After a delicious lobster dinner, you might be wondering what else goes well with lobster. This guide has all the answers. It includes the best sides, dips, and other foods that will make your lobster feast epic.
Lobster bisque is a rich, creamy, and decadent soup made from lobster stock and cream. With its complex flavors and silky texture, it’s truly a luxurious dish that deserves an equally special accompaniment. But with so many options, what should you serve alongside this elegant seafood soup?
In this article, I’ll suggest 21 delicious side dishes that perfectly complement lobster bisque From crusty breads and starchy sides to bright salads, hearty proteins, and sweet desserts, you’ll find plenty of ideas for any meal or occasion
Classic Breads
A good loaf of bread is one of the simplest yet most satisfying sides for lobster bisque. The bread acts as an edible spoon to soak up every last drop of the velvety broth. Opt for something with a chewy crumb and crispy crust.
Cheddar Bay Biscuits
These biscuits are inspired by a certain seafood chain’s famous offering. They have a soft flaky interior with hints of garlic, parsley, and shredded cheddar. The biscuits pair wonderfully with the bisque adding texture and soaking up the creamy broth.
Garlic Bread
Warm, buttery garlic bread is a no-brainer with lobster bisque. For an easy homemade version, spread baguette slices with softened butter mixed with minced garlic before toasting until crisp. The garlic flavor enhances the briny notes of the soup.
Cornbread
For a slightly sweet and crumbly accompaniment, cornbread is a classic The corn flavor provides an interesting contrast to the rich bisque To make it yourself, simply combine cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder and milk. Bake until golden brown and serve warm.
Salads and Vegetables
A fresh salad or vegetable side brightens up the rich bisque. The crunch and acidity provide welcome contrast. Greens, tomatoes, and carrots all make excellent choices.
Strawberry Spinach Salad
This salad’s blend of fruit, greens, nuts, and cheese works beautifully with lobster bisque. The sweet strawberries help cut through the soup’s indulgent nature. Simply toss baby spinach with quartered strawberries, red onion, almonds and feta cheese. Drizzle with a poppy seed dressing.
Coleslaw
Tangy coleslaw pairs wonderfully with creamy bisque. For the easiest homemade version, combine shredded cabbage and carrots with mayonnaise, vinegar, sugar, salt and pepper. Letting the slaw chill in the fridge allows time for the flavors to meld.
Roasted Carrots
Roasting carrots deepens their natural sweetness. Glaze them in brown sugar, butter and a touch of water before roasting to caramelized perfection. Their subtle sweetness stands up well against the hearty bisque.
Hearty Sides
If you want something more substantial alongside the soup, go for a protein-packed side dish. Chicken, seafood and pasta all make satisfying pairings.
Crab Cakes
Tender crab cakes deliver plenty of extra seafood goodness when served with lobster bisque. Mix lump crab meat with breadcrumbs, egg, garlic, herbs and spices. Form into patties and pan fry until golden. The crispy exterior provides fantastic textural contrast with each creamy spoonful of soup.
Shrimp Skewers
Grilled shrimp skewers are another light, summertime-friendly pairing for lobster bisque. Alternate jumbo shrimp and cherry tomatoes on the skewers before coating with olive oil, salt and pepper. Grill for just 2-3 minutes per side until the shrimp turn opaque. The sweet, succulent shrimp complement the soup flawlessly.
Mac and Cheese
For the ultimate comfort food pairing, try lobster bisque with macaroni and cheese. The cheeses provide another layer of richness to an already decadent meal. To make an easy stovetop version, just melt butter, flour and milk into a cheesy sauce before tossing with cooked macaroni. Top with extra cheese and breadcrumbs before baking until bubbly and browned.
Seafood Sides
You can never have too much seafood when lobster bisque is on the menu. Scallops, mussels, and of course, more lobster, are all fair game.
Lobster Tails
Buttery, broiled lobster tails take this meal to the next level of luxury. Split tails lengthwise before brushing with butter and broiling flesh-side down just until opaque, 4-5 minutes. Serve with melted butter for dipping into the luscious broth. Just try not to fill up on tails before the soup!
