• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Simple Vegan Recipes
  • Recipes
  • Books
    • 40 Days of Green Smoothies
    • Bowls!
  • Recipe Videos
    • My YouTube Channel
    • Video Blogging FAQ
  • Simple Vegan Starter Guide
  • Podcast
  • Shop
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Get the vegan starter guide!
  • Latest Recipes
  • Air fryer recipes
  • Instant Pot Recipes
  • My YouTube channel
  • Podcast
  • Recipe video production
  • SHOP
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Simple Vegan Recipes » Sandwiches

    Vegan Lobster Rolls

    Last Modified: Mar 15, 2023 by Becky Striepe

    Disclosure: This post may contain Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. See my Privacy Policy for more details.

    Recipe Video Print
    close-up of a vegan lobster roll on a wooden tabletop sprinkled with green onion and parsley, text overlay
    vegan lobster rolls on a wooden tabletop sprinkled with green onion and parsley, text overlay
    close-up of a vegan lobster roll on a wooden tabletop sprinkled with green onion and parsley
    vegan lobster rolls on a wooden tabletop sprinkled with green onion and parsley

    Hearts of palm in a creamy old bay dressing are the stars of these easy, delicious vegan lobster rolls. You are going to absolutely love them!

    vegan lobster rolls on a wooden tabletop sprinkled with green onion and parsley

    This recipe is inspired by the vegan lobster rolls at Rosie's inside of Disney's Hollywood Studios. They're one of my favorite plant based lunches at the parks, and I'm so excited to have figured out how to make them at home.

    Jump To:
    • Ingredients and substitutions
    • How to make vegan lobster rolls
    • Storage directions
    • Frequently asked questions
    • Vegan Lobster Rolls
    • More vegan sandwiches
    hearts of palm and dressing ingredients in bowls on a wooden table

    Ingredients and substitutions

    • vegan butter - We are using this to saute the hearts of palm with garlic. In a conventional lobster roll, you'd cook the lobster in butter, so this gives the hearts of palm that same buttery flavor.
    • hearts of palm - This is your lobster substitute! You can use shredded jackfruit or shiitake mushrooms instead, if you like.
    • garlic - The fresh garlic sautéed with the hearts of palm is the secret to making this really taste seafood-y.
    • celery - If you're a celery hater, you can replace this with minced carrot.
    • vegan mayo - This is the base for the sauce, If you don't want to use mayo, you can use my garlic cashew cream instead.
    • chives or green onion - This brings some oniony umami flavor. You can use red onion instead, just mince it up very very small.
    • salt - Salt brings out the flavors in the vegan lobster salad.
    • old bay seasoning - Old bay evokes the seafood salad flavor of a lobster roll. Do not omit this! You can make your own old bay, if you can't find it in stores. Just mix together ½ teaspoon celery salt, 1 teaspoon paprika, ¼ teaspoon mustard powder, ¼ teaspoon black pepper, and a pinch each of cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg.
    • garlic, onion, and mustard - These are here to add an extra oomph of flavor!
    • nori sheet - You can omit this, if you want. It's there to add a slightly fishy flavor to your lobster rolls.
    • lemon juice - A touch of lemon juice helps brighten up the dressing. You may need more, depending on how acidic your hearts of palm are.
    • sub rolls - You can use any small sub rolls, but a New England-style hot dog roll is ideal. They need to be really soft and pliable, not hard or stiff. You want to slice them almost in half from the top down (not from the side!) for the most authentic vegan lobster rolls. This type of roll can be hard to find, though, so it's fine to use bratwurst buns or another soft roll that's side-split instead, if needed. If you don't want to do bread, you can serve the lobster salad over romaine lettuce instead.

    How to make vegan lobster rolls

    Start by sautéing your hearts of palm pieces quickly in vegan butter with fresh garlic. This quick saute adds a layer of flavor to this dish that evokes a lobster salad!

