Hawaiian Crab Rolls
In my neck of the woods lobster is more expensive than a one hour massage, and doesn’t last as long. But crab I can pick up for $3 making my internal "Lobster vs. Crab" debate pretty short. If you can swing it, buy the Lump or Jumbo Lump, which has big pieces of crab, as opposed to the Special or Claw meat, which is just small shreds of crab.
I know that a traditional lobster roll has mayo, but to be honest with you mayo makes me gag. I always sub a combination of sour cream and cream cheese for the mayo that I refuse to use. With a flavor as delicate as crab, you don’t want to bulldoze the flavors with too much tang, more sour cream than cream cheese gave the perfect balance.
These Kings Hawaiian Hot Dog buns are incredible. The perfect softness with a touch of sweetness that really makes this recipe, a regular hot dog bun won’t work. Scour the town until you find them, they are so crucial to the amazing end result of this recipe. Here is their store locator.
Hawaiian Crab Rolls
3 oz cream cheese
1/2 cup diced mango
2 tbs chopped fresh jalapeno (stem and seeds removed)
1/4 cup sour cream
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
2 tsp fresh lemon juice
pinch cayenne pepper
8 oz lump crab meat
3 tbs butter
1/2 cup arugula
In a bowl combine the cream cheese, mango, jalapeno, sour cream, salt, pepper, lemon juice and cayenne pepper, stir until well combined. Add the crab meat and stir until just combined, set aside.
Heat a skillet over medium high heat. Butter the sides of the Kings Hawaiian Hot Dog Buns, where they had presiously been attached to each other.
Add to the hot pan and cook on each buttered side until golden brown, about 2 minutes per side, remove from pan.
Line the inside of the toasted buns with arugula. Top with crab mixture.
Makes 4.
Comments
Laura Davis July 10, 2012 um 9:13 am
I’ll trade you crab meat for Pliny! Been looking for that here for years now, but rarely see it on the East Coast. The rolls look great. Love the addition of mango, and who doesn’t love Kings Hawaiian? Delish!
Jackie July 10, 2012 um 1:48 pm
You can spot the Pliny! I was so excited to find it in a local beer store and then the clerk gave me the bad news of, "One Pliny Per Customer" rule. I may have to go back every day until I have a dozen!
Chung-Ah July 10, 2012 um 9:32 am
Oh my goodness, this is just complete awesomeness! And Hawaiian bread now has hot dog buns?! Are you serious?! Okay I’m totally making these over the weekend.
claire July 10, 2012 um 12:32 pm
Um i need this. It reminds me though of a contestant who I hate on Next Food Network Star. I know.
but this looks amazing!
Baker Street July 11, 2012 um 2:27 am
I want this for lunch today! It looks spectacular, Jackie! Crab meat and cream cheese. Mmmmm
Meagan @ A Zesty Bite July 13, 2012 um 8:44 am
I saw these posted on Tasty Kitchen today and they look delicious!
Valerie @ From Valerie’s Kitchen July 16, 2012 um 1:10 pm
I have those rolls in my pantry right now! Geez, I love crab and I love this recipe! Love the addition of the mango and jalapeno. Yum!
Angie July 17, 2012 um 8:39 pm
Hey! I saw these posted on TK last week, made them for dinner tonight, and I just blogged them. I hope that’s okay. My post is here: http://cookingwithfrazzoo.blogspot.com/2012/07/hawaiian-crab-rolls.html
Thank you for sharing these! They were a great meal to make for my family.
Angie July 17, 2012 um 8:42 pm
Hey! I saw these posted on TK last week and made them for dinner tonight. I blogged about it here: http://cookingwithfrazzoo.blogspot.com/2012/07/hawaiian-crab-rolls.html
I hope that’s okay. My family really enjoyed these. Thanks for sharing!
Kayla July 28, 2012 um 3:44 pm
HI!
I just made these tonight and they were delicious! I used both fat free cream cheese and sour cream and they were soooo creamy. I was worried at first that the 2 tbsp of jalapeno would be too spicy for some but that was not the case at all, just a bunch of wonderful flavors combined into one.
And your so right, the top split hot dog buns are a 100x better. I don’t think it would have tasted as good with just regular hot dog buns. Also, when I toasted up my buns, I used homemade herb garlic butter instead of regular butter… mmm, made it taste like garlic bread.
Thank You Thank You. Keep up the awesome work 🙂
Jackie July 28, 2012 um 3:53 pm
Ooohhhh, homemade garlic butter?! You’re my hero 🙂
fatpiginthemarket July 30, 2012 um 5:36 am
Hawaiian hot digs buns are the best…soft, squishy, light. I’m with you. They’re worth scouring for. I like your mayo substitute since I really only like mayo when it’s freshly made. Nice option!
BigFatBaker August 8, 2012 um 10:59 am
Wow these look amazing! I definitely can not afford lobster so crab is usually the next best thing. I haven’t seen the hot dog buns before but the hawaiian rolls are my favorite so I’m sure they are good!
Cindi January 22, 2018 um 3:06 pm
Made them for a shower and everyone loved them!! Added shallots finely chopped and yellow and red bell pepper small chopped. Best tastes ever!
Mary George May 29, 2019 um 11:33 am
Ive never used crab before people definately get lump meat not just crabmeat wasted everything. Tasted good before I added crab slop.