flavor. The top green parts are too tough and are discarded or saved for another use while the lower white parts are thinly sliced and sautéed. 

Red Potatoes

These potatoes have a super thin skin so the texture doesn’t; change even if they aren’t peeled. They are a firmer potato so they are great for soups or stews (like the base filling of this recipe).  

Sherry 

Sherry is used to enhance the flavor of soups. I use it to bring out the flavors of the lobster filling as I would a lobster bisque

Seafood Stock

Seafood stock is made from simmering the shells of lobster, shrimp, crab shells or other fish bones with white wine and other aromatics. I often buy seafood stock though you can easily make your own – especially if you cook whole lobsters for this recipe.  

Tarragon 

This herb has a subtle licorice flavor that pairs really well with seafood like lobster. 

Heavy Cream 

The lobster filling gets the creaminess from heavy cream in this recipe. I’d recommend using the heavy cream rather than swapping for something else like half and half. 

How to Make Lobster Pot Pie

  1. Sauté vegetables. Heat a large pot over medium heat, add the olive oil and heat through. Add the shallots, leeks, carrots, celery and potatoes and sauté, stirring occasionally until the vegetables are tender, about 6 minutes.
  2. Add sherry. Pour in the sherry and continue to cook until it has almost all evaporated, about 5 minutes.
  3. Make a roux. Add the butter and allow to melt then stir in the flour and cook, stirring constantly, until pale brown, about 1 minute. Add the stock and the tarragon and bring to a simmer over medium-low heat, until the sauce thickens, about 10 minutes.
  4. Finish the filling. Stir in the cayenne and season to taste with salt and pepper. Whisk in the cream then add the lobster meat and set aside.
  5. Heat oven. Heat oven to 400ºF (200ºC).
  6. Add to baking dishes. Add to 4 (8-ounce) oval baking dishes/ ramekins or 1 large 12″ oval baking dish. On a clean, lightly floured surface, roll out the puff pastry dough so that it is ¼-inch thick.
  7. Top with puff pastry. Cut two oval shapes ½ larger than the baking dishes and cut an ‘x’ in the middle of each oval (for steam to escape). Lay the dough over the top of each baking dish so the edges hang over the side.
  8. Bake the pot pies. Brush the puff pastry with the beaten egg. Bake until the top is golden brown and puffed up, about 25 to 30 minutes. Serve hot.
lobster pot pie topped with puff pastry dough in small staub baking dish

Tips and Tricks for This Recipe

Why add slashes to the pot pie?

Adding slashes to the top pot pie dough creates vents and allows steam to escape keeping the puff pastry flakey and preventing the filling from overflowing.

Serving Suggestions for Lobster Pot Pie

The pot pies can be shared among two people each (if you want to share). I like to eat it right out of the baking dish rather than serving it in additional bowls.

The lobster pies can also be divided among ramekins for individual serving portions. Cut down the cooking time since the servings are smaller. Brush with the egg wash and cook for about 20 minutes.

Swaps and Substitutions
  • The frozen puff pastry used for the top of the lobster pot pies can be swapped with pie dough if needed like used in this recipe here.
  • Find tips for cooking whole lobsters and breaking them down for the meat here.
Lobster Pot Pie in staub baking dish wtih lobster

Other Recipes to Try

If you enjoy this lobster pot pie recipe, I recommend checking out these:

Lobster Pot Pie 

Lobster Pot Pie

Print Pin
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Serves 4

Ingredients:

  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 medium shallots, diced
  • 1 medium leek, chopped, whites only (discard greens)
  • 2 medium carrots, peeled and diced
  • 1 stalk celery, diced
  • 2 red potatoes, washed and diced
  • ½ cup sherry
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups seafood stock
  • 1 tablespoon diced tarragon
  • 1/8 teaspoon cayenne
  • Kosher salt, as needed
  • Freshly ground black pepper, as needed
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • ¾ pound chopped cooked lobster meat, tail and claws
  • 1 sheet puff pastry, thawed
  • 1 egg, beaten

Instructions:

  • Heat a large pot over medium heat, add the olive oil and heat through. Add the shallots, leeks, carrots, celery and potatoes and sauté, stirring occasionally until the vegetables are tender, about 6 minutes.
  • Pour in the sherry and continue to cook until it has almost all evaporated, about 5 minutes.
  • Add the butter and allow to melt then stir in the flour and cook, stirring constantly, until pale brown, about 1 minute. Add the stock and the tarragon and bring to a simmer over medium-low heat, until the sauce thickens, about 10 minutes.
  • Stir in the cayenne and season to taste with salt and pepper. Whisk in the cream then add the lobster meat and set aside.
  • Heat oven to 400ºF (200ºC).
  • Add to 4 (8-ounce) oval baking dishes or 1 large 12″ oval baking dish. On a clean, lightly floured surface, roll out the puff pastry dough so that it is ¼-inch thick.
  • Cut two oval shapes ½ larger than the baking dishes and cut an ‘x’ in the middle of each oval (for steam to escape). Lay the dough over the top of each baking dish so the edges hang over the side.
  • Brush the puff pastry with the beaten egg. Bake until the top is golden brown and puffed up, about 25 to 30 minutes. Serve hot.

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  1. Made your lobster pot pie last night. It was so delicious and my family loved it ! The only thing omitted was the leek. Also cooked @ 375 in my convection oven for 22 min. Did not want to burn the pastry crust. Came out perfect!

  2. Can I substitute something for the sherry? My husband is a recovering alcoholic, and I reallly don’t like to cook with alcohol.

    • Absolutely! Because it will be evaporated anyway and is being used for additional flavor you can go ahead and omit it and proceed with the rest of the recipe! If you do want to still add additional flavor then I recommend using 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar and 1/4 cup water then sweeten with 1/2 teaspoon of sugar. Add as you would with the sherry. I hope this helps and I hope you enjoy the recipe!

    • I often use Kitchen Basics brand because it’s sold at most grocery stores! I also like to use the imagine brand.

  3. I made your lobster pie recipe over the holidays , doubled it and got two large oval pies . Froze one without pastry till I’m ready to cook it and gave the other to our son . Needless to say it was a hit 👍, I’m in Nova Scotia so we grew up with fresh seafood all year round . A great recipe so thank you .

    • I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe!! Ah fresh seafood all year round is amazing! I’d love to visit Nova Scotia someday!

  4. Made today but used pie dough instead – doubled the recipe and made into a slab pie for my fam of 4. Sadly I underestimated the amount of sherry and I had in the house and had to sub with white wine. Very sad as I know how yummy the sherry flavor is! Ended up seasoning with Old Bay instead of salt and pepper – very yummy. Brushed with butter and finished with rosemary salt.

    • Sounds incredible! I love a good slab pie! As far as substitutes go that one definitely still works well and you can’t go wrong with Old Bay! Thank you for sharing Kristi!

    • Yes! Then par-bake the bottom crust until golden brown before adding the filling. The filling is pretty creamy though so when cut the filling may come out. This is more like a traditional chicken pot pie filling but with lobster!