When preparing lobster for a special occasion or everyday dinner, finding the perfect side dishes can be a challenge. Lobster is renowned for being both demanding and rewarding to cook, so it’s essential to pair it with equally impressive accompaniments.
After all, you want your side dishes to complement the star of the show – the succulent lobster itself. In this selection of twenty-three side dishes, we’ve curated a variety of options that will take your lobster dinner to new heights.
From classic combinations to innovative twists, each dish has been carefully chosen to bring out the best in your lobster. Let’s explore these delectable pairings and discover which ones truly shine!
Calabrese Potato Salad
The rich essence of Calabrese potato salad, an Italian family tradition, arises from the harmonious marriage of simple flavors. This delectable dish eschews mayonnaise in favor of olive oil and fresh herbs, allowing the natural sweetness of the potatoes to shine through. As you prepare this recipe, the aroma of fresh herbs will gently waft, teasing your senses and building anticipation for the first bite. The best part? Allow the flavors to meld together by preparing it a few hours in advance. This potato salad is an excellent accompaniment to lobster, making it a fantastic option when seeking a satisfying Italian-inspired meal.
Potatoes Au Gratin with Pancetta and Leeks
French cuisine shines once more with this indulgent potato side dish that’s equal parts creamy, cheesy, and tantalizingly flavorful. The humble spud takes center stage, while sautéed leeks and smoky bacon inject a much-needed burst of excitement. When done correctly, potatoes au gratin can be a time-consuming process, requiring the layering technique to achieve optimal results. But fear not! By preparing certain components ahead of time, you can minimize your time away from the kitchen, allowing you to focus on cooking that succulent lobster main.
Instant Pot Herbed Potato Salad
With its effortless preparation and delectable flavor, this herbed potato salad is a perfect illustration of how the Instant Pot can streamline cooking time. Simply combine all the ingredients in the Instant Pot, set it, and let the magic unfold. When you lift the lid, your guests will be treated to an aromatic and refined take on traditional potato salad, complete with the added convenience of no peeling required thanks to the Instant Pot’s ability to reduce prep work.
Roasted Fingerling Potatoes with Garlic and Rosemary
A timeless side dish that exudes sophistication is the roasted potato, particularly when fingerling potatoes are chosen. The inherent sweetness in their flesh creates a delightful contrast to the savory flavors that follow. By combining this natural sweetness with the subtle aroma of garlic and rosemary, a harmonious balance is struck, allowing the star of the show – the succulent lobster – to shine. To elevate this dish further, drizzle it with butter for a sumptuous dinner experience perfect for a special occasion or romantic evening.
Veggie Twice Baked Potatoes
When it comes to twice-baked potatoes, it’s easy to get carried away with rich ingredients like bacon and cheese. But when serving as a side dish to delicate lobster, it’s worth considering a lighter vegetarian alternative. This variation may not be the classic recipe, but it holds its own against the original in terms of flavor. The natural sweetness of the peppers pairs beautifully with the tender lobster, creating a harmonious balance that leaves room for each component to shine. For a simple yet impressive accompaniment to your next lobster bisque dinner, look no further than this easy-to-make, vegetarian take on the twice-baked potato.
Vegan Scalloped Potatoes
While scalloped potatoes share similarities with their au gratin counterparts, they differ in terms of slice thickness. This comforting dish boasts a harmonious balance of flavors that pair exquisitely with succulent lobster, adding a silky creaminess to the overall presentation. A delightful bonus is that this recipe is not only simple to prepare but also accommodating for vegan diets. To streamline the process, potato preparation can be accomplished in advance, freeing up time for other tasks. Furthermore, a crunchy finishing touch can be achieved by sprinkling breadcrumbs atop the dish during the final moments of baking.
Spinach and Potato Salad
Elevate the classic potato salad by incorporating wilted spinach into the mix. The addition of this leafy green not only adds a pop of vibrant color, reminiscent of a garden-fresh garnish, but also infuses the dish with an earthy depth that perfectly complements the sweetness of lobster. This variation is sure to impress, making it the perfect accompaniment to any seafood main course.