Steamed Mussels
Plump mussels steamed in a flavorful broth of white wine, garlic and herbs are a classic appetizer for a reason. They pair so beautifully with lobster bisque, echoing its briny seafood essence. Discard any mussels with cracked shells before steaming until they open up, about 5 minutes. Provide empty shells for dipping into that heavenly broth.
Seared Scallops
Sweet, tender scallops seared to a crispy golden crust make an elegant accompaniment for lobster bisque. Dry the scallops well before searing on both sides in an oiled pan until caramelized. Count on 2-3 minutes per side. Let the scallops shine by keeping seasonings simple with just a bit of salt and pepper.
Sauces and Dips
A sauce or dip can add even more flavor and creaminess to a lobster bisque meal. Think butter, mayo and cheese-based options.
Lemon Butter Sauce
For butter lovers, a lemony butter sauce takes this meal over the top. Simmer butter, lemon juice, shallot and parsley until thickened and poured over everything in sight. The brightness balances the bisque’s richness.
Homemade Tartar Sauce
Creamy, tangy tartar sauce puts a new spin on seafood pairings. Whisk together mayonnaise, lemon juice, capers, parsley, dill and other flavorings of choice. Dunk crab cakes, shrimp and more into this bold condiment.
Cheesy Fondue
Warm, velvety cheese fondue is a fun, interactive meal accompaniment. Guests can dip bite-sized chunks of bread or veggies into the decadent cheese sauce. Opt for Gruyere and Emmenthal cheeses blended with white wine for an authentic Swiss fondue.
Sweet Endings
Leave room for dessert after this lavish meal! Opt for something fruity or chocolaty to satisfy that sweet tooth.
Creme Brulee
Elegant creme brulee provides a rich, smooth finish to a lobster bisque dinner. Allow a baked custard flavored with vanilla and cream to chill before topping with a crackly sugar crust just before serving. The crisp topping contrast beautifully with the silky interior.
Chocolate Mousse
Light and airy chocolate mousse provides an indulgent but refreshing dessert option after all that lobster bisque richness. Simply whip cream to soft peaks before folding in melted dark chocolate. Chill until set and serve in pretty glasses with fresh raspberries.
Berry Trifle
A stunning trifle shows off layers of cake, pastry cream, fruit and whipped cream. For a summery version, use pound cake, vanilla custard and fresh mixed berries. The variety of flavors and textures caps off the meal in style.
Sip in Style
Pick out a beverage that feels special. Chilled wine, bubbly champagne or a unique cocktail all hit the right notes with a meal starring lobster bisque.
Chardonnay
Buttery, oak-aged Chardonnay has rich stone fruit flavors that echo the bisque’s complexity. It has enough body and creaminess to stand up to the hearty soup but enough acidity to keep the pairing balanced.
Champagne Cocktail
What’s more celebratory than a flute of Champagne? For an extra splash of elegance, make it a Champagne cocktail with a sugar cube, Angostura bitters and a lemon twist. The effervescent bubbles provide a palate-cleansing accompaniment.
The Hemingway Daiquiri
This twist on a Cuban classic was supposedly a favorite of Ernest Hemingway. Combining rum, lime juice, grapefruit juice and maraschino liqueur, it’s tart, refreshing and slightly bitter. The grapefruit notes pair effortlessly with sweet seafood.
Lobster bisque deserves accompanying sides that are just as special as the soup itself. With this list of 21 complementary dishes, from crab cakes to creme brulee, you’ll find endless inspiration for your next lobster bisque dinner party or date night in. Just be prepared for requests for the recipe!
Lobster Tails and Sides
Lobster tails undoubtedly the most popular part of the lobster to serve and enjoy. Adding a steak and baked potato to lobster tail can be a simple way to make it taste like you’re at a steakhouse.
- If you want to try something new with your lobster, try a green bean salad instead of coleslaw. The richness of the seafood will go well with it.
