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Langosta a la Mantequilla

A traditional Baja California dish — Langosta a la Mantequilla is the butter-drenched lobster of Puerto Nuevo, the tiny fishing village south of Rosarito that turned a humble crustacean into a pilgrimage meal.

⏱ 15 minPrep time
🔥 15 minCook time
🍽 4Servings
🏷 Baja KitchenCategory
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Langosta a la Mantequilla - Baja cuisine

A traditional Baja California dish — Langosta a la Mantequilla is the butter-drenched lobster of Puerto Nuevo, the tiny fishing village south of Rosarito that turned a humble crustacean into a pilgrimage meal. Split tails are seared in garlic butter until sweet and succulent, then served with rice, beans, and warm tortillas. Eating it with your hands, wrapped in a tortilla with a squeeze of lime, is the authentic Puerto Nuevo way.

Step by stepInstructions

  1. Use kitchen shears to split each lobster tail lengthwise through the shell; snip the underside membrane so the meat can lift free.
  2. Season the exposed meat with salt, pepper, and paprika.
  3. Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the garlic; cook until fragrant, about one minute.
  4. Place the tails meat-side down in the foaming butter and sear until golden, about three minutes.
  5. Flip, add the lime juice, and cook shell-side down until the meat is opaque and just cooked through, about four to five minutes more.
  6. Spoon the garlic butter over the tails, scatter with cilantro, and serve at once with tortillas and lime wedges.

💡 Chef tips & storage

Do not overcook — lobster turns rubbery in seconds; the meat should be just opaque at the center. Serve the extra butter in a small bowl for dipping, Puerto Nuevo style.

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Recipe details

Prep15 min
Cook15 min
Servings4
CategoryBaja Kitchen
PublishedAugust 17, 2026
Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes

Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

Hi, I'm Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes. Simple, tested comfort food for real weeknights, written down the way grandma would. Pull up a chair. More about me →