Tasty Pairs: 10 Top Side Dishes to Serve with Bouillabaisse

Bouillabaisse is a popular seafood stew that originates from Marseille, France.

The dish consists of several different types of seafood in a broth flavored with saffron and orange zest, along with various vegetables.

The flavors and tastes in the dish vary depending on which region you’re sampling from.

In Marseille, where it originated, the base includes garlic, tomatoes, onions, thyme, and fennel.

However, there are many different recipe variations to find versions with added ingredients like bell peppers, potatoes, and even chorizo.

Bouillabaisse is usually served as a main course, making a great appetizer.

If you’re looking for a delicious seafood dish to serve at your next party, this is a great option.

We’ll share some of our favorite side dishes that pair well with this dish in this article.

What to Serve with Bouillabaisse? 10 BEST Side Dishes

Since bouillabaisse is a seafood dish, it would be best to serve side dishes that are either seafood-based or have a strong flavor that can stand up to the fish.

Here are 10 of the best side dishes to serve with bouillabaisse:

1 – Grilled Shrimps

If you want to bring in the flavors of the sea, try grilling some shrimp.

Shrimp is already packed with delicious flavor, so there’s no need to add anything else.

Just season it up and throw it on a hot grill.

It’s that easy.

The smokiness of the grill will work perfectly with the sweet and salty shrimp.

Grilled shrimp is delicious with grilled veggies like asparagus and bell peppers.

Or serve it along with some mashed potatoes or even a nice helping of rice pilaf.

2 – Healthy Onion Rings

Onion rings aren’t just for restaurants; they can be made at home too.

This healthy onion ring recipe does away with deep frying and instead opts to use healthier ingredients.

The best part? You won’t be able to tell the difference.

These onion rings are crispy, crunchy, and delicious.

They are the perfect side to serve with your seafood.

The creamy ranch dressing accompanying this recipe is the perfect condiment for these onion rings.

It’s tangy, creamy, and smooth, so it complements both the batter coating on the onion rings and the seafood flavor in bouillabaisse.

3 – Garlic Roasted Potatoes

Garlic roasted potatoes are a fantastic side dish for any meal.

They’re made by roasting small, thin potato slices in a garlic-butter sauce.

The butter and garlic add even more flavor to these potatoes, while the potato chips and roasted broccoli bring in some crunch and freshness.

This side is great with any meal but works especially well with seafood dishes like bouillabaisse.

It’s also best served warm, so don’t think you must let it cool off before serving.

4 – Baked Cheese Dip

Serve some baked cheese dip along with your seafood meal.

With this recipe for baked cheese dip, you can make a rich and creamy appetizer in just 30 minutes.

This is the ultimate comfort food.

The dip is made with three different kinds of cheese – cheddar, Monterey Jack, and cream cheese – so it’s got a ton of flavor.

It’s also loaded with fresh jalapeno peppers for a bit of heat.

This dip is perfect for serving with tortilla chips or even some baguette slices.

5 – Spicy Roasted Cauliflower

Cauliflower is a versatile vegetable that can be roasted to perfection with simple ingredients.

For this spicy roasted cauliflower recipe, you’ll need olive oil, garlic powder, cumin, chili powder, salt, and black pepper.

The spices add a ton of flavor to the cauliflower while roasting it in the oven.

It’s best served hot out of the oven, so it’s perfect for serving with bouillabaisse.

If you want an extra kick of heat, feel free to add some diced jalapeno peppers to this recipe.

6 – Crispy French Bread

When it comes to seafood, French bread is a classic pairing.

This crispy French bread recipe is easy to follow and results in a delicious, golden-brown loaf of bread.

The key to getting the perfect texture for this French bread is using a baking stone.

It helps create a crispy crust while the interior remains soft and fluffy.

Serve this bread with some garlic butter or a compound butter of your choice.

It’s the perfect way to soak up all the delicious flavors of your bouillabaisse.

7 – Creamy Coleslaw

Coleslaw is a great side dish for seafood for two reasons.

First, it’s light and refreshing, so it cleanses the palate between bites of seafood.

Second, it’s creamy and savory, so it pairs perfectly with bouillabaisse’s salty and smoky flavors.

This particular coleslaw recipe is made with a creamy dressing loaded with flavor.

It’s got a bit of sourness from the apple cider vinegar, tang from the dijon mustard, and a lot of richness from the sour cream.

It’s also got carrots in it for some extra crunch and color.

8 – Garlic-Lemon Butter Asparagus

In 30 minutes or less, you can have garlicky lemon butter asparagus on your table.

This asparagus is roasted with olive oil, garlic, and lemon juice in the oven.

The asparagus is tender and juicy, while the lemon and garlic add a ton of flavor.

It’s best served hot out of the oven, so it’s perfect for serving with bouillabaisse.

If you want an extra kick of flavor, feel free to add some freshly grated parmesan cheese.

It’s the perfect finishing touch for this recipe.

9 – Easy Garlic-Butter Rice Pilaf

Rice pilaf is a simple side dish that’s great with seafood dishes like bouillabaisse.

This recipe for garlic-butter rice pilaf is easy to follow and results in a delicious, fluffy pilaf.

The key to getting the perfect texture for this rice pilaf is chicken broth.

It adds flavor and helps to make the rice nice and fluffy.

The garlic-butter sauce adds a ton of flavor to the rice and makes it irresistible.

You’ll want to eat the entire bowl.

10 – Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic Glaze

If you’re looking for a healthy side dish to serve with your seafood meal, look no further than roasted Brussels sprouts.

They’re roasted with olive oil, salt, and black pepper in the oven.

You can add a balsamic glaze to the Brussels sprouts for an extra bit of flavor.

It’s made with balsamic vinegar, honey, and Dijon mustard.

The glaze adds a sweet and tangy flavor to the Brussels sprouts.

They’re best served hot out of the oven, so they’re perfect for serving with bouillabaisse.

Enjoy.

Conclusion

When it comes to choosing a side dish to serve with bouillabaisse, there are plenty of options to choose from.

We’ve listed 10 of our favorites, but many others would be perfect as well.

No matter what type of side dish you choose, make sure it’s something light and refreshing so it can cleanse the palate after every bite.

Also, remember to avoid ingredients like bacon or cheese because they can overpower the delicate flavor of your bouillabaisse.

Instead, go with something light and subtle (like our garlic-butter rice pilaf) that won’t take away from your seafood dish.

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