How to Make Lobster Rolls Everyone Will Love
With the weather warming up and the pandemic on the decline, you and your loved ones may be making plans for summer get-togethers. Pool parties, cookouts, Fourth of July parties, and more – it’s going to be a summer of good company and better food! But what will you bring to your summer events to wow your friends and family?
Lobster rolls are always a show-stopper and the perfect addition to any cookout. Read on to learn how to make lobster rolls and make this summer the most memorable one yet.
Cook the Lobster
The first step of making lobster rolls, unsurprisingly, is cooking your lobster. You have a few options when it comes to how you want to cook your lobster, including buying pre-cooked lobster. However, cooking your own lobster gives you a chance to season it how you like, as well as ensuring that you’re using the freshest possible lobster.
One option for cooking lobster is to bring a large pot of water to a boil, drop a lobster in, and boil it for seven to eight minutes. However, we would recommend removing the meat before you cook the lobster fully. This will allow you to season it well before you mix it into the sauce for your lobster rolls, getting flavor deeper into the meat.
Remove the Meat
Removing lobster meat can seem like a daunting process, but it doesn’t have to be. Get a good sharp knife, a kitchen towel, and a lobster that has been boiled for thirty seconds to a minute. Parcooking it ahead of time will help the flesh pull cleanly away from the shell when you get ready to clean the lobster.
Grab the lobster’s tail firmly, twist, and pull it to detach it from the body; repeat the same procedure with the arms. Hold the tail flat, twist the fan to one side, and pull to remove it, and then gently push the tail meat through the large opening at the tail end. Remove the vein from the top of the tail, remove the meat from the claws, and season it as you like.
Once the meat is removed and seasoned, steam, roast, or broil it as you like until the flesh is red and opaque. Then chop the meat into ¾” pieces to prepare it for the lobster rolls.
Mix the Seasonings
While your lobster meat is cooking, you can start mixing the seasonings that will coat the meat in your rolls. Lobster rolls are usually made with a mix of mayonnaise, lemon juice, celery, chives, salt, and pepper. You’ll need to use ¼ cup mayonnaise, ¼ cup celery, 1 ½ tablespoons lemon juice, 1 tablespoon chives, and salt and pepper to taste.
It’s important to use real mayonnaise when preparing your lobster rolls; products like Miracle Whip will throw off the taste. Also plan to use fresh lemon juice and chives as they provide the best flavor. Stir your seasonings together, and then mix in your lobster meat until it’s thoroughly coated.
Selecting Your Buns
Choosing the best, freshest ingredients for your lobster rolls will make sure they turn out as well as possible. Depending on how much time you have, you may want to consider whether to make or buy your buns. If you buy your buns, get hot dog buns – preferably hot dog buns that are split on top.
If you choose to make your rolls, make sure you get a recipe for yeast rolls that creates soft, fluffy rolls. Allow your rolls plenty of time to proof and rise before you bake them so they stay light. You may also want to shape your rolls to be somewhat oblong to create enough space for a good-sized lobster roll.
Preparing the Buns
If you’re baking your own rolls, give them plenty of time to cool and split them along the top side. Whether your buns are baked or bought, spread some butter on the outside of them and then toast your buns in a pan on the stove. This will get them softened up and start to infuse the butter flavor.
Once your buns are toasted, place a lettuce leaf inside each bun. This will add a bit of crunch and help to lighten the heavy flavors of the lobster and mayonnaise. Mound the lobster on top, and add another sprinkle of fresh chives on top if you like.
Tips, Tricks, and Variations
There are several variations you can use with your lobster rolls to add a little more fun to your gatherings. You can do a Connecticut-style lobster roll, which involves tossing the lobster, not with mayonnaise, but with melted butter, parsley, salt, and pepper. Or if you want a BLT twist, slip some slices of bacon and tomato into the rolls before loading on the lobster.
You may want to add avocado to your lobster rolls for a refreshing, summery twist. If you like a bit of sauce, consider mixing sriracha or hot sauce in with the mayonnaise mixture before you stir in your lobster. And for a full seafood experience, cook, chop up, and stir in shrimp and crab along with your lobster for the filling.
Learn How to Make Lobster Rolls
As you’re getting ready for your cookouts this summer, knowing how to make lobster rolls can make you the star of the party. These rolls are light, refreshing, and sophisticated enough for any event demands. Make sure you use the freshest ingredients and try some of the variations we mentioned for an extra twist on your summer.
If you’d like to find the best lobster to use in all your recipes, check out the rest of our site at Order Maine Lobster. We have live lobsters, as well as lobster meat and lobster tails, fresh fish, shellfish, and more. Shop our live lobsters today and kick off your summer the right way.
