Saffron Fregola with Butter-Poached Lobster, Charred Zucchini & Crushed Yellow Tomato
Elegant summer lobster fregola with saffron, basil, and charred vegetables.
Daily recipe · July 09, 2026
A little about this dish
This dish leans into summer with sweet lobster, charred zucchini, juicy yellow tomatoes, and a cool basil-lemon finish that feels elegant without being heavy. Inspired by southern Italian flavors but less predictable than a standard pasta, it pairs silky saffron fregola with a bright raw tomato dressing and warm lobster medallions for a plate that tastes luxurious and looks striking.
Ingredients (for 2)
- Small to medium lobster tails — 2 — shells split, meat loosened
- Fregola sarda — 3/4 cup
- Yellow cherry tomatoes — 1 cup — lightly crushed
- Medium zucchini — 1 — shaved into ribbons with a vegetable peeler
- Unsalted butter — 3 tbsp — divided
- Small shallot — 1 — finely minced
- Garlic cloves — 2 cloves — 1 minced and 1 very thinly sliced
- Dry white wine — 1/3 cup
- Seafood stock or light chicken stock — 2 1/4 cups — warmed
- Saffron — 1 generous pinch
- Lemon — 1 — zest finely grated and half juiced
- Fresh basil leaves — 1 packed cup — divided
- Fresh chives — 1 tbsp — finely sliced
- Calabrian chili paste — 1 tsp
- Toasted pistachios — 2 tbsp — roughly chopped
- Parmigiano reggiano — 2 tbsp — finely grated
- Extra-virgin olive oil — 3 tbsp — divided
- Flaky sea salt — to taste
- Black pepper — to taste
Preparation
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Step 1 — 🍲✨🌼Warm the seafood or chicken stock to a gentle simmer and add the saffron so it can infuse while you prepare the other ingredients.
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Step 2 — 🌿🫒💚Blend or mash 1/2 cup basil with 2 tbsp olive oil, a pinch of flaky salt, and 1 tsp lemon juice until bright green. Set aside.
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Step 3 — 🍅🥄🧄Mix the crushed yellow cherry tomatoes with the sliced garlic, chives, 1 tsp lemon juice, 1 tsp olive oil, salt, and black pepper. Let it sit.
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Step 4 — 🥒🔥🍳Toss the zucchini ribbons with 1 tsp olive oil, salt, and pepper. Sear in a very hot skillet for 30 to 60 seconds per side until lightly charred, then set aside.
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Step 5 — 🧅🧄🧈Heat 1 tbsp olive oil and 1 tbsp butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the shallot and minced garlic and cook until softened, about 1 to 2 minutes.
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Step 6 — 🍝🍷🥄Add the fregola to the pan and stir for 1 minute to toast it. Pour in the white wine and cook until reduced by half.
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Step 7 — 🥣⏳✨Add the warm saffron stock one ladle at a time, stirring occasionally, until the fregola is tender, slightly chewy, and glossy, about 12 to 14 minutes.
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Step 8 — 🌶️🍋🧀Stir in the Calabrian chili paste, remaining 1 tbsp butter, half the lemon zest, and the Parmigiano if using. Season with salt and black pepper and keep warm.
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Step 9 — 🦞🧈♨️Place the loosened lobster meat back in the split shells. In a skillet over low heat, melt 1 tbsp butter with 1 tbsp water, add the lobster, cover, and gently poach for 4 to 6 minutes until just opaque. Slice into thick pieces.
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Step 10 — 🌿🥣🍽️Tear and fold in a few basil leaves to the warm fregola, then spoon it into shallow bowls.
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Step 11 — 🦞🥒🍅Top the fregola with the lobster medallions and tuck in the charred zucchini ribbons. Spoon the marinated tomatoes and their juices around and over the top.
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Step 12 — 🌰🌿🍋Drizzle with basil oil and finish with the remaining lemon zest, chopped pistachios, small basil leaves, flaky salt, and black pepper. Serve right away.
A final fox tip
If lobster is unavailable or too pricey, this works beautifully with large shrimp or scallops. For extra drama, reserve the shells and place them beside the bowl for plating. Fregola is a Sardinian toasted pasta, so it brings a nutty texture that makes the dish feel both rustic and refined.