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 is indulgent luxurious and delicious. When serving this incredible crustacean, you want side dishes that can match its wow factor. But what exactly should you serve alongside lobster? The possibilities are nearly endless, but some pairings work better than others to complement lobster’s sweet, briny flavor.
In this article, we’ll explore 12 of the best side dishes to consider when serving lobster. Whether boiling, broiling, grilling or baking your lobster, these sides will take your meal to the next level.
Classic Lobster Side Dishes
Some sides have become quintessential pairings for lobster over the years. These classic sides are easy crowd-pleasers.
Steamed Clams or Mussels
Briny, tender steamed clams or mussels make for a surf and turf pairing. Mix up shells on the table with a side of drawn butter for dipping. The lighter seafood perfectly complements rich lobster.
Corn on the Cob
Corn on the cob is a popular summer classic with lobster. The sweet corn pairs beautifully with the sweet lobster meat. Grill, roast or boil the corn and serve with butter.
Potato Salad
Potato salad is a staple lobster accompaniment in New England clambakes The creamy potatoes, onions and celery offer a cooling contrast to hot steamed lobster
Coleslaw
Crunchy coleslaw offers a fresh, acidic punch along with the rich lobster. The cabbage also aids digestion. Make it creamy, vinegary, or oil-based.
Lobster Rolls
For a lobster-centric meal, serving lobster rolls on the side lets you enjoy lobster meat in and out of the shell. Split-top rolls piled with lobster salad are simple but satisfying.
Creative Lobster Side Dishes
While the classics are always crowd-pleasers, don’t be afraid to get creative with unique lobster pairings too.
Pasta Salad
Chilled pasta salad makes a nice light side for rich lobster. Toss pasta with veggies, herbs, cheese and vinaigrette. Orzo and bowtie pastas work well.
Fresh Salad
A fresh garden or Caesar salad adds color and freshness. The greens complement the sweet lobster beautifully. Add tomatoes, cucumbers, hearts of palm and crunchy croutons.
Lobster Mac and Cheese
For an indulgent pairing, nothing beats lobster mac and cheese. Comforting, cheesy and decadent.
Lobster Risotto
Creamy lobster risotto highlights the lobster flavor. Arborio rice cooked in lobster stock with butter and parmesan is sublime.
Lobster Quinoa
For a healthy option, try quinoa tossed with lemon, herbs and lobster meat. Quinoa’s fluffy texture contrasts the lobster nicely.
Lobster Hushpuppies
Savory lobster hushpuppies bring a southern twist. Cornmeal hushpuppies fried with lobster meat are crispy outside and tender inside.
Lobster Ceviche
If you are looking for something fresh, lobster ceviche has bold citrus flavors to balance the rich lobster. Toss lobster with lime juice, peppers, onions and cilantro.
Sauces and Condiments for Lobster
Don’t forget sauces and condiments to dip that lobster in.
Melted Butter
Melted butter is hands down the most popular dip for lobster. Chilled, salted butter melts over the hot lobster for richness. Flavor it with garlic, herbs or lemon if desired.
Clarified Butter
For butter that won’t go solid again when cooled, use clarified butter. Simmer butter and skim milk solids from the top as it cools.
Lemon Wedges
Fresh lemon brightens up sweet lobster. Squeeze lemon right over lobster meat as you eat.
Remoulade
This piquant, creamy French sauce has mustard, capers, herbs and vinegar. It is excellent with lobster.
Cocktail Sauce
For classic seafood flair, cocktail sauce with tomato, horseradish and lemon makes a perfect lobster dip.
Drawn Butter
Drawn butter has the flavors of the lobster shell infused right in. Simmer lobster shells in butter before straining out.
Aioli
Whip up quick garlic aioli by blending mayonnaise, garlic, lemon juice and herbs. Rich and pungent with lobster.
With so many wonderful options, there is no need to be bored with your lobster sides. From potato salad and coleslaw to risotto and ceviche, these 12 side dishes will liven up your lobster feast. Don’t be afraid to get creative and combine classics with unique new flavors. Lobster deserves only the best accompaniments, so pick your favorites and dive in!
Regional Lobster Cuisine Variations
What goes good with lobster can take its que from the region and area it’s prepared. Connecticut style lobster rolls are often served with salty homemade potato chips. When you eat lobster in New England, like Maine, the sweet treats that come at the end show that you can also eat pretty treats.
New England has some of the best desserts to go with lobster. Some of the best are Maine blueberry pie, watermelon slices, and fudgy, gooey brownies. We’ve compiled a list of over 30 desserts to serve at the end of your lobster dinner. See our best desserts to pair with lobster.
Below is a list of popular American lobster dishes and suggestions on what to eat with lobster. The different textures and flavors work together to make the meal interesting and bring out the flavor of the lobster. What can you serve with lobster is as varied as the dishes themselves.
- You can have crisp green salad, steamed vegetables, or broccolini with your lobster pot pie.
- Lobster Mac and Cheese: Any fresh salad or vegetable will cut through the richness of the mac and cheese. That cheese sauce is very rich. Arugula salad, steamed green beans, or sautéed asparagus would go well with it.
- Along with a fresh salad or vegetable, baked stuffed lobster tails go well with hearty sides like mashed potatoes, baked potatoes, or angel hair pasta with a lemon sauce.
- Sopping up the delicious sauce with toast points, rice, egg noodles, pasta, or puff pastry rounds is a great idea.
There are as many dishes that go with lobster as there are types of lobster. There are paella and lobster fra diavlo from the Mediterranean, and hummersoppa, or Swedish lobster soup, from Scandinavia. What can you eat with lobster can take you on a trip around the world.
- Lobster Paella
- Patatas bravas, pan con tomate, green salad
- Lobster Fra Diavlo
- Crusty bread, shaved fennel salad, roasted vegetables
- Pickled herring on toast, dill cucumber salad, crusty bread, and Swedish lobster soup
- French country salad, bistro salad, sautéed asparagus with lemon, and the classic lobster stew recipe
The trip around the world keeps going with a celebration of the complex and delicious foods from places like Indonesia, Thailand, China, and Vietnam. Lobster tail sides and what goes good with lobster are as varied as the ingredients. Fish sauce, tamari, oyster sauce, and soy sauce pops add umami right away, and cooking tools like the wok add depth. Deciding on sides for lobster tails has never been so flavorful.
- Lobster Fried Rice
- Lobster rangoon, egg rolls, egg drop soup
- Lobster Noodles
- Stir fried vegetables, ginger salad, miso soup
- Ginger Scallion Lobster
- Fried rice, pan fried noodles
- Cantonese Lobster Tail
- Steamed or fried rice
- Coconut Lobster Curry
- Steamed jasmine rice
Lobster Throughout the Day
Pop open the bubbly and say cheers to celebrating the luxurious flavor of lobster all day long. How you serve lobster tail can depend on the time of day. For example, a lobster omelet for breakfast can help you decide what to serve with a lobster roll for lunch.