Vegetable Side Dishes for Lobster
For a lobster meal, a vegetarian side dish is an excellent choice. Many vegetable options are designed to be light and aromatic, allowing their flavors to complement the rich taste of the lobster without overpowering it. This harmonious combination makes vegetables an ideal accompaniment for any main course, and they particularly pair well with a whole lobster. In fact, their subtle nature ensures that they won’t steal the show, leaving the succulent lobster as the true star of the meal.
Summer Squash Succotash
Succotash’s symphony of flavors shines with a harmonious blend of seasonal produce, effortlessly showcasing organic notes of corn, zucchini, peppers, and onions. This uncomplicated side dish is elevated by its sweet freshness, making it an ideal accompaniment to lobster. Its versatility also allows for easy preparation ahead of time, allowing you to store it in the fridge and serve chilled alongside your summer lobster feast.
Roasted Broccoli and Cauliflower
Lobster’s delicate flavor calls for a contrasting ingredient that can hold its own against the richness. A perfect pairing is provided by earthy vegetables like broccoli or cauliflower. To take advantage of this delightful combination, try my super simple roasted broccoli and cauliflower recipe. This one-pan wonder requires minimal prep time, as you simply need to chop the vegetables, combine them with garlic and oil, and let the oven do its magic.
Glazed Carrots
Lobster’s perfect companion is undoubtedly butter, and this harmony shines in these delectable brown sugar and butter-glazed carrots. When paired with the prized crustacean, they create a match made in heaven. The carrots themselves are an absolute delight – tender enough to be easily bitten into yet still retaining a satisfying crunch that adds depth to the dish. To elevate the experience even further, take your lobster and indulge it in the remaining butter for a truly decadent treat.
Spicy Roasted Cauliflower
Indulge in a bold twist on traditional cauliflower that ignites the senses with its warm, earthy essence. As a vibrant side dish, it beautifully complements the succulent flavors of lobster. This simple yet tantalizing recipe requires only one pan and a few carefully selected spices to bring out its natural sweetness. With minimal preparation time, this versatile side can be easily incorporated into your meal routine, perfect for meal prep or spontaneous gatherings alike.
Green Beans Almondine
Holiday feasts just got a whole lot brighter with the addition of green beans almondine. This effortless recipe brings together the perfect harmony of textures, colors, and freshness on one plate. When serving up luxurious lobster for the holidays, this side dish is an unbeatable choice. With its simplicity, you won’t have to sacrifice precious time or energy in the kitchen. Instead, focus on what truly matters – sharing a memorable meal with loved ones.
Carrot, Cucumber, and Mooli Salad
Looking for a break from traditional green salads? Mooli, also known as daikon, is an excellent choice to pair with fish dishes. This versatile root vegetable is a staple in many Asian cuisines, where it’s used to add a burst of flavor and freshness to a variety of dishes. When combined with carrots, cucumbers, and mooli, this salad takes on a vibrant quality that not only adds visual appeal but also provides a refreshing contrast between bites.
Crispy Parmesan Brussels Sprouts
Brussels sprouts often find themselves unfairly maligned in the culinary world. However, when cooked correctly, they can be a true flavor powerhouse. By absorbing the aromas around them, these humble vegetables transform into bite-sized morsels of delight. Case in point: crispy parmesan Brussels sprouts, which have been elevated by the addition of rich olive oil and savory parmesan to create a decadent side dish that pairs surprisingly well with lobster, its earthy undertones providing a welcome balance to the dish’s richness.
Best Side Dishes for Lobster
When it comes to pairing side dishes with lobster, there are certain options that naturally complement its rich flavor and succulent texture. Building on our previous discussions about potatoes and vegetables, we’re now exploring the perfect accompaniments to elevate your lobster plate.
