McLoons Lobster Roll Recipe
A classic cold lobster roll recipe with mayo from McLoons Lobster Shack in South Thomaston, Maine. We think it’s the best lobster roll in New England!
While this lobster roll recipe produces a classic cold lobster roll with mayo, McLoons Lobster Shack in South Thomaston, Maine, (home of the winning roll in the Yankee Magazine 2017 Great Lobster Roll Adventure) is happy to serve your roll with hot butter or, as we prefer, half butter and half mayo (a handy trick achieved by simply cutting the roll in two). If you do opt for a buttered roll, take general manager Bree Douty’s advice: “It’s easy to overcook lobster when you reheat it for a hot buttered roll, so keep the butter very hot right up until you begin serving. Also, while it’s important to keep the meat cold when you store it, be sure to let it sit at room temperature long enough to take the chill off before using it in a roll.”
If you choose to buy precooked lobster meat, caveat emptor. “Many markets sell only knuckle and claw meat,” Douty says. “Visit your local seafood market and ask for tail meat too. If it’s not available, you can always buy live lobsters and pick the meat yourself, which will ensure the freshest experience.” See How to Cook a Lobster the McLoons Way.
Yield:
4 Lobster RollsIngredients
1 pound fresh lobster tail, knuckle, and claw meat
4 New England–style split-top hot dog rolls
1 stick salted butter, softened
Mayonnaise (preferably Hellman’s)
Instructions
Break the lobster meat into large chunks, splitting the tails in half but leaving smaller claws whole. Set aside. Heat a pan or griddle to medium heat. Spread a thin, even layer of the softened butter onto each side of the hot dog rolls. Place rolls in pan and toast on each side until golden. Swipe a thin layer of mayonnaise inside each roll and fill with lobster meat, making sure each roll gets an even amount of tail, claw, and knuckle meat. If desired, melt remaining butter and drizzle over the top. Best enjoyed outdoors, on the ocean, with a few lobster boats in sight!
