Classic Lobster Rolls Recipes

CLASSIC LOBSTER ROLLS

Steps:

• Combine mayonnaise, fresh lemon juice, fresh chives, Dijon mustard, and kosher salt and black pepper in a bowl. Add cooked lobster meat (cut into large pieces) and gently toss to coat. Butter sides of split-top hot dog buns and cook in a nonstick skillet until golden and crisp on each side. Line toasted rolls with lettuce leaves and fill with lobster salad.

WARM LOBSTER ROLLS

Steps:

• Cut the lobster meat in large (3/4-inch) dice. Heat 3 tablespoons of the butter in a medium (10-inch) saute pan over medium-high heat. Add the lobster, celery, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, for 2 to 3 minutes, until just heated through. Off the heat, sprinkle the lobster with the dill, parsley, and half of the lemon juice. Stir well.
• Meanwhile, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter in a large (12-inch) saute pan, until the butter sizzles. Place the rolls in the pan on their sides (you are toasting the outsides, not the insides) and cook over medium-high heat for 2 minutes on each side, until nicely browned.
• Place the rolls, cut side up, on a platter. Divide the lobster mixture among the 6 rolls and sprinkle with extra dill, salt, and the remaining lemon juice. Serve hot while the rolls are crisp on the outside and the lobster filling is hot.

NEW ENGLAND LOBSTER ROLL

Steps:

• Part 1: Add 1-2 inches of water to a large pot and cover with lid; bring to a boil over high heat. Place the lobsters into the pot, replace cover, and steam for 10 minutes.In a small bowl, combine minced shallots and lemon juice. Let macerate for 10 minutes.
• Place 1 cup homemade mayonnaise into a bowl. Add 2 tablespoons of the macerated shallots, along with 1 teaspoon of juices, to the mayonnaise. Add minced tarragon, and stir to combine. (Note: This makes enough tarragon mayonnaise for 4 lobster rolls). Slice celery stalks into thin strips lengthwise, then cut into ¼-inch dice. Set aside.
• Part 2: Prepare an ice bath by placing ice cubes in a large bowl of water. After 10 minutes of steaming, remove lobsters from the pot and immediately place in the ice bath to stop the cooking. Let chill, 5-10 minutes. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine the sliced celery and tarragon mayonnaise.
• Toast buns: Heat a skillet over medium heat. Spread softened butter over the inside and outside of the buns. Working in batches, open up the buns to place them flat on the skillet to toast, about 1 minute. Flip and toast the other side, 1 more minute. Repeat until all of the buns are toasted.
• Part 3: When cool enough to handle, break down the lobster. Use paper towels to absorb any liquid that drains out. First, twist off the tail from the body and set aside. Repeat with the legs (which you can save for stock or discard), claws, and knuckles. Remove the tail meat from its shell by splitting the underside of the tail in half lengthwise. Remove the meat from both halves and set aside (clean out the green tomalley or roe and discard).Use a knife or a lobster cracker to split the claw shells; remove the meat and set aside with tail meat. Crack the knuckle shells, remove the meat, and set aside with remaining lobster meat. Repeat with remaining lobster.
• Place a large mixing bowl on top of a kitchen towel. (This will keep the bowl stationary during whisking.) Into the bowl, add the egg yolk, a pinch of salt, 1 teaspoon lemon juice, water, and a pinch of cayenne pepper; whisk to combine. Begin emulsifying: whisk in a drop of olive oil, then whisk in a tablespoon in a thin steady stream. Switch to vegetable oil (since the strong flavors of olive oil can over power the may): add about 1/3 of it in a thin, steady stream while whisking continuously. Alternate whisking in olive oil and vegetable oil until all of the oil has been added. As the oil is whisked in, the emulsion will thicken, eventually holding a peak off the tip of the whisk. Taste the mayo; then whisk in remaining 2 teaspoons lemon juice, a few pinches of salt, and a pinch of cayenne to taste. Set aside. makes 1 1/2 cups. (Mayonnaise can be stored up to a week in the fridge.)
• Assembly: Roughly chop lobster meat into big chunks. Add a few tablespoons of the tarragon mayonnaise, just enough to coat the meat. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, or more mayonnaise as needed. Place lobster salad into toasted buns. Garnish with lemon wedges and watercress, and serve.

CONNECTICUT-STYLE LOBSTER ROLLS WITH BUTTER

Steps:

• Fill a large steamer or pot with about 2 inches of water. Add 1 tablespoon sea salt and bring to a boil over medium heat. Put 2 lobsters (about 1 1/2 pounds each) in the steamer basket or directly in the pot; cover and steam until the shells turn bright red, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove the lobsters and rinse under cold water until slightly cool. Remove the meat from the shells and roughly chop. Melt 1 stick unsalted butter in a saucepan with the juice of 1 lemon and 1/3 teaspoon paprika. Remove from the heat; stir in the lobster meat and season with salt. Divide among 4 split-top hot dog buns. Serve warm.

THE WORLD-FAMOUS MAINE LOBSTER ROLL

Steps:

• Prepare the lobster salad.
• If using live lobsters, steam or boil them. Let cool at room temperature. Use a cleaver to crack and remove the meat from the claws, knuckles and tails. Remove the cartilage from the claws and the intestines from the tails of the cooked meat. Cut the meat into 1/2-inch dice. You may pick all the meat from the carcass and add it to the meat or freeze the carcass for soup or broth.
• Place the cucumber in a colander for at least 5 minutes to drain the excess liquid. Combine the lobster, cucumber mayonnaise, and tarragon. Add the scallions. Season with salt and pepper. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for 30 minutes to 1 hour. Preheat a large heavy skillet (12 to 14-inches) over medium-low heat (a black cast-iron pan is perfect). Lightly butter both sides of each bun. Place them in the pan and cook for about 2 minutes until golden brown. Turn the buns over and toast the other side. Or toast the buns under a broiler instead. When the buns are ready, stuff them with the chilled lobster salad. Place each roll on a small paper or china plate; garnish with pickles and potato chips. Serve at once.

MAINE COAST LOBSTER ROLLS

Steps:

• Cut the lobster into 1/2-inch pieces and place in a bowl. Chop the celery into medium-fine pieces and stir into lobster. Stir in just enough mayonnaise to coat the lobster mixture.
• As is traditional in Maine lobster shacks, fry the rolls in a skillet or on a griddle in butter. Otherwise, toast them on both sides under a broiler. Add the lobster salad and sprinkle with paprika and a few capers.