Best Poor Mans New England Lobster Rolls Recipes

NEW ENGLAND LOBSTER ROLL

Steps:

• Part 1: Add 1-2 inches of water to a large pot and cover with lid; bring to a boil over high heat. Place the lobsters into the pot, replace cover, and steam for 10 minutes.In a small bowl, combine minced shallots and lemon juice. Let macerate for 10 minutes.
• Place 1 cup homemade mayonnaise into a bowl. Add 2 tablespoons of the macerated shallots, along with 1 teaspoon of juices, to the mayonnaise. Add minced tarragon, and stir to combine. (Note: This makes enough tarragon mayonnaise for 4 lobster rolls). Slice celery stalks into thin strips lengthwise, then cut into ¼-inch dice. Set aside.
• Part 2: Prepare an ice bath by placing ice cubes in a large bowl of water. After 10 minutes of steaming, remove lobsters from the pot and immediately place in the ice bath to stop the cooking. Let chill, 5-10 minutes. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine the sliced celery and tarragon mayonnaise.
• Toast buns: Heat a skillet over medium heat. Spread softened butter over the inside and outside of the buns. Working in batches, open up the buns to place them flat on the skillet to toast, about 1 minute. Flip and toast the other side, 1 more minute. Repeat until all of the buns are toasted.
• Part 3: When cool enough to handle, break down the lobster. Use paper towels to absorb any liquid that drains out. First, twist off the tail from the body and set aside. Repeat with the legs (which you can save for stock or discard), claws, and knuckles. Remove the tail meat from its shell by splitting the underside of the tail in half lengthwise. Remove the meat from both halves and set aside (clean out the green tomalley or roe and discard).Use a knife or a lobster cracker to split the claw shells; remove the meat and set aside with tail meat. Crack the knuckle shells, remove the meat, and set aside with remaining lobster meat. Repeat with remaining lobster.
• Place a large mixing bowl on top of a kitchen towel. (This will keep the bowl stationary during whisking.) Into the bowl, add the egg yolk, a pinch of salt, 1 teaspoon lemon juice, water, and a pinch of cayenne pepper; whisk to combine. Begin emulsifying: whisk in a drop of olive oil, then whisk in a tablespoon in a thin steady stream. Switch to vegetable oil (since the strong flavors of olive oil can over power the may): add about 1/3 of it in a thin, steady stream while whisking continuously. Alternate whisking in olive oil and vegetable oil until all of the oil has been added. As the oil is whisked in, the emulsion will thicken, eventually holding a peak off the tip of the whisk. Taste the mayo; then whisk in remaining 2 teaspoons lemon juice, a few pinches of salt, and a pinch of cayenne to taste. Set aside. makes 1 1/2 cups. (Mayonnaise can be stored up to a week in the fridge.)
• Assembly: Roughly chop lobster meat into big chunks. Add a few tablespoons of the tarragon mayonnaise, just enough to coat the meat. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, or more mayonnaise as needed. Place lobster salad into toasted buns. Garnish with lemon wedges and watercress, and serve.

NEW ENGLAND STYLE HOT DOG ROLLS/BUNS (FOR LOBSTER ROLLS ETC.)

Steps:

• Combine the yeast and sugar with 1/4 cup of the warm water in a large bowl, or in the bowl of an electric mixer. Let stand for 5-10 minutes until the mixture becomes frothy. This allows the yeast to "bloom.".
• Add the salt and flour.
• Lightly beat 2 of the eggs with the milk and add this mixture to the bowl.
• Melt 3 tablespoons of the butter, and add this as well.
• Have the remaining 1/4 cup warm water ready.
• If you are mixing by hand, add some of the water and begin to mix, adding the water as needed.
• If using an electric mixer, attach the dough hook and jog the machine (turn it on and off) until the dough begins to form. This prevents the flour from jumping out of the mixing bowl.
• Add the remaining warm water as needed. The dough usually takes the full amount.
• When a soft dough has formed, knead for 5 minutes by machine, or about 8 minutes by hand.
• This is a soft bread and does not require as much kneading as chewier types. The finished dough should be soft but dense, and should not be sticky.
• Shape the dough into a ball and lightly oil it with the salad oil. Place it in a large bowl.
• Cover with plastic wrap or a slightly damp towel, and let rise in a warm place for about 1 hour, until doubled in bulk.
• Punch the dough down and move to a work surface. Lightly dust the work surface with flour.
• Shape the dough into a square.
• Using a knife, cut the dough into 13 equal pieces. This is best done by cutting 12 pieces and using scraps to make the thirteenth. If there is not enough dough for the thirteenth piece steal a little pinch off the others.
• With the remaining 1 tablespoon butter, lightly grease a baking sheet that is at least 15" long.
• Shape the dough into uniform 7" long tubular pieces, (or buy a New England Hot Dog Roll pan from the site above). It is important that all the pieces be the same length.
• Place the tube in a line, side by side, down the center of the baking sheet, leaving a 1/2" gap between them.
• Put the pan in a warm place, and let rise a second time.
• Prepare a thick egg wash by mixing the remaining egg with 2 tablespoons water.
• After 15-20 minutes, the tubes of dough will have risen enough that they will be touching.
• Generously brush the tubes with egg wash, return the pan to the warm spot, and let the dough rise until almost doubled in size, 10-15 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• Place the buns in the oven, and bake for about 30 minutes, until deep golden brown.
• Let the buns cool on the baking sheet for at least 15 minutes, then run a spatula under them to make sure they are not sticking to the pan.
• Using 1 or 2 spatulas, carefully lift the baked dough in one piece onto a rack to cool. It is crucial that you NOT let the buns break or tear apart.
• After 1 hour, when the baked dough is completely cooled, move it in one piece to a cutting board.
• Using a serrated knife, slice down the center of each tube. You will lose half a tube on each end (which is why you need 13 tubes to make 12 buns). The place where the tubes met is now the center of each bun.
• They will open naturally when it comes time to stuff them, but you can make a small incision to ensure that this happens.
• Wrap the buns in plastic wrap until ready to use. If you do not intend to use all 12 buns, freeze the extras, and defrost when needed.
• Note:.
• To infuse the dough with the delicate flavor of saffron, chop 1 teaspoon saffron threads and add to 1/4 cup water in a small pan.
• Bring the mixture to a boil over med-high heat, then remove from the heat.
• Let cool to lukewarm, and substitute for the 1/4 cup water added for mixing.
• Since the dough will be golden to start with, look for a dark brown top before removing from the oven.