Ever talked lobster roll recipes with a group of people from Nova Scotia? You’ll find there’s plenty of passion and little consensus. Traditionally, a lobster roll is stuffed with chilled lobster salad dressed in mayonnaise. While others suggest lobster rolls should be dressed in melted butter and served warm. Either version may include celery for crunch - or not. Some argue lining the bun with a whole lettuce leaf keeps the bread from getting soggy; others like a bit of tarragon, scallions, or hot sauce mixed in.
sea salt
3 (1¼) lb live lobsters
1 stalk celery, finely chopped
2 Tbsp. lemon juice, freshly squeezed
1 Tbsp. fresh chives, chopped
2-3 Tbsp. mayonnaise
black pepper, freshly ground
2 Tbsp. butter, room temperature
6 New England–style split-top hot dog buns
Pour water into a large pot to a depth of 1"; bring to a boil and salt generously. Add lobsters, cover and cook until bright red, 8-10 minutes. Transfer lobsters to a rimmed baking sheet and let cool.
Crack lobster shells, pick meat from tail and claws and cut into ½" pieces. Mix lobster, celery, lemon juice, chives and 2 Tbsp. mayonnaise in a medium bowl; season with salt and pepper and add more mayonnaise, if desired.
Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Spread flat sides of buns with butter. Cook until golden, about 2 minutes per side; fill with lobster mixture.
Makes 6 servings.
Cook's Notes:
- Start by dispatching fresh lobster. Use a chef’s knife to pierce the shell about an inch behind their eyes (where the head attaches to the body) and cut down between the eyes quickly. After cooking, let the lobsters cool before cracking the shells and chopping the claw and tail meat. Finally, toss the cooked lobster meat with the mayo, celery, lemon juice and chives.
- Buttered rolls, toasted until they are golden brown, are key here. If you can’t find split-top buns, trim ¼" from both sides of standard hot dog buns to remove the crust and expose more surface area. Stuff the sandwiches immediately and serve with potato chips.
- Make-Ahead: Lobster meat can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and chill. Toss with remaining ingredients just before serving.
Nutritional Information:
1 serving contains: Calories (kcal) 450 Fat (g) 7 Saturated Fat (g) 2 Cholesterol (mg) 200 Carbohydrates (g) 29 Dietary Fiber (g) 1 Total Sugars (g) 3 Protein (g) 63 Sodium (mg) 720