Lobster Rolls
Maybe I've never been to the right establishment or maybe I just prefer bolder flavors, but when I go to Maine and order a lobster roll at a restaurant or lobster pound I am usually disappointed in what I get for the cost. It seems that most places just toss some boiled lobster with a little (very little) mayo and not much else. If you're lucky they'll sprinkle some parsley on top.
I can see if you've never had a lobster roll, or even lobster itself, before you might want to try it as unadulterated as you can, but after that first time you really don't feel the need to repeat the experience. Especially on the same vacation.
I need my lobster to pop damn it!
I can see if you've never had a lobster roll, or even lobster itself, before you might want to try it as unadulterated as you can, but after that first time you really don't feel the need to repeat the experience. Especially on the same vacation.
I need my lobster to pop damn it!
Ingredients
First boil or steam some lobsters. Second, chill them out in the fridge or in an ice bath. Third, crack those little monsters apart and pick out all the good bits and chop the larger chunks into bite sized pieces.
For the sauce, or dressing if you prefer, you'll want to make about one and a half or twice as much as you think you'll need. We'll get to why in a bit. How much you make will depend on how much lobster you have and how saucy you like it. You should be able to tell if you'll need a half cup, cup, or more by looking at the size of your pile of lobster and estimating.
I like a combination of sour cream and mayo. The sour cream cuts the fat a bit and mellows down the mayo. Primarily you'll have mayo, maybe two parts mayo and one part sour cream. Start there and make it more or less as you taste it and figure out what you like. Salt and pepper it to taste.
I've always liked a little tarragon with lobster. I would have used fresh, but it was vacation and the rental already had some dried on hand, so bam! And we'd also brought an old container of Faux Bay Seasoning (generic Old Bay Seasoning) and threw in a touch of that.
Onion and garlic. I used very little garlic, fearing that it would be to strong. You can forgo that if you wish. But all lobster rolls need a little onion, and sadly I've never had one at a restaurant that did. Make a fine dice of onion and add as much as you like to your sauce.
Now take half of your sauce and toss your lobster with it and set it in the fridge to chill out for a few hours. Do this at breakfast to have for lunch or at lunch to have for dinner. Why half? Because the lobster will weep out some liquid and turn it all into a loose sauce at the bottom of your bowl.
When it comes time to assemble your roll you'll want to strain off that runny sauce and taste your lobster. FOR GODSAKE TASTE IT! You may think it's fine as is, or you may want to add some of that reserved sauce. Figure it out and then let's roll.
For the sauce, or dressing if you prefer, you'll want to make about one and a half or twice as much as you think you'll need. We'll get to why in a bit. How much you make will depend on how much lobster you have and how saucy you like it. You should be able to tell if you'll need a half cup, cup, or more by looking at the size of your pile of lobster and estimating.
I like a combination of sour cream and mayo. The sour cream cuts the fat a bit and mellows down the mayo. Primarily you'll have mayo, maybe two parts mayo and one part sour cream. Start there and make it more or less as you taste it and figure out what you like. Salt and pepper it to taste.
I've always liked a little tarragon with lobster. I would have used fresh, but it was vacation and the rental already had some dried on hand, so bam! And we'd also brought an old container of Faux Bay Seasoning (generic Old Bay Seasoning) and threw in a touch of that.
Onion and garlic. I used very little garlic, fearing that it would be to strong. You can forgo that if you wish. But all lobster rolls need a little onion, and sadly I've never had one at a restaurant that did. Make a fine dice of onion and add as much as you like to your sauce.
Now take half of your sauce and toss your lobster with it and set it in the fridge to chill out for a few hours. Do this at breakfast to have for lunch or at lunch to have for dinner. Why half? Because the lobster will weep out some liquid and turn it all into a loose sauce at the bottom of your bowl.
When it comes time to assemble your roll you'll want to strain off that runny sauce and taste your lobster. FOR GODSAKE TASTE IT! You may think it's fine as is, or you may want to add some of that reserved sauce. Figure it out and then let's roll.
Rollin'
To assemble your roll, melt a little butter in the bottom of a pan or griddle and toast your frankfurter rolls---sometimes called New England Style Buns (which are the split top rolls as opposed to the side split hot dog bun). once browned to your liking you can either add a leaf of lettuce or shredded lettuce to the bun and top with your lobster salad, but we chose to leave out the lettuce because we didn't have any and didn't want to run out and buy any. Serve it on paper plates. That's optional, but it really makes you feel like classy trash.