Eating a lobster is one of the most delicious seafood options, and you shouldn’t miss the chance to do so. You don’t even have to go to a fancy restaurant to try one; it’s pretty simple to make one at home. But what can you eat with lobster?.
After all, the side dishes elevate the enjoyment of the culinary experience even more. This is why we will tell you the best sides to pair with your lobster.
Lobster is a luxurious and delicious ingredient that can take any meal to the next level. The sweet, succulent meat is so versatile that it goes well with an array of flavors. But with so many options, it can be challenging to decide what to serve with your lobster dish. That’s why I’ve rounded up the 15 best flavor pairings that complement lobster wonderfully.
Lighter Flavors
If you want something refreshing and light alongside your lobster here are some flavors to consider
Lemon
The bright acidity of lemon is an excellent complement to rich shellfish like lobster Its citrusy notes help cut through the lobster’s natural sweetness and highlight its briny flavor, Lemon also adds a nice freshness Try serving grilled or steamed lobster with a lemon garlic butter or lemon wedges on the side, You can also make lemon aioli for lobster rolls,
Lime
Like lemon lime has a tangy acidity that balances out the lobster. Its zesty flavor pairs especially well with warm lobster dishes. Try adding lime to the boiling water when cooking live lobsters or steaming tails. Lime aioli and lime wedges also make great accompaniments.
Chives
The mild onion flavor of chives works well with seafood. Sprinkle chopped fresh chives over lobster rolls, tossed salad with lobster meat, lobster pasta, or baked stuffed lobster for a punch of flavor and color.
Dill
Another herb that complements lobster beautifully is dill. Its distinctive taste enhances lobster salad, chowder, linguine, and rolls. Use fresh dill weed or incorporate dill pickle relish into a dipping sauce.
Cucumber
The cool, crisp cucumber is an ideal match for rich lobster. Make a simple cucumber salad with red wine vinegar for a tangy, refreshing side. Or add diced cucumber to lobster rolls for crunch.
Heartier Flavors
If you want more robust flavors alongside your lobster, consider these pairings:
Butter
Good old butter is a classic pairing with lobster for a reason. It adds richness while allowing the natural sweetness of the lobster to shine. Clarified butter or flavored butters like lemon-chive are especially good dipping sauces.
Bacon
The smoky, salty notes of bacon complement lobster’s briny sweetness flawlessly. Top lobster rolls with crispy bacon or add bacon pieces to lobster mac and cheese. Bacon also gives great flavor to lobster bisques and chowders.
Cheese
Rich, creamy cheese makes lobster even more decadent. Sharp cheddar, Monterey jack, Parmesan, and Gruyère all pair deliciously with lobster. Try lobster mac and cheese or baked stuffed lobster with cheese sauce.
Potatoes
Starchy potatoes are a hearty, filling accompaniment to lobster. Baked potatoes, mashed potatoes, or potato salad all make excellent sides. The potatoes soak up the lobster’s butter nicely.
Corn
The natural sweetness of corn mirrors the sweetness in lobster. They taste amazing together. Grill some corn on the cob or make a corn salad to serve alongside steamed lobster tails or in lobster rolls.
Pasta
Pairing lobster with pasta is a match made in heaven. The tender noodles and rich sauce complement the succulent lobster meat. Make lobster ravioli, linguine with lobster in creamy sauce, or just toss cooked pasta in lemon-butter lobster.
Complementary Sauces
Lobster also pairs wonderfully with certain sauces. These are some flavors to try:
Butter Sauce
A classic lemon butter or garlic herb butter sauce lets the lobster shine. Dip your lobster tails or dunk lobster rolls in this rich, velvety sauce.
White Wine Sauce
A white wine sauce with shallots and herbs gives a sophisticated flavor that enhances lobster. It often contains butter too for extra richness.
Tomato Sauce
The sweet acidity of tomato-based sauces complements lobster nicely. Try a tomato cream sauce or marinara with your lobster linguine or stuffed lobster dish.
Hollandaise
This classic, buttery, egg-based sauce is divine with lobster. Eggs benedict with lobster and hollandaise is next-level delicious. Use it as a dip for steamed lobster tails too.
Mayonnaise
Creamy, tangy mayo makes lobster rolls irresistible. Flavor it with lemon juice, Dijon mustard, herbs, or Sriracha to take your lobster salad sandwich to the next level.
