22+ Seafood Side Dishes To Delight Your Appetite 2022

Finding the top-tier seafood side dishes or toothsome accompaniments that can enhance your main courses’ deliciousness is extremely important. If you are having a hard time solving your issue, let’s give this humble article a chance to help you out.

Making straightforward seafood delicacies might not be as daunting as coming up with its perfect side dishes. No further ado; just stick right in and check what I’ve prepared for you!

23 Side Dish Recipes That You’ll Surely Love

The best side dishes to complement your seafood are varied, and you can have various options to choose from. Are you ready to get more information? Here you go!

1. Lemon Risotto

Total time: About 40 minutes.

First, start with some yummy and easy-to-make Italian-originated recipe risotto. Infused with aromatic garlic/herb notes (from dill and parsley) and a stunning depth from chicken broth, this humble risotto recipe is the game-changer.

Be mindful that the best risotto should include risotto rice, which can be arborio rice. It’s because these particular short-grain rice varieties create more starch that helps your food have a creamy-looking appearance faster.

To make it match better with fish or other seafood, put some lemon zest onto it, and I’m sure it will bring you a totally different taste experience. A citrusy note reduces any unwanted fishy scent and imparts a much more attractive taste to your seafood.

The whole process of making your risotto might have never been that easy!

2. Tomato Risotto With Parmesan

Total time: Around 55 minutes.

Parmesan is a hard cheese with a prominent nuttiness and a moderate note of fruitiness aside from its signature cheesy, milky taste. Although people don’t usually use parmesan directly on seafood, adding to its side dishes like risotto is fine.

Unlike the previous creamy, lemony risotto delight, this tomato-based one offers a bit different in the ingredients and its tastes. The main part of this risotto, besides rice, is heirloom tomatoes (with an intense acidic flavor) and cherry tomatoes (which are brighter and sweeter).

Combining these two veggies effectively brightens your rice dish and makes it easier to eat. On the other hand, the mildly acidic, sour tastes of heirloom tomatoes can help it match with seafood better. Trust me; they will be so toothsome together.

3. Spinach And Mushroom Pearl Barley Risotto

Total time: About 40 minutes.

For sure, barley (or pearl barley, to be more specific) contains more fibers than regular rice products. Therefore, you can opt for this alternative and make your Italian specialty a bit healthier.

Moreover, this recipe also calls for a lot of veggies (such as chestnut mushrooms) so that this simple delight has more flavor layers encased. The first step in making this pearl barley risotto is to saute the mushroom with garlic, onions, and thyme.

After a few minutes, simply toss the barley in and wait until everything combines. The consistency of this recipe might not be as creamy as the traditional variant, but I promise it still pairs well with your main seafood courses.

4. Wild Rice Pilaf

Total time: About 1 hour.

There is almost no restriction for foods that can or cannot pair with rice as this humble dish is so versatile. About wild rice, you might also know it as Canadian/Indian rice or water oats, and this rice has nearly 30% fewer calories than brown rice.

Based on that, it’s great to make Pilaf out of wild rice with more healthy nutrients instead of going for regular ones. The herbal notes from wild rice are also prominent: the aroma can accentuate any type of delicacy from the seas seamlessly.

However, using rice blend for the first time is much easier for you. Aside from the main part of rice, your Pilaf also has diced carrots, celery, and onions; therefore, you can expect a richer flavor profile in this basic side dish.

Follow this wild rice pilaf guide, and you won’t regret it!

5. Herb Lemon Rice

Total time: About 25 minutes.

You have just read a lemon risotto recipe and now is the turn for lemon rice. Trust me; it is just as good. Since this Greek delicacy requires no complicated ingredients, you can straightforwardly whip up some of it with anything you have inside the fridge.

To be more specific, rice (basmati rice works the best), coconut oil, and dried herbs (basils, oregano) play the central role in this dish, and you don’t need to have any other things. Every flavor note encased inside makes your rice perfectly pair with fish filet delights.

