A trio of Trader Joe’s jalapeno products (Jalapeno Sauce, Crispy Jalapeno Pieces, and Hot & Sweet Jalapenos), some TJ’s Chimichurri Sauce, and TJ’s Langostino Tails are mixed to create a luscious version of a New England style “Lobster Roll” that packs some heat and is served in one of TJ’s Mini French Bagettes. Simple but stunning.
I am thrilled to be a guest writer for Club Trader Joe’s and to develop recipes using Trader Joe’s products. It’s a perfect match, because my blog, Sofa Dinners, publishes recipes based on Mediterranean Diet foods, and Trader Joe’s sells many ingredients well suited to such recipes. My recipes are simple and come together quickly, which I imagine Trader Joe’s shoppers appreciate.
The Inspiration for this Recipe
- Trader Joe’s Frozen Langostino Tails – I recommend them If you’ve not tried them yet! The flavor is sweet and mellow. They are a much smaller crustacean than lobster and the tail meat is, therefore, more tender than their larger cousin the lobster. To make this salad, I defrosted the Langostino Tails in their bag, in the fridge overnight.
- New England Style Lobster Rolls – I hail from New England and here we love a good lobster roll. In recent years Lobster Roll food trucks have popped up and serve variations on the traditional Lobster roll (which usually is a simple mixture with mayonnaise). If you ever get over to Portland, Maine, I recommend stopping at The High Roller Lobster Co. for one of their creations, but until then, I recommend this Trader Joe’as Langostinos and Jalapenos Salad Roll
- Jalapenos – Trader Joe’s offerings of Jalapeno products are fun and interesting and I was inspired to combine them for layers of jalapeno heat and flavor.
- Lower Cost Version of a Lobster Roll – I calculated the cost of these rolls, and they are only $5.35 per roll! That’s a long way from New England Lobster Rolls which can cost anywhere between $30-$40 per roll out here!
Ingredient Notes + Substitutions
- Trader Joe’s Langostino Tails – These are found in 12oz. bags in the frozen food section. I wish the package was for a full 16 oz. The salad will serve 4, but double the recipe if you have larger appetites or want leftovers. Leftovers taste good the next two days, even with the crispy jalapenos in there.
- Trader Joe’s Mini French Baguettes – You can of course, use basic hot dog rolls for this recipe (butter the outsides and toast, if you do, for an experience similar to eating a Lobster Roll), but these mini baguettes are a great size (not too big), and bake up quickly and nice and crispy.
- Trader Joe’s Condiments – The jalapeno sauce, hot & sweet pickled jalapenos and crispy jalapeno pieces are a great trio of products that create a good amount of jalapeno heat and flavor. You can eliminate any one of them, but I’d aim to buy and use at least two. The chimichurri sauce is the least necessary but rounds out the flavor nicely. I don’t recommend using fresh jalapenos, however.
The above Trader Joe’s ingredients make this recipe special but you will have plenty left after making this recipe (except for the Langostino Tails), to use on other meals.
This recipe couldn’t be simpler. Simply defrost the Langostino Tails, then mix with the four TJ’s ingredients! Chill for a bit after mixing.
If you like this seafood recipe, check out my other Fish and Seafood recipes over at Sofa Dinners!
Trader Joe’s Langostinos and Jalapeno Salad Roll
Equipment
- 1 bowl
Ingredients
- 12 oz Trader Joe's Langostino Tails (frozen- defrost in fridge)
- 4 Trader Joe's Mini French Baguettes (comes 6 to package)
- 2 tbsp Trader Joe's Chimichurri Sauce
- 3 tbsp Trader Joe's Jalapeno Sauce
- 1/4 cup Trader Joe's Hot & Sweet Jalapenos (chopped + some for garnish)
- 1/2 cup Trader Joe's Crispy Jalapeno Pieces (plus some for garnish)
Instructions
Defrost & Prep the Langostino Tails
- Defrost bag of frozen Langostino Tails in refrigerator overnight or place it in fridge in the morning to defrost so you can make the salad for dinner.
- Drain the defrosted Langostinos and inspect for any dark pieces of left behind intestine (sounds gross, but I found just a couple). Break up the Langostino tails in half if you want (this makes the salad easier to fill baguette with).
Prep the Baguettes
- Preheat the oven to 400 and heat/bake the par-baked baguettes straight from the freezer till a bit golden (not too golden, just slightly). This took 15 minutes in my oven.
Make the Salad
- Simply add the four Trader Joe's condiment ingredients, including the crispy jalapenos, and mix. Taste and add more of the four ingredients to adjust the flavor- more saucy, hotter, more crunchy. I did not add salt or pepper, since the four condiments already contain it.
- Slice each baguette and fill with Langostino salad, then top with jalapenos, crispy jalapenos, and/or a bit o the chimichurri or jalapeno sauce. In true lobster roll fashion, I recommend slicing part of the way through, along the center top (as in feature photo). This is the best way to ensure the salad stays (mostly) in the baguette.
