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Perfect Pairings: 8 Top Side Dishes for Coquilles St Jacques

Coquilles St Jacques is a dish of scallop shells (coquilles) filled with sautéed scallops and often baked with various kinds of sauces, most commonly white wine and garlic, although savory recipes that consist only of meat and sauce.

It has a unique flavor that mixes garlic’s savory taste with the freshness of scallops and buttery deliciousness.

The dish is usually seasoned with salt and pepper to add extra flavor.

You can also adjust the seasoning levels to your taste.

Coquilles St Jacques is typically served with a side of vegetables or mashed potatoes.

However, there are many other options available to be served alongside Coquilles St Jacques.

Some popular options include rice, noodles, bread, and salad.

In this article, we will list eight side dishes known for being great with Coquilles St Jacques.

Why Consider Serving Side Dishes for Coquilles St Jacques?

why consider serving side dishes for coquilles st jacques

Coquilles St Jacques is a classic French dish of scallops and bacon, served as an appetizer or main meal.

The dish has simple but elegant ingredients and is quick and easy to prepare, making it a wonderful choice for your next dinner party.

Coquilles St Jacques is already a very rich and filling dish, so it is important to consider what side dishes to serve with it.

It cannot be easy to find a dish that complements the scallops and bacon and doesn’t overshadow them.

Because of this, a wonderful choice is a salad or vegetable side dish.

This will add some extra nutritional value and allow you to offer some variety to your guests without overwhelming them.

Another reason to serve a side dish with Coquilles St Jacques is to enhance the flavors.

This is where soy sauce, pepper, and garlic come in very useful, adding a wonderful accent without overpowering the main dish.

Coquilles St Jacques makes an excellent choice for serving at dinner parties because it can be made in advance and finished just before your guests arrive.

For this reason, you should practice making it at home so that you can perfect your technique.

What to Serve with Coquilles St Jacques? 8 BEST Side Dishes

what to serve with coquilles st jacques best side dishes

Here are eight fantastic side dishes which can be served with Coquilles St Jacques:

1 – Garlic Butter Shrimp

garlic butter shrimp

Garlic butter shrimp is a wonderful complement to Coquilles St Jacques.

The rich, creamy flavor of the shrimp will help balance out the flavors in your main dish, and the sharp taste of the garlic will enhance its taste.

This dish is simple and quick to prepare, so it’s a great choice for when you’re short on time.

Shrimp is very easy to cook, with just a few minutes of sauteing in butter being all that’s needed.

If you want to spice things up, add lemon zest or chopped parsley into the pan after the shrimp is cooked.

You can also bake the shrimp in the oven for a slightly healthier option.

2 – Garlic Parmesan Asparagus

garlic parmesan asparagus

Asparagus is a wonderful choice for serving alongside Coquilles St Jacques – it provides some lovely texture, and the garlic and parmesan add depth of flavor.

This simple dish only takes 15 minutes to prepare, making it a quick option if you’re on a time limit.

To make garlic parmesan asparagus, all you need to do is bake the asparagus in a 400 F oven for around 10 – 15 minutes and then sprinkle over some garlic and parmesan.

Once it has finished cooking, squeeze over some lemon juice and serve immediately.

3 – Maple-Glazed Brussels Sprouts

mapleglazed brussels sprouts

Brussels sprouts make a wonderful side dish to Coquilles St Jacques because they complement the flavors in the main dish.

They can be roasted with some maple syrup and lemon juice for a sweet, rich flavor or fried in a pan with crushed garlic and olive oil for a more savory option.

If you want to roast them, add some salt, pepper, and oil into the tray with the Brussels sprouts and roast for around 20 minutes at 400 F.

You can then drizzle over some maple syrup or sprinkle on some sesame seeds before serving.

Another option is to fry them in a pan until they are slightly browned and crispy.

Add in some crushed garlic, salt, and pepper and serve while hot.

4 – Spiced Sweet Potato Fries

spiced sweet potato fries

Sweet potato fries are a fantastic option for serving Coquilles St Jacques because they provide another way to enjoy the dish’s delicious flavors.

They also add a lovely twist and can be seasoned in many different ways.