For the cooking process, it’s totally excellent if you have a rice cooker, but using a stovetop is still great. If you want to store the leftovers later, just put them into the freezer bags and freeze. This way, the shelf life of frozen rice can last pretty long.

6. Warm Quinoa With Greens

Total time: Around 20 to 40 minutes (more or less).

Why not serve your fish with quinoa? These quinoa grains, which you may cook in the same way as rice or couscous, have a mild and nutty flavor that does not overpower the signature briny sweetness of seafood.

As a result, this quinoa-veggie dish pairs well with savory seafood dishes. Yet, it’s vital to match your food with some vegetables and enrich the nutrient content of your delicacy. You can choose from any kind of veggies based on your preferences.

However, the most recommended options for you are broccoli and kale. Coconut oil is also a vital part of this recipe as the coconut-y richness is quite prominent and lovely.

7. Hummus

Total time: Around 20 minutes.

Have you ever eaten seafood with hummus? If not, you should start matching your grilled octopus with this simple yet tasty side.

Regarding this treat’s origin, many people believe that this dip was a creation of ancient Egyptians, though its first confirmed appearance was during the 13th century.

About today’s recommended hummus, something you should prepare here is cooked chickpeas (garbanzo) with some cumin, tahini, and olive oil (for flavoring). After blending every ingredient together, you should expect a paste-like consistency here.

Then, simply serve it, and garnish your hummus with parsley and cayenne. The leftovers for this recipe last in the fridge for a week or up to 10 days later, so consider making a big batch of it and consume it gradually as a snack or a side dish.

8. Whipped Sweet Potatoes

Total time: Around 55 minutes.

This dish also has a paste-like texture, but it’s sweet potatoes, not chickpeas. Thanks to the signature starchiness and mild/neutral taste, this amazing American dish, whipped sweet potatoes, pair seamlessly with various delicacies, including the seafood-based ones.

Before cooking the sweet potatoes, wash them carefully, use the fork to pierce the skin several times, and cover them with foil. These actions help the heat go through your root veggies easier and shorten the baking time.

Before blending the cooked sweet potatoes with an electric mixer, consider adding in some sugar and butter so that your starchy seafood side dish can get sweeter and more buttery.

Here is the best guidance on making your whipped sweet potatoes!

9. Mashed Potatoes

Total time: Approximately 35 minutes.

Mashed potatoes can accompany any hearty seafood treat on any dinner table. You don’t have to worry about whether or not they will complement each other. The answer is always a resounding yes.

However, my preferred recipe for mashed potatoes here stands out since it has no milk, making it great for people on a non-dairy diet. To make things clearer, I suggest you use chicken/veggies broth to replace the regularly-used milk or cheeses.

Yukon gold potatoes are the best candidate for the recipe, and you can choose to peel or not to peel them during the preparation process.

In case your seafood course is overly savory and hearty, flavor your mashed potatoes with a little salt or pepper only.

10. French Fries

Total time: Around 45 minutes.

When I suggest this French fries dish, you may think of “fish and chips,” a delicacy from Britain. Although real chips are cooked differently and look differently from French fries, these fried potato strips match nicely with fish dishes, especially fried fish or clam chowder.

The secrets to having the best quality French fries are to utilize Yukon gold potatoes and to spice them up with Greek seasoning (which contains various spices). Remember to line them neatly on the baking tray so that you can cook every piece evenly later on.

11. Pineapple Coleslaw

Total time: Around 20 minutes.

Believe me, the rejuvenating effects from the pineapple tidbits and the pronounced sourness (from the mixture of apple cider, pineapple juice, and plain yogurt) are sure to astound you.

Aside from that, shredded cabbage and chopped herbs (green onions/cilantro) also offer you scrumptious veggie-crunchiness and aromatic bites. Thanks to that, this humble salad can also reduce any unwanted fishy taste from your seafood. How fascinating!

Otherwise, prepare this coleslaw recipe for a BBQ party, as this tropical-y salad can pair well with various other things, not only seafood (especially calamari).