    Set the hearts of palm aside to cool.

    image collage of melted vegan butter in a pan, the pan with garlic and hearts of palm added and the cooked hearts of palm cooling in a bowl

    Meanwhile, mix up all of your dressing ingredients in a large bowl: celery, vegan mayo, green onion, salt, the crumbled nori sheet, and spices.

    Add the hearts of palm to the bowl of dressing. Toss to coat well, then taste and add lemon juice and salt, if needed. Hearts of palm have a very zesty flavor on their own, and the amount of lemon juice will vary depending on the hearts of palm you use and your personal tastes.

    Slice open your sub rolls from the top down, not the side. That's how you do it for conventional lobster rolls, so that's what we are doing for our vegan lobster rolls!

    image collage of dressing ingredients in a bowl before and after mixing, the vegan lobster salad all mixed up, and a knife slicing into the top of a roll

    Then, it's time to assemble your sandwiches. Add some lettuce to the rolls, if you like, then pile on plenty of the vegan lobster salad. Top with more green onions, a sprinkle of parsley, and another dash of old bay before serving.

    Storage directions

    You can make the lobster salad up to two days ahead. Just give it a stir before adding to the toasted buns. I do recommend storing the vegan lobster salad separately from the rolls, so the bread doesn't go soggy.

    This recipe makes a great meal prep recipe, too! Pack the salad and toasted buns separately, and assemble just before eating at lunchtime.

    close-up of a vegan lobster roll on a wooden tabletop sprinkled with green onion and parsley

    Frequently asked questions

    What is vegan lobster made out of?

    Hearts of palm make a shockingly realistic imitation lobster. Dice it up, saute in vegan butter or olive oil, and use it like you would animal-based lobster.

    What are the two types of lobster rolls?

    Maine and Connecticut. This recipe is for Maine-style lobster rolls, which uses a mayo-based dressing. Connecticut lobster rolls are served warm and use butter as the sauce, rather than mayo.

    What do hearts of palm taste like?

    Hearts of palm have a tender texture and a mildly lemony flavor.

    Are hearts of palm bad for the environment?

    Hearts of palm come from a different variety of palm tree fro palm oil. Hearts of palm come from a type of palm tree that has many stems. Instead of cutting down the whole tree, hearts of palm are harvested by cutting away some of the stems, which regenerate every two years.

    vegan lobster rolls on a wooden tabletop sprinkled with green onion and parsley

    Vegan Lobster Rolls

    Hearts of palm in a creamy old bay dressing are the stars of these easy, delicious vegan lobster rolls. You are going to absolutely love them!
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course, Salad
    Cuisine: Vegan
    Keyword: vegan lobster roll, vegan lobster rolls
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes
    Total Time: 20 minutes
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 639kcal
    Author: Becky Striepe

    Ingredients

    • 1 tablespoon vegan butter
    • 2 14-ounce cans of hearts of palm - drained and coarsely chopped
    • 3 cloves garlic - minced
    • ½ cup minced celery - about 1 rib
    • ½ cup vegan mayo - or more for creamier lobster salad
    • 2 tablespoons minced chives or green onion
    • ¼ sheet of toasted nori - crumbled or minced. Or use 1 piece from one of those nori snack packs.
    • 2 teaspoons Chesapeake Bay-style seasoning - like Old Bay, but generic brands are also fine
    • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
    • ½ teaspoon onion powder
    • ⅛ teaspoon mustard powder
    • ½ teaspoon lemon juice - or more, to taste
    • salt and black pepper - to taste. Bay seasoning usually contains salt, so how much you need will depend on how salty the one you use is
    • 4 sub rolls or bratwurst buns - sliced almost in half from the top, but not all the way. Choose really soft rolls that are nice and pliable.
    • green onion, chopped parsley, and more old bay - for topping, optional

    Instructions

    • Heat the vegan butter in a frying pan on medium-high heat. Add the garlic and hearts of palm and cook, stirring frequently, until the garlic softens. Set aside to cool while you make the dressing.
    • In a large bowl, mix together the celery, vegan mayo, green onion, nori, lemon juice, and spices (except salt and pepper). Add the cooled hearts of palm mixture, tossing to coat well in the dressing. Season to taste with more lemon juice, salt, and black pepper if needed.
    • Divide the hearts of palm salad between the buns. Top with more green onion, a sprinkle of parsley, and a sprinkle of the old bay seasoning. Serve immediately.

