Lobster Rolls with Spicy Aioli, Cucumber, and Chives
SERVINGS: 4
PREP TIME: 10 minutes
TOTAL TIME: 25 minutes
COURSE: Main
The great lobster roll debate—butter, or mayo? In this recipe, you can expect a little bit of both...with a delicious spicy twist. First, tender brioche hot dog buns are toasted in butter until they’re golden-brown, and our fresh (pre-cooked!) lobster meat is warmed in butter, too. Then, it’s time for the main event—the lobster salad. Packed with crisp and crunchy cucumbers, fresh chives, and a bright squeeze of lemon, it offers an irresistible combination of textures and flavors. To tie it together, we recommend Haven’s Kitchen Chili Bang Bang Aioli. But feel free to use your favorite spicy mayo. The resulting lobster roll is a mouthwatering twist on the summer classic—and sure to be a seasonal favorite.
Ingredients
- 4 Tbsp. unsalted butter
- 4 Citarella Brioche Hot Dog Buns, tops split
- 1 lb. Citarella Cooked Fresh Lobster Meat, chopped in ½-inch pieces
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- ¼-⅓ cup Haven’s Kitchen Chili Bang Bang Aioli
- 3 Tbsp. cucumber, peeled and finely diced
- 1 Tbsp. chopped chives
- Juice of half a lemon
- 1 tsp. toasted sesame seeds
- 1 Tbsp. scallions, thinly sliced
- 2 tsp. chopped cilantro
Optional:
- Pickled radish and cucumbers
Instructions
- In a large skillet, melt 1 Tbsp. of the butter over medium heat. Add the hot dog buns and toast both sides until golden-brown, about 2 minutes on each side. Remove from the pan.
- Wipe the skillet clean, add the remaining 3 Tbsp. of butter, and melt on low heat. Add the lobster meat and warm 2-3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
- In a medium bowl, place ¼ cup of the spicy aioli, the diced cucumber, and the chives. Mix everything together. Then, using a slotted spoon, add the buttered lobster meat (leaving any extra butter in the pan). Add the lemon juice to taste, as well as salt and pepper. Add additional spicy aioli if desired. Mix until lobster is evenly coated.
- Divide the lobster salad between the four rolls. Sprinkle with the sesame seeds, cilantro, scallions, and pickled vegetables, if using. Serve.
Begin Each Recipe with the Finest Seafood
Citarella owner, Joe Gurrera has 7 rules when it comes to cooking seafood. The first rule is to begin with the freshest, highest quality ingredients. And at Citarella, we have been bringing in the best for over a century. Whether it’s right out of the Atlantic, fresh from the Pacific, or sourced from one of the world’s most principled seafood farms, if it’s sold at Citarella, it’s the finest seafood available on the market today. Period.
