Lobster has a very sumptuous taste on its own but adding a palatable side dish to it would not only do wonders to the meal but also it would complement the lobster a whole lot especially if you choose a side dish that will not overpower the main lobster dish.
We have here some side dishes that will transform that lobster cuisine into an memorable meal.
Mac and Cheese
Lobster tail is sweet and meaty, while mac and cheese is rich and creamy. They are absolute perfection together. Try a simple, classic mac and cheese recipe made with milk, butter, flour and sharp cheddar cheese.
Or, you might mix cooked lobster meat with mac and cheese to make it easy for little ones to dig in. For lobster mac and cheese, use silky mascarpone and sharp cheddar: the better the cheese, the better the mac and cheese.
So, don’t go cheap on the cheese when you make mac and cheese. My top picks are Gouda, Mozzarella, Colby, Swiss, and Monterrey jack
Butter
Butter goes well with bread, corn, pastries. Lobsters are o exemption in this list. Having quality butter that’s prepared correctly is a key component – and the simplest side dish – for many different preparations of lobster, including whole lobster and lobster tails.
Clarifying butter is the important process that separates milk solids from the oily butterfat. This leaves you with almost completely pure butterfat.
To make clarified butter, you’ll first need to melt unsalted butter in a saucepan and allow it to come to a gentle boil.
As the butter boils, the foamy milk proteins will sink to the bottom, and the water will burn off. Once the bubbling comes to an end, you’ll pour the melted butter through cheesecloth or a coffee filter. You’ll be left with sweet golden clarified butter, ready for a lobster bath.
Baked Potato
Served with butter, just like your lobster, baked potatoes can be garnished with parsley or dill for some extra flavor.
You can also dress up a basic potato dish by boiling potatoes, allowing them to cool, cubing them and covering them in mayonnaise and chives for a simple potato salad. Alternatively, just serve baked tiny fingerling potatoes in olive oil alongside your lobster dish.
This dish is great because it will be ready to serve as soon as the lobster is ready, so there’s no need to stress about timing.
Corn on the Cob
Whether you grill your corn to get that nice char or simply boil it in water, it doesn’t matter – it will taste so good with lobster. With corn on the cob, you can be inventive and add all kinds of toppings or seasonings to make it more exciting.
It’s easy to prepare and great for a casual dinner with friends or family. This is another standard side dish to serve with lobster, because it’s also served with butter.
These more basic options ensure the lobster will remain the highlight of the meal.
Lobster Bisque
This stunning bisque oozes with flavor from the lobster, coconut milk, shallots, and tomato paste. As if that isn’t good enough, it’s even better with sweet white wine!
Together with lobster tails, lobster bisque makes for a fantastic seafood feast that you will not have any regrets of trying out
Clam Chowder
It is also a thick seafood soup that works well with lobster tails. This side dish contains spoonful’s of tender potato chunks drenched in thick white clam soup served on the side of sweet and juicy lobster tails. A cup of velvety clam chowder completes a traditional lobster roll meal.
Steamed Clams and Mussels
Clams and mussels have good and subtle sweet flavors that complement the lobster meal really well. Preparing this side dish is also easy. Just steam the shellfish in water, white wine, shallots, herbs, and a bay leaf for 5 to 6 minutes and it’s done!
Biscuits
Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. You may either get them from a bakery you treasure or even bake them your own. All in all they will taste awesome with lobster tails.
And, since your lobster main dish doesn’t have the biggest serving size, the addition of a starchy side compliments it nicely.
You can also use it to soak up all that extra butter on your plate! Spice it up a little by getting creative with some bacon and cheddar biscuits.
French Baguettes
French baguettes, also a great side to lobster tails, are crisp and chewy. Hence this texture gives a great contrast to the soft and tender lobster meat. They are also easy to make. No need to get them at a bakery.
Steamed White Rice
It’s filling, very easy to cook, and its mild taste helps make the lobster tails shine. Mix some of that clarified butter with that hot bowl of white rice.
Wild Rice
An interesting starchy side dish to serve with lobster is wild rice. It has a distinctive flavor but should be cooked with mild seasoning so it doesn’t overpower the lobster. This wild rice pilaf recipe is a tasty complement to lobster.
