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    Home » Recipes » Sandwiches

    Vegan Lobster Roll

    Published: Feb 14, 2020 · Modified: Oct 8, 2020 by Kate Hackworthy · This post may contain affiliate links ·

    Jump to Recipe
    Pinnable image for Vegan Lobster Roll recipe
    pinnable image for vegan maine lobster rolls recipe
    Pinnable image for Vegan Lobster Roll recipe

    This Vegan Lobster Roll has all the amazing flavors of the classic sandwich - but veganized! The toasted rolls are filled with a creamy dressing and chopped hearts of palm as the 'meat'. Delicious and ready in minutes.

    Two vegan lobster roll sandwiches on a wooden board.

    If you've ever been to the coast of New England or Maritime Canada, you'll have encountered the famous Lobster Roll. Heck, even if you haven't been there you'll probably have heard of these classic sandwiches.

    The creamy filling in a toasted roll (always cut at the top, not the side!) is a hugely popular East Coast food.

    Think a buttered and grilled long roll filled with lobster in seasoned mayo.

    But vegans don't have to go without. These sandwiches are super easy to veganize with... hearts of palm!

    Be sure to also check out these amazing Vegan Fish and Seafood Recipes.

    Close up of a vegan lobster roll recipe in a toasted bun, sprinkled with chives and paprika.

    Hearts of Palm

    You may have a can of hearts of palm in the cupboard and aren't too sure what to do with them.

    Well, the round sticks of, you guessed it, the heart of the palm, are a vegetable that usually comes canned.

    And, they make a perfect texture substitute for lobster because they're firm, but also tender.

    What do hearts of palm taste like?

    They're pretty mild - so they're the perfect vehicle for creamy lobster roll dressing!
    Hearts of palm have a slight crunch and taste a little like artichoke hearts, with a subtle nuttiness. But hey, does it matter? We are about to slather them in a vegan mayo infused with Old Bay Seasoning, lemon juice and herbs! So, bring on the Lobster Rolls!

    Two vegan lobster rolls in toasted buns with a bowl of seasoning in the background.

    Ingredients

    Hearts of palm - you'll find cans of these on most supermarket shelves (with the other veggies). 

    Vegan mayo - use your favorite (or make your own)

    Celery

    Red onion

    Lemon juice

    Chives

    Old Bay Seasoning (you can buy it, make your own Old Bay Seasoning, or add ½ teaspoon smoked paprika, ¼ teaspoon mustard powder, pinch of cayenne, salt and pepper)

    Long rolls split at the top (hot dog buns, New England rolls etc)

    Vegan butter

    Smoked paprika (optional, but I like to garnish the vegan lobster rolls with a sprinkling of it for taste and that red color).

    Close up of a vegan lobster roll filled with hearts of palm in a creamy sauce.

    Recipe Tips

    If you don't have hearts of palm, try cubes of extra firm tofu (raw or lightly pan-fried). Jackfruit or oyster mushrooms would be awesome too.

    Substitute 2 tablespoon chopped fresh dill for the parsley.

    Try serving with potato chips or fries.

    If you like things spicy, add a drizzle of sriracha sauce.

    Don't skip toasting the roll. That's part of what makes this a Lobster Roll!

    Add slices of red bell pepper if you want that red colour that's naturally in non-vegan lobster rolls.

    Make it gluten-free by using gluten-free buns.

    Make ahead & Storage

    You can prep the lobster mixture ahead of time. Toast the rolls just before serving.

    Keep the lobster mixture in the fridge for up to 3 days. 

    This recipe is not suitable for home freezing.

    New England style split top rolls

    The rolls

    Sorry, but any old hot dog bun just won't do for vegan lobster rolls!

    Well, sure they would in a pinch, but for the real deal you need one that's split at the top, not the side. For no real reason other than that's just how they are!

    Ideally a nice, luxurious brioche New England-style hot dog but with a top split. That's what you want. But hey, if you use an everyday hot dog but I won't judge.

    How to make vegan lobster rolls

    This recipe is soooo easy! You can whip it up in just a few minutes. It's perfect for a cookout, tailgate, potluck - or just for lunch!

    Scroll down for the full recipe.

    Step by step photos for Vegan Lobster Rolls recipe. Chop hearts of palm, mix dressing ingredients in a bowl.

    1. Chop the hearts of palm roughly into chunks. 
    2. Add all the dressing ingredients to a bowl.
    3. Stir to combine.

    Step by step photos for how to make vegan lobster roll. Add hearts of palm to dressing and gently mix. Toast long rolls.

    4. Add the chopped hearts of palm.
    5. Gently mix. 
    6. Butter the rolls, then toast on a griddle pan (or on the barbecue, or toast them in a toaster oven or grill).
    7. Fill with the vegan lobster, top with extra chives and a little paprika. Enjoy!

