Spaghetti with Lobster and Mussels

Preparation

1. Step 1

   In a large kettle bring wine and water to a boil. Add lobsters and cook, covered, 3 minutes. (They will be partially cooked.) Transfer lobsters with tongs to a large bowl and boil cooking liquid until reduced to about 1/3 cup.

   Step 2

   Twist off claws and with flat side of a heavy knife crack claws on one side. Cut off tails and cut each tail crosswise into 4 pieces, cutting through shell and discarding dark intestinal vein. Halve body sections and discard head sacs. Reserve tomalley and any roe if desired. Lobsters may be prepared up to this point 4 hours ahead and chilled, covered.

   Step 3

   In a 6-quart kettle bring 5 quarts salted water to a boil for spaghetti.

   Step 4

   In a 5-quart heavy kettle bring tomato sauce, lobster cooking liquid, and reserved tomalley and roe if using to a simmer, whisking. Add claws and bodies and simmer, covered, 5 minutes, or until claw meat is just cooked through. Transfer claws with tongs to large bowl and keep warm, covered.

   Step 5

   Add tail pieces to sauce and simmer, covered, 3 to 4 minutes, or until just cooked through. Transfer tail pieces with tongs to bowl and keep warm, covered. Remove and discard lobster bodies.

   Step 6

   Add mussels to sauce and simmer, covered, 3 to 8 minutes, checking mussels every minute or so and transferring as opened with tongs to bowl. Keep mussels warm, covered. (Discard any mussels that are unopened after 8 minutes.) Season sauce with salt and pepper and keep warm, covered.

   Step 7

   While seafood is cooking, cook spaghetti in boiling water until al dente and drain in a colander. Add spaghetti, lobster, and mussels to sauce and heat over moderate heat until heated through, stirring and tossing mixture until spaghetti is coated well with sauce.

   Step 8

   Transfer spaghetti and seafood to a large platter and sprinkle with parsley.