So, what side dish goes with seafood boil?
If you are having a seafood boil, then you might be wondering what are the best side dishes with shrimp boil.
Well, this article helps you decide on the best side dishes for an awesome seafood boil.
So get your pen and paper ready, and let’s get this started.
Some side dishes that go with seafood boil include Coleslaw, potato salad, popovers, and watermelon salad.
Seafood Boil And Its Elements
The term Seafood Boil might seem strange or weird to you but don’t be worried. It is normal and has a simple definition.
A seafood boil is often regarded as a party or event in which seafood dishes are the major elements of the event.
It can also be regarded as a seafood dish.
The major element of a seafood boil as the name already reveals would be seafood.
Imagine cooking oysters, crawfish, prawns or shrimps, crabs, and lobsters all in one large pot. That is a seafood boil.
Seafood boils, are said to originate from South America. They are quite easy to make, with the very basic ingredients being simply seafood, spice, and water.
So why then would you need to serve a side dish at a seafood boil?
Let’s find out.
Note: Although Seafood Boils are said to have originated from South America, it has become more popular in North American Countries like Canada.
Why Should You Serve A Seafood Boil With A Side Dish?
It is often recommended that you serve your seafood with side dishes.
Mainly because seafood boils are made majorly of protein-rich dishes. And a side dish would help keep the nutrition balanced and proper.
The key to a successful Seafood Boil would be choosing the right side dish to be served with it.
Another important reason why you would need a side dish would be the need to add a variety of flavors to the Seafood Boil.
Pairing your seafood dish with vegetable sauce and potatoes could help bring a great mix of flavors and variety to the dish.
Tip: Adding ice to your pot of Shrimp when boiling, helps the shrimp absorb the flavor of the spices without becoming tough.
What Side Dish Goes With Seafood Boil?
Now we know what a Seafood Boil is, its elements and why we might need to serve it with a side dish.
The next thing we would be deciding is what side dish goes well with a seafood boil.
Luckily, you don’t need to do too much when it comes to picking the right side dish to use.
A simple salad could make a great side dish for a Seafood Boil. And so would something a bit complicated like macaroni and cheese.
That being said, here are a few great choices to consider when picking side dishes for your Seafood Boil.
Macaroni And Cheese
As we have already established, macaroni and cheese are a great side dish to be served with your seafood boil.
It is rich in cream and cheese and is quite delicious and widely loved by people.
It also blends perfectly with a seafood dish.
And since it is rich in protein, fiber, carbohydrate, and sodium, it should balance evenly with the nutritional content of the Seafood Boil.
Another cool thing about Macaroni and cheese is the fact that it is quite easy to make. It only requires as much as 15 minutes to be ready.
For a great combo, I recommend sprinkling a little bit of old bay seasoning into the cheese. You could also add a bit of broccoli to the recipe.
Mashed Potatoes
Despite the popularity of mashed potatoes, I feel it isn’t talked about enough.
It is arguably one of the most popular dishes in the United States. And it is paired with about any main dish.
Mashed Potatoes are a crowd pleaser. Its smooth creamy flavor mixes with the Seafood Boil’s very aromatic flavor.
It is quite easy to prepare and can be paired with coconut milk, apple vinegar cider, and pesto to make a great combo.
Roasted Potato Salad
Just like the mashed potatoes, the potato salad is another great dish that works well with a Seafood Boil.
The Roasted potato salad adds a lot more flavor to the Seafood Boil than the mashed potatoes. Also, it is a lot richer in nutrients.
I recommend cooking the roasted potatoes with pickles or chopped onions.
You can add a bit of sesame oil to make it a little crunchy.
And if you don’t want the fat-filled mayo, you could substitute that for a lighter avocado mayo.
Tip: Another way to keep your potatoes crunchy would be to place them in a large pot of cold water immediately after chopping.
Popovers
Not a lot of people know what popovers are. However, they are quite popular in England where they also go by the name ‘Yorkshire Pudding’.
It is a simple dish that is made from egg batter. It is an airy puffy pastry and is made in a special pan that is called a popover.
If you don’t have a popover pan, don’t worry. You could substitute that for a muffin tin instead.
They are best served with a spicy saucy Seafood Boil where they could soak up the extra sauce, offering an intense flavor.
I recommend topping the Popover batter with Italian herbs.
Mix it with parmesan garlic to get an interesting popover taste.
Vegetable Skewers
Vegetable skewers might be the easiest side dishes to make when paired with a seafood boil.
It is a great party favor as it is a popular dish or side dish for gatherings.
They offer a wide variety of options that could satisfy a wide variety of pallets.
And they also offer a beautiful, eye-catching aesthetic to the table.
Your vegetable skewers should be well seasoned and grilled. Be playful with the colors as it should attract people to the Seafood Boil when placed beside it.
Tip: Before serving, I recommend drizzling a little of the same butter used for your seafood boil on the Vegetable Skewers.
Coleslaw
Having a rich, creamy coleslaw served alongside your seafood boil should do wonders for the main dish.
Not only does it taste really good, but it balances up the nutritional value brought by the seafood boil.
Adding Coleslaw to your Seafood Boil brings a crunchy taste to the soft yet delicious taste of the seafood.
Using mayonnaise to dress your coleslaw is great. But for best results, I recommend you use greek yogurt.
It is lighter and will add a tangy taste to the coleslaw.
Brussels Sprouts
Not just regular brussels sprouts, but roasted brussels sprouts are a perfect addition to your Seafood Boil platter.
The roasted brussels sprouts should offer a flavorful, fragrant frill to the seafood platter.
Roasted brussels sprouts aren’t just good for seafood, they also make great side dishes for meat-based foods.
It is a simple dish that could be made in less than 10 to 20 minutes.
And it would be perfect when mixed with a little balsamic vinegar.
Watermelon Salad
Another great salad dish to add to a seafood boil would be watermelon salad. It provides an aesthetic, eye-catching appeal to the seafood platter.
It is light and acts as a cleanser for your palate. It also cools off the mouth after having the hot seafood dish.
Having a watermelon salad as the side dish to your seafood boil is great, as it takes less than 5 minutes for it to be ready.
For a great watermelon salad, I advise adding chopped cucumber, lemon juice, and feta cubes to create a creamy and tangy taste.
Conclusion
Now that you know what side dish goes with a seafood boil, you should have no issues hosting a successful seafood boil.
That being said, I recommend you check out other articles on our website as you might learn something new.
For now, explore your options, eat well and drink lots of water.