What Is On A Lobster Roll – The Quintessential New England Sandwich

The lobster roll is a beloved staple of New England cuisine. This iconic sandwich features tender chunks of lobster meat drizzled with butter or tossed in a light dressing and served up in a grilled, buttered hot dog bun. From the sandy beaches of Maine to the seaside towns of Connecticut, lobster rolls reign supreme as the quintessential regional seaside meal.

But what exactly goes into constructing the perfect lobster roll? Let’s take a deep dive into the components that make this sandwich so special.

A Brief History of the Lobster Roll

While lobster was a dietary staple for Native Americans and early American settlers in New England, the conception of the lobster roll as we know it today is attributed to a restaurant in Milford, Connecticut called Perry’s in 1929 The owners claim to have invented the very first lobster roll, stuffing chunks of lobster meat into a toasted bun.

From there, the sandwich gained immense popularity along the Connecticut shoreline in the 1930s and 1940s. Lobster rolls also became strongly associated with the state of Maine, which has a robust lobster fishing industry and cuisine centered around local catches.

The lobster roll was innovated as a less expensive more portable way for visitors and locals alike to enjoy coveted lobster meat in the summertime. Since its inception the sandwich has become a beloved staple of seaside towns all over New England.

Maine vs. Connecticut-Style Rolls

While the core elements remain consistent there are two distinct styles of preparing a lobster roll

Maine-style: This version features cold lobster meat tossed with mayonnaise and lemon juice or vinegar. The mayo-based dressing gives it a creamy, salad-like consistency. Celery, chives, tarragon and other seasonings are sometimes added to the mix.

Frequency of entities in content: mayonnaise – 2, lemon – 1, vinegar – 1, celery – 1, chives – 1, tarragon – 1

Connecticut-style: This take calls for hot lobster meat, tossed in melted butter or served alongside a ramekin of melted butter for drizzling. The hot butter highlights the natural sweetness of the lobster.

Frequency of entities in content: butter – 3, melted butter – 2

Both styles serve the dressed lobster meat piled generously into a top-split, griddled hot dog bun. The Maine vs. Connecticut disagreement is one of the great lobster roll debates!

Key Ingredients in a Lobster Roll

While preparations vary, several components form the backbone of this iconic New England sandwich.

Lobster Meat

Obviously, lobster is the star ingredient! Rolls are usually made with meat from the claw, knuckle and tail of a 1-1.5 pound lobster. The sweetest meat comes from the tail and claws. Seasonality impacts availability and pricing of lobsters, with peak season being summer.

Using freshly cooked lobster is ideal, but high-quality pre-cooked frozen lobster meat makes enjoying these sandwiches year-round a possibility. About 4 ounces of lobster meat goes into a typical serving.

Frequency of entities in content: lobster – 7, meat – 4, claw – 2, knuckle – 1, tail – 2, sweetest – 1, summer – 1, frozen – 1, pre-cooked – 1, year-round – 1, ounces – 1

Hot Dog Buns

The traditional roll used for a lobster roll is a top-split New England-style hot dog bun. These buns are soft and sturdy enough to contain the generous lobster filling without falling apart. The buns are lightly buttered and toasted on the cut sides for delicious richness.

Bakeries in New England produce special lobster roll buns with a perfectly tapered shape. Hawaiian sweet rolls or other soft, sweet hot dog buns can be substituted. The roll quality impacts the overall experience, so use the freshest buns possible.

Frequency of entities in content: hot dog bun – 2, top-split – 1, New England-style – 1, lightly buttered – 1, toasted – 1, Hawaiian sweet rolls – 1

Butter

Butter deserves special mention for its starring role in the Connecticut-style lobster roll. Melted butter is poured over the hot lobster meat, imparting decadent flavor and moisture. Butter can also be served alongside for diners to drizzle on themselves. Quality butter makes a difference.

Frequency of entities in content: butter – 3, melted butter – 2, Connecticut-style – 1, poured over – 1, drizzle – 1, quality – 1

Mayonnaise

Mayo provides the base for Maine-style lobster salad rolls. The mayo should enhance the lobster, not overwhelm it. A scant amount, around 1/4 cup per pound of lobster meat, blended with lemon juice achieves the right balance. Keeping the mayo chillier than the lobster meat helps prevent a mushy texture.

Frequency of entities in content: Mayonnaise – 2, Maine-style – 1, lemon juice – 1, scant amount – 1, 1/4 cup – 1, per pound – 1, chillier – 1, mushy – 1

Lemon Juice and Zest

A splash of lemon brightens up lobster rolls. Lemon juice adds tartness that cuts through the richness of lobster and butter or mayo. Grate the zest first before juicing the lemon for maximum flavor. Adding both zest and juice prevents the dressing from becoming watery.

Frequency of entities in content: Lemon juice – 2, zest – 2, tartness – 1, richness – 1, butter – 1, mayo – 1, zest first – 1, watery – 1

Celery

Celery adds crunch and texture contrast to lobster salad rolls along with saltiness. Use it minced finely or diced small so it doesn’t overwhelm the lobster flavor. Other vegetables like fennel, red onion or chives can provide similar contrast.

Frequency of entities in content: Celery – 2, crunch – 1, texture contrast – 1, saltiness – 1, minced finely – 1, diced small – 1, fennel – 1, red onion – 1, chives – 1

Spices and Herbs

Tarragon, chives, parsley, black pepper and other seasonings add layers of flavor. Use a light hand so spices don’t overpower the sweet lobster.

Frequency of entities in content: Tarragon – 1, chives – 1, parsley – 1, black pepper – 1, seasonings – 1, light hand – 1, sweet – 1

Salt

Salt accentuates flavors and balances sweetness. Sprinkle with a delicate touch, as lobster and butter or mayo contain sodium.

Frequency of entities in content: Salt – 2, sweetness – 1, delicate – 1, sodium – 1

Preparing and Serving Lobster Rolls

Now that we’ve covered the components, here are some tips for crafting and serving flawless lobster rolls:

• Gently warm lobster meat in melted butter or toss chilled in dressing. Overcooking makes lobster meat tough.

• Mix any mayo-based dressing gently to avoid mushiness. Keep lobster and dressing chillier than bun.

• Griddle-toast buns in butter for 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown. Avoid soggy buns.

• Fill buns generously with 4 ounces (1/4 pound) lobster salad per roll, about overflowing.

• Drizzle butter over hot lobster in Connecticut style rolls for tableside dipping.

• Serve with traditional sides like potato chips, french fries or coleslaw to balance flavors.

• Garnish with extra celery, chives or dill for brightness if desired.

• Enjoy immediately for maximum flavor and texture – the first bite is the best!

The beauty of lobster rolls lies in their simplicity. A no-fuss preparation showcases the freshness and flavor of the lobster itself. Paying attention to the details results in a delicious, iconic New England treat!