Crawfish Roll Sandwich

By
Jessica Harlan
Jessica Harlan
Freelance food writer, trained chef, and kitchen equipment expert Jessica Harlan has written eight cookbooks on topics such as quinoa and ramen.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 07/1/21
Crawfish Roll Sandwich with Potato Chips
Annabelle Breakey/Digital Vision/Getty Images
Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 3 mins
Total: 13 mins
Servings: 4 to 5 servings
Yield: 4 to 5 sandwiches

Inspired by the lobster rolls served at East Coast seafood shacks, these sandwiches are made with crawfish meat, which has much of the succulence of lobster but a chewier, subtler taste (Fans say that crawfish takes on the flavors of what it's cooked with). For an authentic look, seek out split-top hot dog buns, or buy unsliced buns so you can cut them yourself. 

These sandwiches make a delicious idea for a summer picnic. Toast the buns, leave them unbuttered, and wrap them in aluminum foil to keep warm. Pack the crawfish salad separately (make sure to keep it chilled with ice packs) and fill the sandwiches just before eating. Don't forget to pack the lemon wedges and chopped watercress in small containers or baggies for the garnish.

You can buy tubs of already cooked crawfish meat at a specialty food store or a seafood market. Or, buy whole crawfish and try your hand at cooking it yourself - maybe plan for a crawfish boil first and cook up a little extra to reserve for these sandwiches. If you prefer, you can use the same amount of cooked lobster meat or crab meat for these sandwiches. 

Cooking Equipment Needed: Chef's knife, cutting board, measuring cups, measuring spoons, citrus juicer, mixing bowls, spatula or spoon, baking sheet, toaster oven (one to try: the Breville Smart Oven) or broiler

Ingredients

  • 1 stalk celery

  • 1/4 cup red pepper

  • 1 tablespoon capers

  • 1 pound cooked crawfish meat, picked over for shells

  • 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard 

  • 2 tablespoons mayonnaise

  • 1 to 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice, plus more to taste

  • 1 dash salt, or to taste

  • 1 dash freshly ground black pepper, or to taste

  • 4 to 5 white top-split  hot dog buns

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

  • 1 bunch watercress, roughly chopped

  • Lemon wedges, for garnish

Steps to Make It

  1. Finely mince the celery and red pepper, and roughly chop the capers.

  2. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the crawfish meat with the minced celery, red pepper and capers. In a small bowl, stir together the mustard and the mayonnaise until it is well combined, then fold it into the crawfish mixture until the ingredients are completely coated. Add 1 to 2 tablespoons lemon juice to taste, and season to taste with salt and pepper.

  3. Arrange the sandwich buns cut side up on a baking sheet, opening them slightly so that the inside part is exposed. Using a broiler or a toaster oven, toast the buns lightly. Remove them from the oven or toaster oven and lightly butter the toasted interiors of the buns.

  4. To serve, spoon a generous amount of crawfish salad into a warm hot dog bun. Top with a sprinkle of watercress and serve with a lemon wedge to squeeze over the salad before eating.

Glass Bakeware Warning

Do not use glass bakeware when broiling or when a recipe calls to add liquid to a hot pan, as glass may explode. Even if it states oven-safe or heat resistant, tempered glass products can, and do, break occasionally.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
465 Calories
13g Fat
70g Carbs
24g Protein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 5
Amount per serving
Calories 465
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 13g 17%
Saturated Fat 4g 22%
Cholesterol 118mg 39%
Sodium 544mg 24%
Total Carbohydrate 70g 25%
Dietary Fiber 9g 31%
Total Sugars 25g
Protein 24g
Vitamin C 166mg 829%
Calcium 218mg 17%
Iron 4mg 25%
Potassium 993mg 21%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)