Preparing sweet potato fries is quick and easy, taking less than an hour in total.

You can bake them or fry them in a pan, and the best thing about this dish is that it goes with pretty much any flavor combination.

Seasoned with garlic and rosemary, these fries will complement the creamy sauce perfectly.

Or you could add some chili flakes or smoked paprika for a spicy kick.

5 – Roasted Root Vegetables

roasted root vegetables

Root vegetables are another great choice if you’re looking to serve something alongside Coquilles St Jacques because they offer variety and lots of extra flavors.

Try roasted root vegetables with rosemary, salt, and pepper or oven-roasted root vegetables with cumin and parsley.

Root vegetables such as carrots, turnips, and sweet potatoes offer rich flavors and can be roasted in just under an hour.

You can also add some walnuts or pine nuts for crunch if you wish.

6 – Buttered Corn on the Cob

buttered corn on the cob

Corn on the cob is a traditional accompaniment to seafood and goes well with Coquilles St Jacques.

It’s quick and easy to prepare, taking just 15 minutes in total, and can be served as either a savory or sweet side dish.

If serving with Coquilles St Jacques, you may want to leave off the sugar and instead serve with some butter and salt.

This will complement the flavors in the dish nicely, creating a wonderful combination of sweet and savory.

If you want to turn your corn on the cob into a more substantial meal, then you can add some chili flakes or cayenne pepper for a spicy kick.

Alternatively, you could add some brown sugar and butter for a deliciously sweet twist.

7 – Garlic Rosemary Polenta

garlic rosemary polenta

Polenta is quite an unusual side dish, but it’s incredibly easy to make and complements Coquilles St Jacques perfectly.

It’s very creamy and smooth and is a nice alternative if you’re looking for something different for serving seafood.

All you need to do is add your polenta into a pan, along with some butter and minced garlic, and then slowly stir in water or stock.

Add salt and pepper for seasoning before cooking on medium heat for 15 – 20 minutes.

If serving it sweet, try adding some brown sugar or maple syrup when it’s almost cooked.

This will give it a rich sweetness which works well with the creamy sauce in Coquilles St Jacques.

If you want to serve it savory, try frying some bacon or pancetta before adding your garlic and butter.

Add in salt and pepper for seasoning and cook everything together before serving hot.

8 – Crispy Onion Rings

crispy onion rings

Onion rings are another great side dish if you’re looking to serve something savory alongside Coquilles St Jacques.

They can be easily made at home and take just 15 minutes in total.

You first need to dip your sliced onions into some flour, beat eggs and breadcrumbs before frying them for 2 – 3 minutes in a deep-fat fryer.

Alternatively, you could bake them in the oven for 10 – 15 minutes at around 200 degrees Celsius or until they’re browned and crispy.

Serve your onion rings while they’re hot and crisp, and be sure to add some salt and pepper for seasoning.

They also go well with ketchup, mayonnaise, mustard, or other dipping sauces.

Conclusion

The best thing about Coquilles St Jacques is how versatile it is when it comes to choosing sides.

Whether you’re looking for something sweet, savory, or somewhere in between, there are plenty of options available to suit your tastes and preferences.

But remember that one of the best things about Coquilles St Jacques is the simplicity of its flavors, so it’s important to choose sides that complement these rather than overpowering them.

So, what are you waiting for? Get your ingredients and cooking utensils together and give one (or more) of these ideas a try.

what to serve with coquilles st jacques

What to Serve with Coquilles St Jacques? 8 BEST Side Dishes

5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Course Side Dishes
Servings 1 Serving

Ingredients
  

  • Garlic Butter Shrimp
  • Garlic Parmesan Asparagus
  • Maple-Glazed Brussels Sprouts
  • Spiced Sweet Potato Fries
  • Roasted Root Vegetables
  • Buttered Corn on the Cob
  • Garlic Rosemary Polenta
  • Crispy Onion Rings

Instructions
 

  • Choose your favorite recipe from the list of options.
  • Organize all required ingredients and prepare a delicious meal in 30 minutes or less!
Did you make this recipe?Mention @EatDelights or tag #eatdelights!

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