So there you have it – 15 incredible flavors that pair perfectly with succulent lobster meat. Whether you want something light or heavy, these flavor combinations will make your lobster dish truly spectacular. Don’t be afraid to get creative with seasonings, sauces, herbs, and sides to complement the lobster. With so many options, you can craft a phenomenal seafood feast!
Seafood side dish pairings
You dont have to serve lobster as the only seafood option. Instead, you can include other seafood dishes as sides for a lobster. We recommend trying the following dishes if you wonder what you can eat with lobster for dinner.
- Clam or scallop chowder
- Grilled or baked scallops
- Calamari
- Oysters Rockefeller
A clam chowder is another seafood dish traditionally served alongside lobster. This creamy dish is the perfect appetizer for a lobster dinner. You can make the traditional New England clam chowder with fresh clams, bacon bits, and heavy cream.
But if you want to try something different with this old favorite, check out our Bay Scallop Chowder recipe. The seafood dish incorporates bay scallops, bacon, and corn. It is light and tasty, perfect for serving as a starter for a lobster dinner.
Another great lobster dinner starter option is grilled or baked scallops. Scallops are delicious and light enough to offer as an appetizer. They are also easy to prepare. Just add your preferred seasonings and Worcestershire sauce for a hint of spiciness. After that, either bake or grill them.
Calamari is among the best seafood to serve as an appetizer for other seafood dishes. Deep-fried calamari is an especially tasty way to serve this appetizer. The calamari is first soaked in buttermilk and then fried to crispy perfection.
Oysters Rockefeller are baked oysters with a cheesy spinach filling topped with breadcrumbs, which gives them great crispiness. You can put them in the oven to bake while you prepare your main lobster dish.
Heavier lobster pairing ideas
We have some excellent recommendations if you are looking for more filling side dish ideas than salads. The following sides will fill you up while complimenting the lobsters flavor perfectly.
- Macaroni and cheese
- Baked or mashed potatoes
- Spinach pesto linguine
- Pasta salad with lemon and garlic
Lobster with macaroni and cheese is a classic for a reason. It is a warm, delicious, and comforting meal for the whole family. The best thing about macaroni and cheese is that you can make it as indulgent as possible.
For a truly elevated experience, you can try smoked gouda macaroni and cheese. The smoked gouda will give an even richer flavor to this classic dish. The recipe is the same as making a classic mac and cheese except adding smoked gouda cheese sauce.
You can make more potato salad if you have more people over for dinner because it goes well with lobster. You can serve a potato salad as a side alongside our Classic New England Lobster Rolls. Besides, potato salads are great for summer potlucks and cookouts.
Pesto pasta is an indulgent side dish fitting for an intimate dinner. Serving spinach linguine pasta with spinach pesto sauce elevates the taste of the lobster. Also, the pasta is light but filling enough to satisfy you. The simplicity of the pasta will let the lobster shine while complimenting it greatly.
This is a great side dish for grilled or steamed lobster tails. A cold pasta salad with lemon and garlic is as refreshing as it is flavorful. Plus, since it doesn’t have mayonnaise in it, you can leave it out for your guests to serve themselves without worrying that it will go bad.
How To Flavor, Cook And Eat A Whole Lobster, Tips and Tricks
What flavors go well with lobster?
Lemon Zest: The bright and citrusy notes of lemon zest bring a burst of freshness to lobster dishes. It helps to cut through the richness of the meat, adding brightness and complexity. Chives: With their mild onion flavor, chives add a subtle yet distinct taste to lobster dishes.
What are the best side dishes for a lobster meal?
Vegetarian fare is a great place to look when choosing side dishes for a lobster meal. Most vegetable side dishes are light and fragrant, so they’re tasty without drawing attention away from the star attraction. Vegetables make for the perfect accompaniment for any main course. They’re definitely one of the best sides for a whole lobster. 8.
What to serve with lobster tails?
When it comes to lobster tails, there’s one side dish that should always be invited: Green Goddess Salad. With its creamy yogurt based dressing and mix of fresh greens, this salad elevates this classic dish tenfold. Add in some crunchy nuts or seeds for a little extra texture and you’ve got the trifecta – flavor, texture and nutrition.
What salad goes with lobster?
The tangy fresh flavor of cucumber salad goes with lobster perfectly! This delightfully refreshing cucumber vinegar salad with dill makes a perfect light appetizer or side for any meal! This salad is nice and crisp with the perfect combination of tangy and sweet- it doesn’t get any better! 15. Caesar Salad