Instant Pot Parmesan Risotto
With its creamy texture and rich flavors, risotto is the ideal accompaniment to luxurious lobster dishes. But what’s often overlooked is that preparing a great risotto doesn’t have to be a daunting task. The Instant Pot has revolutionized the way we cook risotto, making it a straightforward and stress-free process. This decadent parmesan risotto in particular is a masterclass in balance, its sharp creaminess expertly cutting through the sweetness of the lobster to create a harmonious cycle that keeps you coming back for more.
Herb Salad with Shaved Parmesan
In harmony with sophistication’s demands for simplicity, this herb salad strikes just the right chord. The symphony of flavors and aromas comes together in a quartet of parsley, dill, mint, and chives, each note blending seamlessly into the next. The addition of parmesan cheese, shaved to perfection, elevates this humble salad to new heights, allowing it to hold its own against even the most robust ingredients – such as lobster. And for those tired of the same old romaine lettuce, this refreshing salad provides a welcome respite.
Air Fryer Butternut Squash
Imagine a refined and elegant take on butternut squash, perfectly harmonizing with the sophistication of a lobster meal. A vibrant medley of little orange gems, tossed with crumbled feta and fragrant herbs, yields a dish that’s as visually stunning as it is delicious. The air fryer works its magic to create a silky smooth texture that’s almost too good to be true, while the complex flavors meld together in a culinary symphony. This delectable recipe is simplicity itself, requiring only a pinch of black pepper to bring out the natural sweetness. Savor every bite and delight in the sweet, velvety goodness.
Smoked Gouda Mac and Cheese
A refined twist on a beloved comfort food, this dish elevates classic macaroni and cheese by substituting smoked gouda for traditional cheddar, yielding a richly nuanced flavor profile. The creamy pasta is an excellent canvas for showcasing succulent lobster, a staple of Southern cuisine. Savor each delectable bite as you indulge in this sumptuous dinner treat.
Dill Pickle Salad
If you’re on the hunt for a crowd-pleasing recipe that’s sure to impress your guests, look no further than this delectable dill pickle salad. Not only will it provide a delightful accompaniment to your lobster main course, but its unique blend of fresh flavors is guaranteed to satisfy even the most discerning palates. The addition of radish adds a bold and zesty touch, expertly elevating the entire dish to new heights.
Sauteed Mushrooms in Garlic Butter
When it comes to finding a vegetarian side dish that packs a punch, mushrooms are an excellent choice. They possess a sophisticated yet hearty flavor profile that grounds the plate without being overpowering. This is particularly true when they’re cooked in melted butter, which harmonizes beautifully with the richness of lobster. What’s more, this recipe is ideal for last-minute guests, making it a valuable addition to your culinary repertoire.
Tropical Mango Coleslaw
When it comes to pairing seafood with flavors, few combinations are as delightful as tropical fruit. The delicate flesh and sweetness of both the seafood and fruit create a harmonious balance, without overwhelming the palate. This tropical mango coleslaw is an excellent example of how a simple yet elegant combination can elevate a dish, allowing the main attraction – in this case, the lobster – to take center stage. A key element in making this decadent meal truly special is using only the freshest ingredients, ensuring each bite is a symphony of flavors and textures.
Gouda and Roasted Vegetable Mac and Cheese
Indulge in a refined take on macaroni and cheese that will leave you utterly impressed. This innovative recipe combines rich gouda with an assortment of roasted vegetables, creating a hearty side dish that perfectly complements the star of the show: succulent lobster. Not only is this dish a delight to savor immediately, but it also holds up remarkably well as a satisfying leftover lunch the next day, making it a versatile addition to any meal.
Garlic Butter Pasta
Pasta is an astute choice to accompany lobster, providing a satisfying serving that doesn’t overpower its rich flavor profile. The true star of this side dish, however, is the garlic butter. This harmonious union elevates the overall dining experience, much like a masterful conductor brings together disparate musical elements in perfect symphony. Furthermore, the simplicity of this preparation allows for easy adaptation into a refreshing pasta salad, further expanding the culinary possibilities.