Air Fried Lobster Rolls
Air Fried Lobster Rolls- Succulent lobster tails are air fried to perfection, mixed into a creamy dressing, then stuffed into a buttery brioche bun.
August 29, 2022 by Nicole Collins
It’s funny how much what we THINK we know can influence our decisions.
I’ve talked about this before, but I was sure I hated rice for most of my life. Turns out, I just hated the way it was prepared the one and only time I’d ever had it.
I had the same experience with lobster. I had it once, and thought I hated it; so I never fooled with it again.
But here’s the thing, the one time I had it was at an Outback Steakhouse.
Now if you were looking for phenomenal lobster, is Outback the first place you’d think of?
Probably not.
Blooming onions…absolutely. Brown bread…definitely. Ranch dressing…without a doubt. But lobster? NOPE.
Fast forward 15ish years, and lobster rolls are all the rage. They’re all over everywhere. I can’t get away from them. And I decide, I just HAVE to try one. I mean, cover anything in butter and/or mayo, and it has to solve any problems, right?
Well guess who ordered one on a food truck menu one day and became immediately obsessed?
And, guess who can’t afford to order lobster rolls from all around the city on the regular because those babies are $$$$$?
So, guess what we’re making today!
Today, we’re making Air Fried Lobster Rolls!
We’re taking lobster tails, schmearing them in a buttery, lemony, Old Bay concoction then air frying them until they’re perfectly tender. But, we’re not going to stop there. We’re going to chop up that lobster meat, mix it into a creamy dressing, then stuff that lobster salad into a warm, toasty, buttery brioche bun. Does that sound like a real treat, or what!
Let’s start with the lobster. You can use fresh or frozen lobster tails for this one. If using frozen, you’ll just want to make sure they’re totally thawed first. Make sure you pay attention to the weight of your lobster tails. I couldn’t find any unseasoned lobster tails at a reasonable price in my area that were bigger than 4oz. So, that’s what we’re using. If you’re lucky enough to find bigger lobster tails, you’ll only need to adjust the cook time by a minute or two. These babies cook pretty fast!
Once we have our tails secured, we’re going to butterfly them which basically means we’re going to split open the tail and pull out the meat. This gives us the opportunity to season the meat while also creating a beautiful presentation (if you weren’t making lobster salad with the meat). We’re going to brush that meat all over with a mix of melted butter, lemon juice, garlic powder, and parsley flakes. Then, we’re going to sprinkle the meat with a healthy dose of Old Bay seasoning. From there, to the air fryer they go to cook for about 5ish minutes.
While our tails are cooking, we can work on the dressing for our lobster roll. We need a simple mix of mayonnaise, lemon juice, fresh chives, and celery. Mix that together, chop up the meat from the lobster once it’s cool enough to handle, and gently mix everything together.
You can eat the lobster salad right away or let it chill for a little bit. It’s totally your choice. But, if you’re going to eat your sammies right away, you might as well let your air fryer do double duty for you. Brush your brioche buns (they have to be split top buns in my opinion) with some melted butter, and pop them right in the air fryer basket for just a couple of minutes to get toasty. Stuff them with the lobster salad, and devour!
There’s a reason that people consider lobster to be such a luxury item, and the decadence of these simple sandwiches totally captures that essence. The lobster is sweet and succulent with a hint of zip and tang thanks to the lemon and Old Bay. And even though the dressing is mayo based, it feels nice and light. The fresh chives really help to give it some brightness while the celery adds some nice texture and crunch. And that rich and fluffy brioche bun draws the perfect line between elegant and humble. This sandwich is truly such a treat.
Alright, everyone. We’ve mastered the mayo based lobster roll, so now it’s time to embark on the journey of having a butter based sammie. If anyone local knows where to find one, you must let me know!
I hope you guys love this one as much as I do!
Enjoy, and let’s eat!
Air Fried Lobster Rolls
Serves: 3 Print
Ingredients:
For the Lobster Tails:
4 4oz lobster tails
2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
½ tsp dried parsley
1 tsp lemon juice
1/8 tsp garlic powder
½ tsp Old Bay seasoning
Salt and pepper, to taste
For the Lobster Salad:
2 tbsp mayonnaise
1 tsp lemon juice
1 tbsp chives, minced
½ stalk celery, minced
3 brioche split top buns, buttered and toasted
Directions:
Prepare the lobster: Use kitchen scissors to cut the lobster tail lengthwise down the center, stopping at the tail fins. Carefully, spread open the shell by pulling both sides away from each other, run your fingers under the meat to release it from the shell, and pull the meat up and rest it on top of the shell. (This is called butterflying the lobster tail.)
Preheat air fryer to 375 degrees. To a small mixing bowl, add butter, parsley, 1 tsp lemon juice, garlic powder, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Mix well to combine. Brush the butter mix all over the lobster meat, making sure to get the underside of the meat, as well. Sprinkle the lobster meat with Old Bay. Place lobster tails in the air fryer, meat side up, and cook for 5-6 mins until the internal temperature reaches 140 degrees.
Make the lobster salad: Remove lobster meat from the shell, and chop into bite sized pieces. To a mixing bowl, add mayo, 1 tsp lemon, chives, and celery. Mix well to combine. Add lobster to the bowl, and toss gently to coat. Chill for at least 1 hour.
Assemble the sandwiches: Fill toasted brioche rolls with lobster salad. Serve immediately, and enjoy.
Recipe notes:
*You can toast your brioche rolls right in the air fryer since you already have it out. It will only take 2-3 mins.
*If using frozen lobster tails, make sure to thaw them first before cooking.
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