All shellfish are some of my favorite types of seafood, but lobster and lobster rolls take the cake! This simple recipe is for Connecticut style lobster rolls, served warm with lots of melted butter. 🦞
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A lobster roll is a delicious New England style sandwich on a split-top bun (New England style bun) loaded with chopped lobster meat. There are two main variations -- Maine-style and Connecticut-style lobster rolls. Either one is delicious but our family favorite is the Connecticut style!
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CONNECTICUT STYLE AND MAINE STYLE LOBSTER ROLLS
As I said, Connecticut lobsters are our family favorite, but I would never turn down a Maine style either. 🙃
Connecticut style is a warm butter lobster roll where the meat is just tossed in melted butter and maybe a squeeze of lemon (the lemon juice is optional). The meat is chopped right after the lobster cools enough to be handled.
Maine style lobster rolls are piled high with chilled lobster tossed in mayonnaise, celery and sometimes scallions. The meat is chilled briefly after chopping and tossed in the same amount of mayo as butter for the Connecticut style. If you want to make Maine Lobster Rolls, simply chill the chopped lobster and sub the melted butter with mayo.
Both are served on a warm buttered split top bun and best served with kettle cooked potato chips and a cold beer. 🍻 (If you're not a beer drinker, you can see from the pictures that I also love a glass of champagne or prosecco with a lobster roll 😉).
WHERE TO GET GOOD LOBSTER (IF YOU AREN'T ON THE EAST COAST)
It is oh so easy to find great lobster on the East Coast, but what if you are across the country like us in Texas? There are a couple ways to get good Maine lobster even if you aren't in New England.
First there are a number of companies that will ship a live Maine lobster to your door! We have done this a couple times and it is definitely the best meat. We have used Cousins Maine Lobster.
If you didn't think ahead in time for all of that, just do some research to find a good seafood shop nearby. If you are near Austin, Quality Seafood Market is our favorite!
WHY WE LOVE LOBSTER ROLLS
Well first, they are delicious. But the reason we love them so much is for their nostalgia in Clay's family. Clays grandparents used to own a house in Kennebunkport, Maine and they spent summers there often when he was growing up. Now we do a big family vacation with grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins every summer we can. It is even a family tradition to do lobster rolls in Texas over Christmas. I highly recommend planning a trip to the cool and quaint town of Kennebunkport if you have not already been!
A little off topic, but just in case you do 😉, here are some of our favorite places and things to do in Kennebunkport, ME:
Lobster and blueberry pie at Nunan's
Steamers at Cape Pier
Drinks at The Ramp (Allagash White Beer is my favorite!)
Wine on the patio at Stripers
The deck at Federal Jacks
Lunch at Arundel Wharf
Lunch at The Clam Shack
Chowder at Mabel's
Drinks at The Colony Pool Deck
A picnic at St. Ann's Church
Beach day at Goose Rocks Beach
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Lobster Roll Recipe
Time: 30 minutes
Yields: 2 Sandwiches
Instructions:
Bring a large pot with a steamer basket to a boil.
Add whole live lobster or tails to the steamer basket. (If using live lobster, remove the rubber bands around the claws).
Cover and steam for 10-12 minutes until the lobster turns bright red.
Remove from steamer and let cool while preparing the buns.
Butter the inside and outside of the split top buns with 1 tbs butter.
Heat a medium skillet over low heat and lay the buns flat on the skillet. Grill both sides of each bun until gold brown. Set aside on plates.
Roughly chop the lobster meat into 1-inch(ish) cubes.
Melt 3 tbs butter. If using unsalted butter, add a pinch of salt to the ramekin after melting.
Toss the chopped lobster meat in the melted butter until coated.
Load up the buns with lobster meat and top with a squeeze of lemon.
Serve immediately with extra wedges of lemon and kettle cooked potato chips. (Our favorite are Cape Cod Original Potato Chips)
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What is your favorite family vacation spot? Tell me in the comments!