I promise it doesn’t take you so long to learn the best way to make pineapple coleslaw.

12. Hard-Boiled Eggs

Total time: Around 26 minutes (including the time to cool them in an ice bath).

I’m sure you are surprised here as hard-boiled eggs seem not to be an outstanding side dish. Yet, don’t underestimate this sophisticated dish’s effect when it pairs with caviar.

About the features of caviar, it’s basically a kind of salt-cured sturgeon roe and is usually eaten as a spread. The food is typically salty after the pre-processing method, so pairing it with a strongly-flavored delight might not be an excellent way to go.

Therefore, the prominent richness and a hint of buttery from hard-boiled eggs help them neutralize the intensity of the cured sturgeon eggs and form a more scrumptious harmony. Easy breezy!

13. Creamy Lemon Orzo Pasta

Total time: About 25 minutes.

How about serving a plate of creamy lemon pasta next to your salmon (or other fatty fish) dishes? Although there are various kinds of pasta here, I advise you to go for the versatile, small-sized orzo (or risoni) pasta with a grain-like shape.

Corn is an additional component in this recipe. Its bright, sweet taste works so well with the other flavor layers of butteriness, creaminess (from parmesan), and citrusy goodness (from lemons).

14. Grilled Shrimp Caesar Salad

Total time: Around 13 minutes.

As its name says, this special caesar salad is a great companion on the side of grilled shrimp. To shorten the cooking time, simply grab a Caesar salad kit at the store. Or else, choose some romaine lettuce and other leafy veggies based on your preferences.

A trick included in this flavorsome caesar salad lies in the pepper lemon seasoning. It lends a note of spiciness t with a layer of zesty, citrusy that can perfectly complement the natural sweetness from shrimps.

I suggest you serve this salad as a dinner treat for the busy weeknights. Every step might not require much time so that you can have a delicious meal ready in a snap.

This is how to make the best grilled shrimp caesar salad!

15. Kimchi Jjigae (Korean Kimchi Tofu Soup)

Total time: About 15 minutes.

Typically, the kimchi soup broth contains the extract from boiled, dried anchovy (changed to veggie stock in this recipe), Asian condiments, and spicy kimchi brine. Therefore, it’s not a weird match when you pair it with other kinds of seafood like clams.

Firm tofu, roughly cut kimchi, fish sauce, and sugar are some other things that act as the base of your soup. Feel free to add some seafood (such as clams or baby octopus) to this delightful Korean-themed recipe, which can also serve as an appetizer.

Once the gentle spiciness from gochugaru and gochujang (Korean flavoring condiments and spices) touch your taste buds, the ensuing sensation is definitely astounding!

16. Japanese Zucchini

Total time: About 13 minutes.

Another vegetable side dish for seafood on this list is a Japanese specialty with zucchini and luscious teriyaki sauce. The sprinkled sesame topping adds an attractive distinguishment to a basic side dish recipe.

Other components you should have are crushed red pepper flakes, soy sauce (preferably the low-sodium variant), and sweet onions. Actually, these things are somehow optional: you can change it a bit so that the overall can please your taste better.

You need less than a quarter-hour to accomplish this perfect side for your beloved seafood delicacies, so there is no reason not to try it once even if you are busy as a bee.

17. Haitian Mac And Cheese

Total time: About 40 minutes.

A lobster party is incomplete without a portion of foolproof mac and cheese. Therefore, try this Haitian-style version to amp up the normal cheesy and milky variation. Topped with a golden, crispy crust of cheeses and filled with veggies, this dish is extremely promising!

Obviously, you still need pasta for this captivating casserole specialty, but you can consider rigatoni or penne pasta rather than the elbow ones. Don’t try to bake the casserole in advance, or it will go dry and unpleasant to eat when you serve it.

Be mindful that the overall flavor of this delight is strongly creamy (with the presence of various cheeses and evaporated milk). Then, in case you are not a fan of rich food, reduce the amount of dairy products to make it less greasy.

18. Creamed Kale

Total time: Around 30 minutes.

