Tender chunks of perfectly steamed lobster lightly tossed in mayonnaise and black pepper with a touch of lemon and placed in a toasted buttery roll make this Lobster Roll a true New England Classic.
The taste of summer in a classic New England lobster roll
It’s officially the first day of summer today and nothing says summertime fun like a delicious New England lobster roll!
NOTE: This post was originally published August 2015, but I created a new Pinterest pin for it last week and it’s already been pinned OVER 1,300 TIMES in 5 days!! Figured if it’s that popular with folks, I should re-share it with all you guys so you aren’t missing out!
When J and I lived in Florida, we used to eat lobster a few times a year. Now that we live in New England, we eat it a few times a month because, literally, it is less expensive than chicken.
The price of lobster up here makes up for all the harsh, cold-ass, tundra, blizzard-storms-that-dump-36inches-of-snow-at-one-time winter conditions. Lobster is still accessible and inexpensive even during the winter. It’s a beautiful thing.
How To Make A Classic New England Lobster Roll:
1) Use only fresh lobster: The frozen, pre-cooked stuff has no business here. You want quality. Also, the best rolls contain a mixture of the tail, claws, and knuckles.
2) Simple seasonings: A touch of homemade or a good-quality store bought mayonnaise and fresh finely ground black pepper. A squeeze of fresh lemon juice is nice too. That’s it. No salt is needed because the lobsters are cooked in salted water. If you really want some fresh dill or chives, then put it in there, but understand that you don’t really need it.
3) New England style rolls: This is essential. It has to be a NE style soft hot dog bun with a split-top and flat sides. Flat sides are needed so they can be toasted in a pan with lots of butter. Heck ya!
So, I’ve been living in the New England area now for a few years, by way of Central Florida. There are many things I love about living up North, but I still miss my home state of Florida almost every day.
I’ll admit, I put Florida on this lofty pedestal and I’ll ramble on, to anyone who will listen, about how I can grill 12 months out of the year in the sunny state (because that’s what’s important in life). Then I become all negative about living in New England and start blabbing about how I need to move back down South ASAP.
Don’t get me wrong, I still H-A-T-E the cold and any sort of resemblance to winter; however, I can appreciate the fact that life slows down here during the winter months. And I can have a roaring fire in the fireplace every night, while snuggling on the couch with J and the girls, while wearing comfy fuzzy lined flannel pants and big fluffy thick socks.
I can eat rich comforting foods that slowly braise all day long in the oven and drink hot chocolate each night. Plus there’s nothing quite like having a white Christmas. The snow and cold makes the holidays seem more like holidays.
And I can eat inexpensive lobster any time of the year! I guess living in New England isn’t all that bad.
Wherever you live, go get some fresh lobsters and make a Classic New England Lobster Roll all summer long!
Also, if you’re looking for a fantastic side dish, try my Mexican Street Corn Potato Salad. The charred corn goes so well with the lobster!
- 1½ cups cooked lobster, cut into 1½" pieces (from about 2, 1.25 pound fresh New England Lobsters, cooked in salted water for 7-8 minutes)
- 2 tablespoons good quality mayonnaise, homemade or store bought
- freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 2 New England style split-top hot dog roll or any soft roll
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- optional: fresh lemon wedges
- In a small bowl, combine the cooked lobster, mayonnaise, and black pepper and mix well. Set aside.
- Heat a small skillet over medium-high heat. Spread softened butter on each side of hot dog roll and place buttered side down in heated skillet. Cook until both sides of roll are lightly brown. Remove to a plate.
- Divide the lobster mixture between the two rolls and serve with lemon wedges.
- Enjoy!
Hahahaha! First of all thanks for the shout out! Second, I’m glad I can provide the metephorical slap in the face to make you, once again, apprechiate where you live. Aside from the seriously frigid winters, NE sounds gorgeous, plus cheap lobsta’ year round? I’m IN! However, you should totally be living here in NC. Because I’m selfish and I want you as my neighbor! 😀 NeWays, loving your lobster roll and all your profesh 411! I’m dying over here, and slobbering all over the keyboard because this looks absolutely perfect! Creamy dreamy succulent lobster jam pony’ed into a buttery delicious roll? Gahh. Hand it over! Pinned! Cheers, girlfriend! Xo
Shout out Yo!! It is gorgeous up here but the winters suck! Oh don’t worry, I’ll be moving to NC within the next 5 years so we have to keep in touch cos we just might be neighbors. Thanks for the kind words about the recipe too! xoxo
I can appreciate the seasonal changes of New England weather, but if I never saw another winter I would never miss it. Not having another New England lobster roll, on the other hand will bring me to tears. Lobster rolls are one of my most favorite things in life. I completely understand how you didn’t have time to take pictures of them this summer! 🙂 I agree with your comment about Chey. North Carolina is sound pretty darn good to me too!
Me too Thao on not ever seeing another winter but have to make the best of it while I’m where I am for now…and that includes eating a lot of lobster rolls to make my life happier 🙂
That is something I would love to have right now, Karrie! Looks so incredibly and deliciously scrumptious. I’ll ask my husband if he can make it for me 😉 . If you’re getting used to the winters in NE you could start thinking of moving here in Alberta (Canada) 😉 . I would love to have you as my neighbour too!
Thanks Nicoletta. I visited Canada (Montreal) for the first time last September and told Hubby I loved it so much that I could live there year round. He promptly informed me that if I hated New England winters, I would definitely hate Canada’s winters!
Now you’ve got me craving LOBSTER!!! Time to go shell out like $30 a pound for it! ha ha ah!
