
A gift idea for summer weekend hosts and
hostesses. Photo courtesy W. W. Norton Company. |
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Ingredients
4 New England-style hot dog buns (see note above)
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1 recipe lobster salad (recipe follows)
4 Boston or bibb lettuce leaves, washed and dried
4 dill pickle spears
Potato chips (go for the best, like Kettle brand)
Preparation
1. Heat a 10-inch skillet over medium heat. Spread each of the hot dog buns with 1 tablespoon butter (half on each side). Place the buttered buns into the hot dry pan and toast without moving, until golden brown on one side, about a minute. Turn and cook the other side, about 1 minute more. Remove from heat. |
2. Open the buns and place in a paper holder or on a small plate. Place a lettuce leaf on one side of the center, inside the bun. Spoon the lobster salad evenly among them. Serve with pickles, and potato chips on the side.
LOBSTER SALAD RECIPE
Ingredients
1 pound fully cooked lobster meat or 5 pounds live lobsters
1 small to medium cucumber (4 to 5 ounces), peeled, seeded and cut into ¼ inch dice
1/2 cup Hellman’s mayonnaise (or your own homemade easy blender mayonnaise)
2 or 3 small scallions (white and green parts), thinly sliced
Freshly ground black pepper
Preparation
1. If you are using live lobsters, steam them until fully cooked and then allow to cool to room temperature. Use a cleaver to crack and remove the meat from the claws, knuckles and tails.
2. Remove the cartilage from the claws and the intestine from the tails of the cooked meat. Cut the meat into ½ to ¾ inch dice. You may pick all the meat from the carcass and add it to the meat or freeze the carcass for soup or broth.
3. Place the cucumber in a colander for at least 5 minutes to drain the excess liquid.
4. Combine the lobster, cucumber and mayonnaise. If the salad is to be served within the hour, add the scallions. Season with a bit more pepper if needed; it is unlikely that salt will be needed. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for at least 30 minutes before serving.
Makes 2 cups, which serves 4 or 5 for sandwiches or as a light entrée.
EDITOR’S NOTE
If you like more sophisticated flavors, don’t hesitate to build on the recipe. Our favorite additions include:
Finely diced fennel or celery (in addition to flavor and crunch, it stretches the pricey lobster)
Fresh herbs—basil, dill, parsley
Green mayonnaise, with fresh herbs (Julia Child’s recipe)
Heat, via a very small amount of wasabi
Try adding your favorite flavors for a “gourmet” lobster roll. |
Order top-quality lobsters online from one of our favorite gourmet food purveyors, used by top chefs nationwide.