     

    Two vegan lobster rolls on a wooden board

    Serving Suggestions

    These hearts of palm lobster rolls are delicious on their own, or serve them with these side dishes:

    Spiralized sweet potato fries
    Parmentier potatoes
    Cabbage salad
    Mango salad
    Potato chips
    Green Salad
    Dill pickles
    Fries

    If you love this vegan lobster roll recipe, you'll also love my Vegan Smoked Salmon.

    Close up of a vegan lobster roll next to seasoning and chives 

    Get the recipe

    Two vegan lobster roll sandwiches on a wooden board.

    Vegan Lobster Roll

    Kate Hackworthy | Veggie Desserts
    This Vegan Lobster Roll has all the amazing flavors of the classic sandwich - but veganized! The toasted rolls are filled with a creamy dressing and chopped hearts of palm as the 'meat'. Delicious and ready in minutes.
    4.92 from 12 votes
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    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 5 mins
    Total Time 15 mins
    Course Dinner, Lunch
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4
    Calories 213 kcal

    Equipment

    • Bowl
    • Skillet or griddle pan

    Ingredients
     

    • 2 cans 14oz (410g) of Hearts of Palm, drained
    • 4 tablespoon vegan mayonnaise
    • 1 stalk of celery diced
    • ¼ red onion diced
    • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives
    • 2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
    • 1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning* see note
    • 4 long rolls split at the top

    Instructions
     

    • Cut the hearts of palm into chunks. I like to angle the cuts, rather than cut them into rounds so there’s more texture, rather than uniform round slices.
    • Mix dressing first. Add the mayo, celery, onion, chives, lemon juice and Old Bay seasoning to a bowl and mix well.
    • Add the hearts of palm to the bowl of dressing and gently mix to combine.
    • Heat a large skillet or griddle pan over medium heat. Spread the flat sides of the buns with the vegan butter, then fry the buttered sides until golden.
    • Fill the rolls with the ‘lobster’ mixture and serve!

    Notes

    • You can prep the lobster mixture ahead of time. Keep in the fridge for up to 2 days.
    • This recipe is not suitable for home freezing.
    • Make it gluten-free by using gluten-free buns.
    • If you don’t have hearts of palm, substitute cubes of extra firm tofu.
    • You can make your own Old Bay Seasoning, leave it out, or else substitute it with ½ teaspoon smoked paprika, ¼ teaspoon mustard powder, pinch of cayenne, salt and pepper.
    Recipe adapted from Well+Good

    Nutrition

    Calories: 213kcalCarbohydrates: 23gProtein: 4gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 294mgPotassium: 73mgFiber: 1gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 46IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 79mgIron: 2mg

    The nutritional information provided is approximate and can vary depending on several factors, so is not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietician for special diet advice.

    Tried this recipe?Mention @kateveggiedesserts or tag #veggiedesserts! I love seeing your recreations.

     

     

    More Sandwich Recipes

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    • British Chip Butty
    • Grilled Halloumi Sandwich with Sriracha Mayo
    • Collard Green Wraps with Sweet Potato
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Alison

      April 10, 2020 at 4:07 pm

      5 stars
      This was fantastic! Reminds me of summers in Maine.

      Reply
    2. Alyssa

      April 04, 2020 at 6:20 pm

      5 stars
      What a unique and delicious spin on a traditional lobster roll. I'm not even a vegetarian, but I love this because it has so much flavor (and lobster is expensive!)

      Reply
    3. Erika

      March 24, 2020 at 4:03 pm

      5 stars
      I've never used hearts of palm before, but it was really good! I found them in my local supermarket - hadn't seen them before!

      Reply
    4. Tawnie

      February 14, 2020 at 4:52 pm

      5 stars
      This is so creative! Cannot wait to try!

      Reply
    5. Marie-Charlotte Chatelain

      February 14, 2020 at 4:50 pm

      5 stars
      How incredible clever to use heart of palm as a vegan crab substitute! LOVE it! Will try it out

      Reply

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    Hi, I'm Kate, a journalist, author and multi-award-winning food blogger. I hope you enjoy my vegetarian and vegan recipes. About Me

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    Popular recipes

    • The BEST Easy Red Lentil Dahl
    • Easy Naan Bread Recipe (yeast-free)
    • Mini Baked Potatoes
    • Easy Lentil Soup

    Easter Recipes

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    • Italian Easter Bread (Pane di Pasqua)
    • Mushroom Wellington
    • Nut Roast

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    Check out my Veggie Desserts Cookbook, full of tasty desserts with vegetables!

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