If you want to bring an air of sophistication and celebration to your dinner table without spending hours in the kitchen, a surf and turf dinner might be the perfect solution.
With the right ingredients and a bit of planning, you can pull off an effortless meal that looks (and tastes!) over the top—and we’ve got just the recipes to show you how.
The Maine style lobster roll is a delicious and iconic New England summer staple. This article will explain what a Maine lobster roll is, the history behind it how it’s different from other lobster rolls and tips for making your own.
A Brief History
The origins of the Maine lobster roll can be traced back to the late 19th and early 20th century along the coast of Maine. As lobster fishing grew in popularity, coastal towns saw an influx of tourists in the summer months. Lobster shacks popped up to meet the demand for fresh lobster. These shacks started experimenting with different ways to serve lobster like stuffing it in toasted rolls for a portable meal.
The lobster roll was born, becoming an instant hit with locals and visitors alike. The chilled lobster salad style that is synonymous with Maine developed shortly after. By serving the lobster cold with just a light dressing, the natural sweetness and brininess of the lobster could shine through. The lobster roll embodied the simple pleasures of summer by the sea in Maine.
Over time, the Maine lobster roll gained nationwide fame and transformed into an iconic regional specialty known for its fresh chunks of lobster meat tossed in a creamy dressing and piled into a grilled, buttery bun. From beachside seafood shacks to upscale restaurants, you’ll find Maine-style lobster rolls across New England and beyond.
What Makes the Maine Lobster Roll Special
There are a few key features that distinguish the Maine lobster roll from other variations:
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Chilled lobster meat – The meat is always kept cold to highlight the fresh, sweet flavor. This contrasts beautifully with the toasted bun.
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Mayonnaise-based dressing – The lobster meat is lightly coated in mayo, lemon juice, salt and pepper. This enhances the flavor without overpowering it.
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Top-split hot dog bun – The iconic bun is specially baked to be split on the top rather than on the side. This showcases the generous mound of lobster.
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Simplicity – The Maine style eschews extra ingredients. You’ll never find warm butter, greens, or celery here. The focus is solely on thefresh lobster.
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Texture – The chilled lobster and toasted bun provide delicious contrasting textures – soft and tender with crisp and crunchy.
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Seasonality – Maine lobster rolls are summer personified. They encapsulate the feeling of finally being “Down East” on a sunny, carefree vacation.
The harmony of simple, high-quality ingredients in the Maine lobster roll has made it a much-craved summertime treat for over a century.
How Maine Lobster Rolls Are Different from Other Styles
While the Maine lobster roll may be the most famous, it’s not the only type you’ll encounter in New England. Here’s how it differs from other regional styles:
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Connecticut – This style features hot lobster doused in warm melted butter. The emphasis is on rich, decadent lobster flavor.
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Massachusetts – Typically chilled like Maine’s, but potentially with lettuce and celery mixed into the salad. More filler, less lobster.
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New York/Manhattan – Similar to Maine with a mayo dressing but with celery for added crunch. Sometimes toastier buns.
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Rhode Island – Often served at room temp with drawn lemon butter on top or on the side for dipping.
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New Hampshire – Can feature both sweet lobster meat and shredded claw/body meat for more texture.
While delicious in their own right, none quite match the elegant simplicity of the Maine lobster roll with its cool, pristine chunks of sweet lobster meat begging to be enjoyed in peak summer.
How to Make an Authentic Maine Lobster Roll at Home
Recreating the magic of the Maine lobster roll is easy at home with high quality ingredients and a few simple tips:
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Use fresh lobster – Start with fresh whole Maine lobster cooked just until done or pre-cooked claw, knuckle, and tail meat.
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Chill completely – Once cooked, chill the lobster meat quickly on ice or in the fridge. This firms it up and enhances the sweetness.
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Cut into chunks – Carefully cut the cooled lobster meat into bite-sized chunks. Resist shredding it.
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Make a light dressing – Mix 2 parts mayo to 1 part lemon juice. Season with salt, pepper, and a hint of garlic or herbs if desired.
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Mix and chill – Gently fold the lobster chunks into the dressing. Refrigerate for at least an hour.
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Toast the buns – Get authentic split-top New England style hot dog buns and toast until golden.
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Don’t skimp on toppings – Pile the lobster salad generously onto the bun, topping with extra lemon wedges.
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Serve with classic sides – Pair your rolls with coleslaw, chowder, chips or potato salad for the full Maine experience.