    Video

    Notes

    You can make your own old bay, if you can't find it in stores. Just mix together ½ teaspoon celery salt, 1 teaspoon paprika, ¼ teaspoon mustard powder, ¼ teaspoon black pepper, and a pinch each of cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg.
    Make sure that you slice your sub rolls from the top down, not from the side, for the most authentic vegan lobster roll experience!
    If you're making this for meal prep, I recommend keeping the buns and the hearts of palm salad separate. Pack them separately, and assemble your sandwich at lunch time.

    Nutrition

    Nutrition Facts
    Vegan Lobster Rolls
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    639
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    24
    g
    37
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    3
    g
    15
    %
    Trans Fat
     
    0.01
    g
    Polyunsaturated Fat
     
    2
    g
    Monounsaturated Fat
     
    1
    g
    Sodium
     
    573
    mg
    24
    %
    Potassium
     
    3737
    mg
    107
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    91
    g
    30
    %
    Fiber
     
    5
    g
    20
    %
    Sugar
     
    40
    g
    44
    %
    Protein
     
    13
    g
    26
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    391
    IU
    8
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    19
    mg
    23
    %
    Calcium
     
    161
    mg
    16
    %
    Iron
     
    6
    mg
    33
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Tried this recipe? Share your photo!Mention @GlueAndGlitter on Instagram or Twitter!

    More vegan sandwiches

    • Fried tofu sandwich
    • BBQ Vegan Pulled Pork Sandwich
    • BBQ Soy Curls

    More Sandwiches

    • Vegan mashed chickpea salad with grapes
    • Garden Vegetable Vegan Cream Cheese Recipe
    • Easy Grilled Avocado Sandwich with Sriracha Mayo
    • Corned Tofu and A Sandwich That is Totally Not a Reuben

    About Becky Striepe

    Headshot of Becky Striepe in front of a teal wall

    Hi there! I'm Becky Striepe (rhymes with sleepy), and I love using gadgets and shortcuts to create easy vegan comfort food recipes for busy people. Whether you love your Instant Pot, your air fryer, or just love delicious plant-based meals, stick around. You'll like it here.

    Learn more about me >>>

    Reader Interactions

    Have a question? Tried this recipe? Share your thoughts! Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    About Me

    Glue and Glitter
    Hi! My name is Becky Striepe (rhymes with “sleepy”). I love using gadgets and shortcuts to create easy vegan comfort food recipes for busy people. Whether you love your Instant Pot, your air fryer, or just love delicious plant-based meals, stick around. You'll like it here. → READ MORE

    Footer

    ^ back to top

    As Seen On: Buzzfeed, How Stuff Works, Parade Magazine, Follow Your Kind Podcast, Peta, Curiously Veg Radio, Shape Magazine

    About

    • About Becky Striepe
    • Privacy Policy
    • About the Ads
    • Video Blogging FAQ

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Trending now

    • Two-ingredient Instant Pot yogurt from soy milk
    • Vegan spinach artichoke dip with garlic cashew cream
    • Crispy, flavorful air fryer tofu

    Copyright Notice

    All content Copyright © Glue & Glitter/Cattington Inc. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. You may post a short excerpt and/or one photo, as long as you provide clear credit and a link back to the original recipe or tutorial post at glueandglitter.com. Please do not repost recipes in full without my express permission.

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2022 Glue & Glitter