Best Rice with Lobster Recipe [Arroz con Bogavante]

Lobster dinner recipes are always a hit no matter what the occasion is: a romantic date at home, having a few friends over, or a party with family members.

The famous rice with lobster is one of the best lobster dinner ideas that you can find out there because it’s an easy-to-make seafood recipe and it’s quite cheap thanks to the rice.

In this article, we will give you the perfect recipe for lobster with rice, it won’t fail and you will have the most wonderful dish to impress your guests (or to enjoy by yourself).

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Background of the Dish

In some cases, this Spanish recipe is confused with the famous paella, but the main difference is that here you just use lobster, and the finished result is a more liquid dish. 

The rice with lobster is served in a shallow dish so that the broth remains as a liquid sauce, that you can enjoy with a spoon or with a delicious slice of country bread.

This dish has existed for hundreds of years in the south of Spain, but its popularity always peaks in February as it is included as the main dish on most restaurants’ menus for the entire month of Valentine’s Day.

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Things You’ll Need for Rice with Lobster

To make this rice with lobster recipe you just need rice, bogavante (lobster), fish broth, peppers, onions, garlic, and different seasonings.

However, there are plenty of ingredient substitutions that you can make to this lobster dinner recipe.

When it comes to kitchen equipment, all you need is a few large pans.

Ingredients

• 2 frozen or fresh lobsters
• 8 1/2 cups (2 l) fish broth
• 2 cups (400g) round rice
• 1 cup (180g) crushed tomato
• 1 red bell pepper
• 1 green bell pepper
• 1 onion
• 3 garlic cloves
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 pinch of saffron threads
• 1/2 cup (130ml) brandy
• Salt to taste
• 1/2 cup (130ml) extra virgin olive oil
• 1 bay leaf

How to Make Rice with Lobster – Step by Step Guide

1. To start making this lobster dinner recipe you have to prepare the lobster. Just take the lobsters, and cut them into two halves, separating their claws. Then cut into two or three parts, also separating the head and carapace (body).

2. In a deep frying pan, add a good splash of olive oil and fry the lobster pieces. Stir it for two minutes so that it takes on that reddish color. Set aside.

3. After that, cut the green bell pepper, the red bell pepper, the onion, and the garlic. Then, add a little more oil to the pan and fry for three minutes.

4. When the vegetables get a tender texture, you can set them aside.

5. For the next step on this lobster rice, you have to sauté the tomato and add the paprika and bay leaf, stir over low heat for two minutes.

6. Then, add the 1/2 cup of Brandy and wait for the alcohol to evaporate. You can replace brandy with wine or skip this step.

7. After that, add the rice, leaving it on the heat for three minutes while you stir, in this way, the rice will release the excess starch.

8. Up next, pour the fish broth for the lobster with rice.

9. Now let the broth come to a boil. When two minutes have passed since the broth is boiling, add the sauce made with peppers, onion, garlic, and saffron threads.

10. Then stir to mix everything well and release the flavors. Leave cooking for 25 minutes without stirring.

11. When the cooking time has passed, distribute the lobster all over the rice so that everything cooks together in the last 10 minutes.

12. For the final step, you can turn off the heat and cover the rice to let it rest for 3 minutes. Serve the Spanish rice with lobster while hot.

Substitution of Ingredients

The first ingredient change that you can make to this rice with lobster recipe is switching the white round rice for any type of rice.

As well as in other easy Spanish rice recipes, just use your favorite (long grain rice, brown rice, etc.) but adjust the cooking time so it gets properly cooked.

If you want to use another seafood you can do so, or you can also try other fantastic Spanish recipes whose star ingredient is seafood, such as the Spanish seafood stew, Spanish octopus recipe, and the famous Gambas al pil pil.

For this homemade Spanish rice you could use vegetable broth, but the fish one is perfect.

You must also try the Spanish seafood soup recipe, the easy Spanish fish soup, or the tasty Spanish shrimp soup, especially if you love soups and Spanish seafood recipes.

Tips on Serving Rice with Lobster

Despite already being an easy Spanish rice recipe, the serving process is even easier.

As soon as you finish preparing the recipe, your lobster meal will be ready to be served, you won’t even have to add seasoning or anything.

Being such a complete dish, the Spanish lobster is a main dish that does not need any type of accompaniment.

You can serve this rice with lobster for lunch or dinner, and in case you want to give it an extra touch you can sprinkle some grated cheese on top.

Make sure you give a go to our easy Spanish arroz a la Cubana recipe, with fried eggs and bananas.

How to Store Rice with Lobster

When you finish preparing this recipe for lobster you can store it in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Like other recipes with lobster meat, you can freeze this dish but not for very long (up to 15).

If you freeze the Rice with Lobster for a longer time then the seafood will lose all its freshness and take on a chewy texture.

And whether you want to freeze it or store it in the fridge, you should always let it come to room temperature before storing it in a covered container.

Recipe Card: Rice with Lobster

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