To make a rice pilaf suitable for accompanying lobster, cook the rice in a seafood broth (a splash of dry white wine is optional) and season with salt and pepper.
Pasta Salad
Pasta salad is a loved Italian dish that gives you a hearty combination of healthy artichokes and starchy bowtie pasta. Use little shells to accompany the lobster and then add what you like – corn, tomatoes, cucumber, peppers and red onion which are all good options.
Mix up a light herb vinaigrette with oil and vinegar and you’re set. Season your salad with a simple vinaigrette featuring the oils and herbs you prefer.
Potato Salad
Rich and creamy, a great compliment to the lobster tails. Potatoes, mayonnaise, and lobster are what you will refer to as an awesome combination. A summery, lemony potato salad tastes exquisite with lobster rolls any day any time.
Try a Lemon-Dijon Potato Salad recipe which has lemon zest, Dijon mustard, minced shallot, honey, celery and olive oil. You can either serve the salad either hot or cold.
Coleslaw
Coleslaw is a classic lobster side dish. It’s crunchy, light, slightly sweet and peppery, and it can be prepared quickly and easily. A zesty citrus coleslaw works best with rich lobster flavor.
Consider making coleslaw dressed in orange juice, lime, oil, sugar and salt. Mix in veggies like a red bell pepper, green onion and toss in cilantro. If you want a little heat, you can add a minced jalapeño — just make sure to wear gloves!
Greens
They include the following:
Baby glazed carrots with a touch of brown sugar are a yummy root vegetable to serve with lobsters.
Fresh blanched green beans work well with cherry tomatoes drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with salt, pepper and maybe a handful of torn basil leaves.
String beans and broccoli covered in butter and fresh grated Parmesan cheese is delicious, or try mixing green and white beans and covering them with lemon juice and fresh herbs.
Grilled or steamed asparagus is enjoyable with lobster. Lemon and olive oil make a simple dressing, or if you’re feeling more adventurous, a sesame mayonnaise dip or sesame oil dressing makes for a mouth-watering asparagus dish.
A simple tomato and cucumber salad is a summertime favorite to serve with fresh seafood, especially on a warm day.
Veggie Fries
These crisp and flavorful veggies will surely brighten up your lobster meal. Consider serving other veggie sides like zucchini fries or carrot chips.
To make zucchini fries, you’ll need breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan cheese, eggs and zucchini. You’ll dip the zucchini strips into whisked eggs, then the breadcrumb-cheese mixture, and bake for about 20 minutes.
Sweet, crispy carrot chips are a yummy alternative to potato chips and are easy to make. To make carrot chips, you’ll only need to slice carrots, toss them with olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic powder, and spread the chips onto a baking sheet.
Bake at 450 degrees for about 30 minutes or until the chips are brown and crispy.
Drinks
Technically, drinks are not side dishes. That doesn’t mean you can’t enhance the flavor of a lobster dish by pairing it with the perfect supreme beverage.
In this case for a lobster dish, a simple, cold, crisp mug of beer will do nicely. Get a beer infused with citrus flavors. This complements the already sweet lobster really well.
If beer isn’t your cup of tea, don’t fret. A glass of white wine such as chardonnay, a fruitier wine like Gewurztraminer, or even a rose would all be nice pairings with lobster. Kick it up a notch and serve champagne for a delightful summer meal.
Grilled Caesar
For something different, try a grilled Caesar salad. The slightly charred lettuce and warm salad is a wonderful alternative to a cold salad with a lobster dinner.
To make a grilled Caesar, slice the romaine hearts in half, leaving the stem attached. Drizzle oil and lemon juice over the lettuce and grill for 1-2 minutes per side. Serve with dressing, bacon bits, croutons and Parmesan cheese.
Dessert
Seafood and dessert are great companions. Think lemon bars, lemon cheesecake, creme brulee, chocolate mousse, or even fresh fruit! The list is just endless.
As you have seen above you will never lack a side dish to pair with your lobster so whenever you have a plate with lobster look no further than these culinary options.