Follow this easy recipe, and you’ll be transported from your kitchen straight to the coast of Maine with every delicious, refreshing bite of your homemade lobster rolls.
Tips for Getting the Best Maine Lobster Roll Experience
To fully enjoy the magic of an authentic Maine lobster roll, here are some helpful tips:
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Visit Maine between June and August when lobsters are most plentiful.
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Check out well-known lobster shacks like Red’s Eats or Five Islands Lobster Co. for the real deal.
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Opt for a side of creamy clam chowder or sweet corn on the cob.
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Don’t wear your Sunday best – things can get messy and spilled on!
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Chat with the locals in line – you’ll pick up tips and stories.
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Eat your lobster roll perched on a picnic table overlooking the ocean.
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Savor every single bite – don’t let the experience speed by too quickly!
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End your meal with a slice of blueberry pie or Whoopie pie.
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Buy a few live lobsters from the tank to cook yourself at home later.
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Consider eating your lobster roll Maine-style: with your hands, standing up!
Follow this advice, and your next lobster roll experience is guaranteed to be as authentic and memorable as it gets.
The Maine Lobster Roll Stands the Test of Time
For over a century, the Maine lobster roll has reigned as the pinnacle summer seafood sandwich thanks to its beguiling simplicity. When perfectly ripe Maine lobster meat joins forces with cool mayo dressing, toasty buns, and that Down East ocean breeze, something truly magical happens.
Every bite conjures up nostalgia of salty air, seagulls circling, and sun-kissed afternoons spent eating lobster with sand between your toes. The sublime Maine lobster roll continues to be a highly sought-after staple for visitors and locals alike. Its refreshing flavor and textures encapsulate the easy magic that summer in Maine holds.
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What’s the difference between a Maine lobster roll and a Connecticut lobster roll?
A Maine lobster roll is served with the lobster meat chilled and dressed in mayo with some crunchy greens like chives, celery, and/or scallions. A Connecticut lobster roll is served warm, dunked in butter, on a toasted bun. But after talking to some folks who own lobster shacks and seafood restaurants around New England, I learned it’s all about where you are.
“It means different things in different places,” said Sarah Sutton of the Bite Into Maine lobster roll food truck. “If you order a Connecticut-style in Connecticut, it will be a warmed roll. If you order [the same in] Maine, most likely the meat will be chilled with butter either on top or on the side.”
Steve Kingston of The Clam Shack in Kennebunk, Maine, agreed. The lobster roll at his restaurant is served with “chilled meat piled onto a grilled, round, locally-made yeast roll, served with the customer’s choice of mayo on the roll or warm butter drizzled over the cold meat.” It is probably best to ask if its not specified on the menu.
What is Surf and Turf?
Surf and turf is a style of menu that offers the best of both the land and the sea. This means customers don’t have to choose between the steak and the lobster and just get them both. This is a classic offering at steakhouses and seafood restaurants.
Surf and turf plates are often show-stopping displays of vibrant, fresh seafood and juicy seared steak. Alongside the main course, you’ll often find vegetable side dishes like crisp green asparagus, creamed spinach, whipped potatoes, or other sides to balance out all the protein.
Ultimately, surf and turf is a delightful culinary experience of texture, flavor, and aroma in one unique meal.
Lobster Roll Recipes | How to Make Lobster Rolls | Maine Lobster Roll vs. Connecticut Lobster Roll
FAQ
What is the difference between a Maine lobster roll and a CT lobster roll?
What’s the difference between a Maine lobster roll and a Connecticut lobster roll? A Maine lobster roll is served with the lobster meat chilled and dressed in mayo with some crunchy greens like chives, celery, and/or scallions. A Connecticut lobster roll is served warm, dunked in butter, on a toasted bun.
What is in a Maine lobster roll?
Maine lobster roll is an iteration of the classic butter-soaked roll. It consists of cooked lobster meat that is chilled and tossed with mayonnaise, celery, lemon juice, and salt. Other ingredients, such as fresh herbs, seasoning salt, and onions, can also be added to the mayo mixture.
Why is Maine lobster better?
Quality and Flavor: – Maine lobsters are often considered superior in quality and flavor due to the colder waters in which they are harvested. The cold water helps to produce a firmer, sweeter meat.
Why is Whole Foods boycotting Maine lobster?
The bill essentially singles out Whole Foods – owned by Amazon – which suspended purchasing Gulf of Maine lobster due to concerns about North Atlantic right whales getting entangled in lobster ropes.