Cold Lobster Salad

This cold lobster salad is a light, refreshing seafood dish made with tender lobster meat, crisp celery and a simple lemon mayonnaise dressing. It’s perfect served in a lobster roll, over greens, or stuffed into avocado for an easy and elegant meal.

Why This Lobster Salad Works

While lobsters are generally seen as a fancy meal, lobster rolls are considered casual and cold lobster salad falls some place in the middle. Here’s why ours is great.

• Highlights lobster without overpowering it – The ingredients in this recipe come together to highlight the natural sweetness of the lobster without overpowering it.
• Lovely textures – The celery adds crunch and texture, while fresh chives provide a mild onion flavor that complements seafood beautifully.
• Packed with fresh flavor – The creamy mayonnaise adds richness, while fresh lemon juice brightens the flavor and balances the dish.

What You’ll Need

The actual ingredients are up for much debate and every restaurant will claim to be “the best” and have some minor variations. The cardinal rule of the best lobster salad is to NOT SKIMP ON THE LOBSTER. A full list of ingredients with measurements for this recipe is available in the printable recipe card below.

• Lobster – The most noticeable ingredient must be lumps of luscious fresh lobster meat. Most salads use the meat from 1 whole lobster. Account for about 1 cup per 1 1/2 pound lobster.

Mix It Up!

The variations for the lobster salad are almost endless! Here are a few ways you could switch things up.

• Greek yogurt – The first is to swap out the mayonnaise. Low fat plain Greek yogurt is a great option. It is thicker than regular yogurt and has a slightly tart taste.
• Add avocado – Mashed avocado is another great sub but will result in a green lobster salad.
• More herbs – In addition to the chives, try adding some fresh dill or parsley for added herbaceousness.

How to Make Lobster Salad (step-by-Step)

Making lobster salad couldn’t be easier! Just follow these simple steps.

1. Combine salad ingredients. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the celery, mayonnaise, lemon juice, Kosher salt, black pepper and chives.
2. Add in lobster. When the mixture is smooth (or as smooth as you can get it with the bits of celery), toss it with the chopped lobster meat. Don’t over mix because you don’t want those lovely chunks to break apart.
3. Cover and chill for at last 1 hour before serving. This helps the flavors marry. It can be served immediately if you are in a rush.
4. Serve over leafy greens, avocado halves or tomato halves.

Make it A Meal

This lobster salad can be served as an appetizer or entree. It can be served over leafy greens, avocado halves or tomato halves. I also like to serve mine on bread like a sandwich, or a good roll or hoagie bun.

You could go as simple as serving your salad with a side of crunchy potato chips or oyster crackers, but I also like to serve mine with a side salad.

Best Lobster Salad Recipe FAQs

More Delicious Lobster Recipes

If you’re a lover of seafood like me, these lobster recipes will be calling your name!

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Cold Lobster Salad Recipe

4.56 from 34 votes

This cold lobster salad is creamy, light and packed with fresh lobster and herbs. Perfect for lobster rolls, salads or an easy seafood lunch.

Prep Time: 10 minutes mins

Chilling Time: 1 hour hr

Total Time: 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins

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Servings: 2

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Ingredients

• 1/4 cup celery , thinly sliced
• 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 1/2 pound whole cooked lobster*
• 1 tablespoon chives , chopped
• avocado, tomatoes or soft rolls , for serving

Instructions

• In a medium mixing bowl, combine the chopped 1/4 cup celery, 3 tablespoons mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper.
• When the mixture is smooth, toss with the chopped 1 1/2 pound whole cooked lobster*.
• Cover and chill for at last 1 hour before serving.
• Serve over leafy greens, avocado halves, tomato halves or in a soft roll. Sprinkle with snipped 1 tablespoon chives
• If you’ve tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was in the comments or ratings section.

Video

Notes

*Or 1 cup cooked lobster meat.

Storage: Cold lobster salad needs to be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Taste for seasonings and stir well before serving.

Salads like this start to lose flavor when they sit chilled, so it might need an extra touch of salt or fresh spritz of fresh lemon juice.

Freezing: I do not recommend freezing cream-based salads like this. The texture will not be the same upon thawing.

Nutrition

Calories: 221 kcal, Carbohydrates: 1 g, Protein: 16 g, Fat: 16 g, Saturated Fat: 3 g, Cholesterol: 130 mg, Sodium: 1128 mg, Potassium: 223 mg, Fiber: 1 g, Sugar: 1 g, Vitamin A: 122 IU, Vitamin C: 4 mg, Calcium: 85 mg, Iron: 1 mg

Author: Jessica Formicola

Calories: 221

Course: Main Course, Main Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: chilled lobster salad, cold lobster roll, cold lobster salad, creamy lobster salad, lobster salad, lobster salad recipe, mayonnaise lobster salad

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