Gigi, I’ll be thinking of you next time I buy them for $5.99/lb. It would probably be cheaper for you to fly to New England, grab a few lobsters, and fly back home 🙂
BAH HA HA! IT TOTALLY WOULD! How sad is that!
This lobster roll looks so delicious! I’ve actually never had a lobster roll, which is so crazy. I imagine it to be sooo yummy in those buttered NE buns. You definitely made me crave one now. Also, I always complain about not being able to have a white Christmas in Southern California or cold, snowy winters to allow me to bundle up by the fire. But then I take a trip up North to the mountains and rent a cabin for xmas week and I get my fill, so you can always do the same with Florida too! Get your booty in that camper and head to the beach, and then when you’re over the sunburns and heat, go back home! 🙂 But seriously, you’re right…it’s good to be grateful for where we live. <3
Thanks Beeta and you need to visit New England for a lobster roll pronto! You are so lucky to live in California. I love it there and the Hubby and I are always talking about moving there one day.
Would you believe I’ve never had a lobster roll? This looks so amazing, but I’m afraid I wouldn’t be able to find the amazing kind of lobster you are talking about. I will just have to save this to my list of “must try” for when I visit New England!
Never had a lobster roll? Whaaaatttt?!? Give me your address right now Kathy so I can FedEx you one 🙂
OMG! What I wouldn’t give for inexpensive lobster to make this buttery, mayonaisey lobstery deliciousness! I’m totally with you on Chey’s positive attitude and makes me want to move from Charlotte to the NC country! You also make me wish for cozy winter nights and a white Christmas!
I heard that Rachelle and I’ll send you some of my snow this winter 🙂
Oh… my…. god!!! I remember taking a road-trip through Maine years ago, and I had the most phenomenal lobster rolls – I’ve been thinking about them ever since 🙂 I have been wanting to make a lobster roll for the longest time – great to know I have a recipe now! These look amazing!
Thanks so much Kathleen. The best lobster rolls are in New England because the lobster is so fresh. Literally just caught that morning. Love it!
Ha-ha, you’re right, Karrie! That could be an issue sometimes to take some pictures. It gets worse if you’re surrounded by hungry folks:) But let’s be honest! You didn’t take pictures so long on purpose cause you needed an excuse to make these delicious rolls again and again. I would do the same! Am I right? But I promise to keep this secret just between us:) Nice job!
Thanks Ben and you are so right that it’s much worse taking pics when there’s hungry people around. So much pressure! hahaha!
Hey Karrie, I love the way you roll! hahaha I am glad Cheyanne y helping you re think about the beauty up north! I can’t say much about that cause the only time I lived abroad away from my beloved island was in south France. But I think is part of human nature to see the good in other’s person life, (when you are eating out the plate your neighbor’s order seems always better than the one sitting in front of you! Well any how love your lobster roll recipe.. have a great Sunday!
Haha! Thanks Gaila. I’m always looking at someone’s plate and wishing I had ordered that instead!
Nooooooo – don’t say that summer is almost over. We still have plenty of time!
This looks incredible. I remember having my first lobster roll when I was in Maine about 8 years ago and I haven’t been able to find anything like it in the UK since.
Trust me Dannii, I don’t want summer is ever end because winter is no fun (at least for me it’s not). 🙂
Mmm! I’ve never thought to make my own lobster roll! But I bet that they are so delicious! I sincerely love how classic and no fuss you made this recipe! Thanks for sharing! 😀
Thanks so much Kennedy!
These look so incredibly delicious! While we were in NYC during the weekend we had superb lobster rolls, and I just wish I could recreate them at home in the Netherlands, but for some reason lobster is basically non-existent there! You can find it in higher-end restaurants but never at a fish stand, which is such a shame! Better stuff my face while I’m here :p
Thank you Sophie. That’s incredible about not being able to find fresh lobster at fish markets where you live! I should FedEx you some 🙂 Eat as much as you can in NYC and hope you are having a great trip. It’s such a fun city!
“Yes, this is how I roll (pun intended)” <–okay, but this is why we're friends, like for real. 🙂 On a more serious note, loved everything you said about appreciating life more. Good ol' Chey–she's positive and uplifting like that. <3 I've been going through some of the same things as you–moving from San Diego to Maine. I was grumpy for a good 6 months. Then I realized, it's actually pretty awesome here. So quiet, nature is different, but beautiful in its own way… and we get to have all the winter fun. 🙂
I'm so happy that you're finding greater peace with your move. Sending much love to you, Karrie. And feel free to msg me anytime you want to chat about this. 🙂
How in the F did I not see this one before?? Don’t even talk about cold weather, girl. Ugh. We didn’t even have spring around here, but it is starting to warm up a bit. Lobsters were selling for $8.99/lb here the other day, which wasn’t too bad. Hubster will eat lobster, but prefers crab so I don’t usually get lobster for little ol’ me. No fun in that, is there? Anywho, love these and can understand why they’ve been pinned over 1300 times. Add one more to that ;). And high five for the lots of butta tip on dem buns! xoxo
What a tease for those of us landlocked mile high! We eat lobster rolls only when we travel to the East coast(: You are so right the meat has to be fresh. Chris is from Florida and doesn’t miss it one bit, if he had to state his case, he’ll hit a lot of the same points you do Karrie. I still like visiting there once in a while, especially the Keys and the Sandestin area, that sand and the color of the water are unbelievable, not to mention that I am much better at addressing beer at sea level:)
Cheaper than chicken! Holy Smokes! You could eat lobster every day! Thank goodness it is summer now and hopefully the weather is good where you live and eat all that lobster! I hate to admit it, but lobster is not something on our menu…..ever! It’s so expensive here! These lobster rolls look so amazing so maybe I need to move to the east coast! 🙂