Monday, September 10, 2012

The Summer Shack Classic Maine Lobster Roll


The Summer Shack Lobster Roll

It may not be a po’boy but it sure can make you one in a hurry unless you take advantage of a local market’s special like we did.  My sous chef pounced when Jensen’s offered uncooked lobster tails for a mere pittance.  He loves crustaceans of all kinds and attacks them with unmitigated gusto, although with far more refinement than Jennifer Beal in Flashdance.  So when he proffered his treasure with the challenge to “make something good,” I needed my “A” game.  One does not waste lobster no matter the price.

Luscious little lobster tails

Fortunately, I came up with  a great dish that both met the challenge and allowed me to take a little culinary “stay-cation” to Maine.  The Summer Shack Classic Maine Lobster Roll is a true delight and worth the splurge!  It is a lusciously creamy cold lobster salad stuffed into a light, buttery roll.  Add  lettuce and some potato chips and you can almost hear the pounding surf and smell the sweet, salt air.  And the best thing about this stay-cation  is it doesn’t set you back for airfare, hotel and all those gifts you need to bring back for those you left behind.
The start of lobster salad

A few quick notes.  Make the lobster salad first for it needs at least 30 minutes resting time.  If you can’t find New England Style hot dog buns, a longer roll with a split in the top can be used.  Just make sure whatever roll you use is light and airy and wide enough to hold the lobster salad.  Dorie Greenspan’s Café Style Carrot Salad was a refreshing accompaniment to the lobster roll.
Everything looks better with lobster

Classic Maine Lobster Roll
The Summer Shack Cookbook, Page 278

4 New England Style Hot Dog Buns
4 Tablespoons Unsalted Butter, Softened
4 Boston or Bibb Lettuce Leaves, Washed and Dried
Lobster Salad (recipe below)
Potato Chips

Heat a 10-inch skillet (or tostapane)  over medium heat.  Brush the sides of the buns with butter and place the buttered buns in the hot skillet (or on tostapane) and toast until golden.  Turn and cook other side.  (I split my rolls open and buttered/toasted the inside for a little extra buttery crispness.)

Open the buns, add lettuce  and top with the lobster salad.  Serve with potato chips.

Toasting the rolls on the "tostapane" 

Buttery, crisp roll ready for lobster

Lobster Salad
Makes 2 Cups

1 Pound Cooked Lobster Meat (I used lobster tails for ease of cooking and freezing until needed)
1 Small to Medium Cucumber – Peeled, Seeded, and Diced
½ cup Hellman’s or other quality Mayonnaise
2-3 Small Scallions
Freshly Ground Pepper
Sea Salt if needed

Cook and cool the lobsters and then remove the meat.  I love my seafood scissors for it makes this task a breeze, especially when working with lobster tails or the whole lobster.  Cut the lobster meat into chunks, preferably in the ½ inch size. 

Place the diced cucumber in a colander and let stand for about 5 minutes to drain any leftover liquid. 

Combine the lobster, cucumber, mayonnaise and scallions in a bowl.  Season with pepper to taste.  If you prefer a little salt, add to the mix but it’s not needed.  Cover with plastic wrap and chill for 30 minutes or more.  Can be made up to 4 hours ahead.

Lobster Roll Heaven

9 comments:

  1. Yum! I want a lobster roll now!

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  2. Oh Christy…looks incredible! I remember eating lobster rolls in Bar Harbor at a little lobster shack!! Your salad sounds luscious!! Yum!!

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  3. Oh, this does look wonderful. It looks like you have captured it very well.

    Since lobster prices have been a little less pricey this summer here on the East Coast, we have had the chance to indulge a few times. But, there is nothing quite like those little hole in the wall eateries in Cape Cod/ Maine coastline where the salad is perched precariously on the unassuming hotdog roll. Yum :-)

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  4. Hey Christy! I've missed you on FFwD and just getting my GoogleReader list back in shape to follow blogs more easily. What a great idea to have a culinary staycation. I love lobster rolls, and Summer Shack (I live just 8 miles from one of their brick-and-mortar locations.) We spend lots of weekends in Maine, and the lobster prices has been ridiculous so we've eaten lots! Yum!

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  5. I adore lobster rolls! I first had them on Montauk at the Lunch restaurant. Absolutely heavenly.

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  6. lobster rolls.. must be the culinary gods telling me something - every day over the past 2 weeks, Lobster Roll has either come up in conversation / seen it on the telly / read about it - I even randomly opened a cookbook yesterday.. and there...right there on the page... Lobster Roll.

    I've got to do something about that! Thanks for the kick in the pants :)

    Toby
    ps...
    its Flying Dragon season again - let me know if you feel like trying trifolate orange marmalade again (I'll send you some)

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  7. Christy, I realize I am way late with my comment but I still adore this recipe of yours, even in November - I only ate lobster salad once, years ago, but I loved it and would really enjoy eating it again. Lobster is hard to find around here but around Christams season, it is much more readily available and I am sure my family would love for me to prepare these delectable rolls!

    P.S.: Hope, all is well, I do miss reading your posts!

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  8. This outfit gets it's Maine lobster from Cundy's Harbor. They recently gave me this deal - Ayuh Maine Lobster's Deal of the Day...Get 10% Off Order Total. At http://www.ayuhmainelobster.com checkout I entered in the following COUPON CODE and saved some money:
    A10C92AB6752EA Do you know of an online site that could match or beat this discount?

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  9. These are so beautiful! I hope i’ts okay that I link to this recipe from my blog? seafood restaurants in orange beach

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