SeafoodMedium

Puerto Nuevo Lobster

Name: Puerto Nuevo Lobster
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 35 min
Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients: 200 g Rice largo; 2 Lobster tails; 300 g Cooked pinto beans; 2 Limes; 100 g Butter; 1 pinch Salt and pepper; 100 ml Red salsa (to serve); 6 Flour tortillas

35 min (20 prep + 15 cook) Medium 2 servings Baja California

Edmond Bojalil

Recetas Mexas

Published: 24 Mar 2026 · Updated: 30 Oct 2026

🌾Gluten Free 🌙Quick Dinner 🇲🇽Traditional

Butter-fried lobster served with flour tortillas, Baja California style.

About this recipe

Puerto Nuevo-style lobster is Baja California's most famous dish: lobster split in half, fried in butter and served with flour tortillas, Mexican red rice and pinto beans. Simple yet spectacular.

History & Origin

Puerto Nuevo is a tiny fishing village about 20 kilometres south of Tijuana on the Pacific coast of Baja California. In the 1950s, local fishing families began offering fresh lobster to travellers along the coastal highway. The preparation was straightforward: lobster split in half, fried in butter or lard, and served with the staples of northern Mexican cookery - handmade flour tortillas, red rice and stewed beans. Over time, what started as home-cooked meals grew into an international gastronomic destination. Today Puerto Nuevo boasts more than 30 lobster restaurants and draws thousands of visitors every weekend, particularly from San Diego and Los Angeles. The dish has become a symbol of Baja Californian gastronomy and embodies the philosophy of northern Mexico: fresh ingredients, unfussy preparation and generous portions.

Estimated cost

$114.76

Total cost

$57.38

Per serving

* Approximate prices based on Australian supermarkets

Nutritional information per serving

520

Calories

35g

Protein

35g

Carbohydrates

28g

Fat

Fibre

680mg

Sodium

* Approximate values. May vary depending on ingredients used.

Method

1
Split the lobster tails in half lengthways with a large, sharp knife.
💡 Use kitchen scissors to cut through the shell first, then the knife for the meat.
2
Season the halves with salt and pepper on the meat side.
3
Melt the butter in a large frying pan over a medium-high heat. Place the lobster meat side down and cook for 4 minutes.
💡 Don't move the lobster while it browns, so you get a perfect golden crust.
4
Turn the lobster over, add more butter and cook for a further 3-4 minutes until the meat is opaque and firm.
5
Meanwhile, warm the flour tortillas on a comal (flat griddle) and prepare the red rice and the beans.
6
Serve the lobster on a plate with lime, accompanied by flour tortillas, red rice and frijoles de olla (pot beans).
💡 Baste the lobster with the butter from the pan before serving.

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Edmond Bojalil

Founder, Recetas Mexas

Mexican from Puebla, IT professional and foodie. Author of 1000+ authentic Mexican recipes adapted for home kitchens worldwide. Based in Madrid since 2018.