Kale is loaded with good fibers, and it is definitely a must-included veggie to add to your daily diet. This leafy veggie offers a gentle bitterness with a hint of earthiness when cooked; however, these notes turn mild when you cook it with cream cheese and whole milk.

To serve your creamed kale the best, match it with those white-flesh fish (for example, cod) so that the subtle, flavorsome taste can improve the natural light sweetness of the fish well.

Otherwise, you can consider shrimps or other types of seafood for the main course. Anyway, some parmesan sprinkled on top will make your vegetable dish look much more appealing.

Let’s make this creamed kale for your seafood night!

19. Roasted Brussel Sprouts

Total time: About 30 minutes.

Some people might feel hesitant whenever it comes to Brussel sprouts because it’s generally bitter. But, your opinion about this veggie can change after tasting this side dish. The employment of various tamari, garlic, and balsamic vinegar lifts the balance to another level.

You should cut the sprouts in halves so that you can cook the whole batch in a shorter time. Wonder what this recommendation can serve?

Any white and fatty fish or any seafood-based appetizer works, but I prefer matching it with cod filets. They are simply the iconic match.

20. Roasted Garlic And Parmesan Asparagus

Total time: About 15 minutes.

Best served on the side of shrimp dishes (especially shrimp pasta), this aromatic roasted garlic and parmesan asparagus recipe is light and refreshing. Remember to opt for fresh asparagus (with a typical dark green hue) to have the best result.

About the parmesan, it would be best to utilize the freshly grated one since it encases stronger nutty and cheesy flavors, making your overall side dish even better. Another useful tip: don’t try to cook your asparagus for too long, or it will dry out or shrivel.

21. Green Bean Almondine

Total time: Around 20 minutes.

Green bean almondine (or Amandine) is a symbolic food in France with loads of healthy ingredients like green beans and, especially, toasted almonds. Remember to opt for fresh beans with a deep green hue since the quality of this delight relies a lot on this ingredient.

Overall, the guideline for making green bean almondine is pretty straightforward, so you won’t meet any difficulty in accomplishing it. The only note is to use a low temperature when processing the butter with almonds. It’s vital to avoid burning the soul of the whole plate.

It requires little time to create a big batch, making this green bean almondine excellent as an uncomplicated side dish for any mealtime with seafood.

Waiting for more detailed instruction on accomplishing your green bean almondine? It’s right here!

22. Ratatouille

Total time: Approximately 1 hour.

Just as you might have seen above, Ratatouille, aside from the role as a healthy vegetarian main course, can also be prepared as a side dish besides seafood.

Salmon steaks or else are excellent since the mixed veggies (from zucchini, bell peppers, and eggplants) can complement well with the savoriness from the sea delights.

Moreover, the tomatoes inside the dish will become softer and contribute a gentle sourness and subtle sweetness that lift the seafood taste to another level.

When plating your Ratatouille, notice to sprinkle some freshly chopped oregano and parsley. The bright herbaceous, bright, with an earthy note from them, are indeed appealing.

23. Lemon Parmesan Roasted Broccoli

Total time: Around 20 minutes.

Besides asparagus or other firm vegetables, broccoli, with its vegetal, slightly bitter-sweet taste and a beloved semi-crunchy texture, is also a great suggestion. After baking and giving the broccoli an attractive seared exterior, it’s time to add on the sprinkled parmesan.

Oil, salt, and red pepper flakes are also added at this point, and you should mix them meticulously so that all the flavors can coat each piece of your veggie thoroughly. Adjust the amount of oil used according to your preference so that it does not affect much on the quality.

Creating A Full Course Meal With Seafood Has Never Been Easier!

From the simplest recipe like hard-boiled eggs to a bit fussier ones like risotto or hummus, every suggestion on this list can satisfy you effortlessly. Otherwise, if you have a chance to try them before, please let me know your opinion about them.

Please share this post with your friends and families if you think it can support them in their future cooking as well. Every contribution from you can become my greatest motivation ever!