The BEST Vegan Lobster Rolls (Easy Recipe) - Crowded Kitchen (2024)

FAQs

Is lobster roll better with butter or mayo? ›

Some lobster lovers may prefer the cool and refreshing taste of chilled lobster with a touch of mayo, lemon juice, salt and pepper, and seasoning on a buttered and freshly toasted bun. Others may favor warm, succulent lobster meat doused in drawn butter and served on a fluffy, slightly crunchy toasted bun.

There's nothing wrong with pairing a lobster roll with classic french fries, chips or even tater tots. However, if you want to try something different, consider serving other veggie sides like zucchini fries or carrot chips. To make zucchini fries, you'll need breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan cheese, eggs and zucchini.

Nunn uses two small lobsters to make four rolls. That is 5-6 ounces each! According to Cook Fast, Eat Well, 3-4 ounces is what you should look to use per lobster roll, though you can even use a bit less per roll.

Salad. A simple salad made with mixed greens, tomatoes, and cucumbers can be a great option for a side dish. A light vinaigrette dressing will complement the rich flavor of the lobster. Ultimately, the best vegetable to serve with lobster will depend on personal preference and the flavors of the dish.

What's the difference between a Maine lobster roll and a Connecticut lobster roll? A Maine lobster roll is served with the lobster meat chilled and dressed in mayo with some crunchy greens like chives, celery, and/or scallions. A Connecticut lobster roll is served warm, dunked in butter, on a toasted bun.

And because the salad is served warm in the bun, the lobster in a Connecticut-style roll is a bit softer and more tender than a chilled Maine-style roll.

Lobster is a healthy option, as it is high in protein and lower in fat. When cooking lobster, it is important to avoid over-cooking, as this can make the lobster tough and chewy. Lobster can be boiled, baked, steamed or grilled.

Buns: New England Style Bread Rolls are traditional for Lobster Rolls. They are slit at the top, and the sides of the bun are flat, convenient for laying them flat to toast. If you can't find New England Style Buns, choose good quality soft, buttery buns—top sliced if you can find them, like these .

A New Englander will also tell you there are two main variations on the theme, Maine style and Connecticut style, and natives of both states are known to fiercely defend their regional recipe as the gold standard of lobster rolls.

In recent years, “We take whatever we can get,” Morander says. “Some of our local fishermen will only bring us 8 ½ pounds of live lobster at a time. So we're having to get ours from Maine and Canada.” Those added transportation costs add up, especially given the cost of fuel. Then there's the cost of labor.

What are the best buns for lobster rolls? ›

You can't just stick lobster meat in any old bun and call it a lobster roll! It must be a top-split, white-bread hot dog bun, slowly toasted on both sides in plenty of butter. This is not optional—it's an essential part of the recipe.

Fresh parsley is also allowed, just don't overdo it. Green onion is completely unnecessary but in VERY small amounts it can substitute for celery and parsley to give you crunch and color. A perfect lobster roll contains identifiable pieces. Claws are mostly intact.

Serve the lobster with melted butter, lemon wedges, and any other desired condiments or sides, such as steamed vegetables or a salad. Provide guests with a lobster cracker or nutcracker to crack open the shells and access the meat. Enjoy your delicious fresh steamed lobster with your guests!

Lobster Tails and Sides

Baby glazed carrots with a touch of brown sugar are a fantastic root vegetable to serve with lobsters. Fresh blanched green beans work well with cherry tomatoes drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with salt, pepper, and maybe a handful of torn basil leaves.

Some people like warm lobster rolls dressed with butter. I occasionally pine for the magnificent examples served at Neptune Oyster Bar in Boston. But most of the time, cold lobster meat dressed with plain old Hellmann's mayo is the way to go, perhaps with a little extra squeeze of lemon.

Essentially, there is none with a Connecticut roll — just a side of melted butter that's used to douse the lobster meat right before taking the first bite. Like the sound of warm, buttered lobster meat? Try Food Network Magazine's Connecticut-Style Lobster Rolls with Butter.

People who use butter do it because they like the taste of seafood dipped in butter. There's no great mystery here. You can try it to see whether you like it.

Lobster is very expensive these days, but doesn't have a strong flavour, and contains little fat. Some people would consider that a bit of melted butter balances the meat nicely, both in terms if taste and nutrition.