- A great root vegetable to serve with lobsters is baby carrots that have been glazed with a little brown sugar.
- Cherry tomatoes drenched in olive oil, salt, pepper, and maybe a handful of torn basil leaves go well with fresh green beans that have been blanched.
- String beans and broccoli topped with butter and freshly grated Parmesan cheese taste great. You can also mix green and white beans and top them with lemon juice and fresh herbs.
- Grilled or steamed asparagus is enjoyable with lobster. A simple dressing is made of lemon juice and olive oil. If you want to try something new, a sesame mayonnaise dip or sesame oil dressing will make your asparagus dish taste amazing.
- A simple tomato and cucumber salad is great with fresh seafood in the summer, especially when it’s hot outside.
- A light vinaigrette dressing goes well with penne pasta salad. It can be served on its own or with a traditional salad.
- A crisp Caesar salad with Romaine lettuce and Parmesan cheese is a better side dish, especially if you add lots of crunchy croutons on top.
Love Butter? Get ideas for butters for your lobster dinner.
There are a lot of different things that go well with lobster, from the classics like a baked potato topped with butter and sour cream to roasted potatoes. Want something a little different, how about creamy and sumptuous risotto? Here are a few ideas.
- Some people like to start or end a lobster dinner with baked potatoes topped with sour cream and butter. Boil some red bliss potatoes, cut them up, and add chopped chives and mayonnaise to make a simple potato salad. Instead, you could serve your lobster dish with baked little fingerling potatoes in olive oil.
- Macaroni and cheese is a family favorite with lobster. You can always mix them together and make Lobster Mac and Cheese.
- You can serve lobster with risotto, but rice pilaf is a better choice for a lighter meal. To make a rice pilaf that goes well with lobster, cook the rice in seafood broth (you can add a splash of dry white wine if you want) and season it with salt and pepper.
- Boston baked beans are a mainstay in New England and go well with a lobster bake in the backyard.
A simple choice is crusty bread, which is great for sopping up all those juices, especially from clams or mussels (see below).
Let’s celebrate lobster and all things seafood. Sometimes the best side dish with lobster is more seafood. For the ultimate lobster pair, what could be better than a seafood tower with steamed shrimp, shucked oysters, and lobster? A simple bowl of lobster bisque is all you need to serve lobster.
Of course, clam chowder is usually served with lobster. For a real taste of New England, make New England Clam Chowder with native clams, spices, and potatoes.
You could slowly cook steamer clams in water, dry white wine, bay leaf, and your favorite herbs for a lighter broth. You could also serve fresh dug steamer clams on the side. Their sweet flavor goes well with the lobster.
A classic seafood dish that is easy to make (only takes 5–6 minutes) is farm-raised mussels steamed with white wine, fresh garlic, and parsley. Serve steamed mussels as a starter or on a large platter with steamed lobsters.
Grilled or baked scallops make another ideal accompaniment to lobster. If you want to bake scallops, this recipe is simple. Cayenne pepper and Worcestershire sauce add a little heat to the seafood.
Things to Do with Lobster
The sauces you serve with lobster can also help you decide what to eat and what to serve with lobster tails. Choosing a sauce can help you decide what to serve with it. For example, a lemon butter sauce goes well with crusty garlic bread for dipping, and a vodka cream sauce goes well with lobster ravioli or linguine. Here are a few options on sauces that will inspire side dishes with lobster.
- Butter sauce: The salty taste of butter goes well with the mild taste of lobster.
- White wine sauce: Wine-based sauces can elevate lobster.
- To make a lemon butter sauce, lemon zest can bring out the brighter notes in the lobster and balance out its saltiness.
- Vodka cream sauce: This Italian-American choice gives lobster ravioli a creamy texture.
- Remoulade sauce: This easy sauce that you can make at home goes well with lobster cakes.
- Sauce with tomato: A lot of people like lobster and ravioli with a sauce that has tomato or citrus flavor.
- To make pink sauce, you need to crush tomatoes, add heavy cream, and grate Parmesan cheese.