Homemade lobster rolls are one of the best dishes that you could ever learn to prepare. They’re nutritious, delicious, and feel luxurious. It elevates the home eating experience and feels like you are eating something special.
Despite being a relatively simple recipe, many people feel a little overwhelmed when trying to make lobster rolls for the first time. This quick guide will teach you how to prepare them in style. Whether it’s a solo treat or a family meal, here’s all you need to know.
Choose Quality Ingredients
High-quality ingredients elevate all recipes. However, it is very important to focus on quality when looking to recreate the tastes of restaurant-quality lobster rolls.
Lobster rolls focus on three main ingredients. They are the lobster meat, the bun, and the binding agent. Experts at Maine Lobster Now can deliver the freshest lobster meat directly to your door. This is perfect for lobster rolls as well as related dishes. Meaty lobster will be the star of the show.
Bun choices can include Cuban bread or seeded burger buns. However, a fresh split-top white hot dog bun is typically the best option. Binding agents are typically unsalted butter (New England style) or mayo (Maine).
You will also need a squeeze of lemon and some herbs. Fresh or dried variants are fine.
Making The Perfect Homemade Lobster Roll
The great thing about lobster roll recipes is that they are both simple and easily customized to personal tastes. Essentially, the process involves cooking the lobster meat before mixing it with the binding agent of choice and assembling a bun. When making homemade lobster rolls, there should be no restrictions on how you do this.
Generally speaking, though, the aforementioned New England and Maine styles are the main recipe options. Lobster tail can be cooked in several ways, and any of those methods are suitable for preparing the meat for either style. But the recipes do differ from this point onwards.
In a New England lobster roll, you’ll remove the lobster meat from the shell and immediately start to assemble the roll. This means that the lobster meat is still warm. Conversely, Maine style lobster rolls allow the meat to cool for a few minutes before moving onto the next steps.
The binding agent for New England style lobster rolls is unsalted butter. Use 2 tbsp of warmed butter for each 1 lb of lobster meat. After mixing these ingredients, lemon and herbs like chopped chives can be added to taste. They should enhance the flavor of the meat and butter rather than detract from it.
For Maine style lobster rolls, the cooled meat should combine with a mayo-based mix. You should mix the chives (or other herbs) and lemon into a ⅓ cup of mayo whilst the meat cools. Some people also like to add a small amount of mustard for a tangy bite. This mix can then be mixed into the meat until it is suitably coated. The ⅓ cup is for 1 lb of meat, so you can change this accordingly.
Buns should then be lightly toasted for 1-2 minutes. The lobster mix can then be added to the buns. It’s important to ensure that they are filled but not overfilled. For a standard sized hot dog bun, you’re probably looking at around 4 oz of lobster meat per roll.
Picking Sides
A great lobster roll is the perfect snack or light bite on its own. If enjoyed as a meal, though, you should think about the sides too. As well as the taste, you should consider the nutritional elements. Lobster meat provides a lot of positive nutrients, including creatine, as well as protein. The roll provides balance with carbs.
The obvious side dish is fries. This is what you picture when thinking about lobster rolls on a quay or waterfront. French fries and sweet potato fries are both popular choices. A coleslaw can be added to complete the plate. A creamy coleslaw is ideal for New England lobster rolls. A vinegar-based option may work better for Maine style rolls to avoid too much creaminess altogether. Grilled corn on the cob is another ideal food pairing.
Salads are popular additions, increasing the volume of food for very few extra calories. A creamy tomato and burrata salad can work well for a New England lobster roll. The Maine style recipe may be better suited to a cucumber and dill salad instead.
Some will also pair lobster rolls with mac and cheese. This is a particularly popular choice for evening meals. It’s fulfilling, satisfying, and hearty. It can also be a great way to add volume to a plate without spending a fortune on lobster meat. Similarly, this pairing works very well in backyard BBQ settings.
Pairing Your Lobster Roll With A Beverage
The lobster roll is an incredible recipe on its own. Still, the experience isn’t truly complete until you’ve paired it with the perfect drink. Both alcoholic and non-alcoholic choices are available.
Popular wine pairings include Pinot Grigio, white wines, and Sauvignon Blanc. The latter complements the sweetness of the lobster meat very well. Sparkling wines like Prosecco or cocktails like the Moscow Mule or Margarita may also be used. Refreshing flavor profiles are the aim, which also rings true when considering mocktail choices.
The beer choices tend to focus on pale ales or light beers. Experts at The Beer Exchange can help you discover the best light beers options on the market. Alternatively, a glass of iced water with a slice of lemon is a simple yet effective accompaniment.
The Final Word
Lobster rolls made with fresh lobster meat provide a truly satisfying taste and conjure up thoughts of being outside by the water. You might not be able to replicate the water aspects. But enjoying it out on the backyard deck surrounded by fresh air and tranquility will serve you well.
Just be warned – once you’ve made this recipe once, you’ll almost certainly want to make it a regular part of your lifestyle.