Alright, picture this: you’ve just mastered the art of making bouillabaisse, that hearty French seafood stew that smells like a sea breeze and tastes like a hug.
Now the big question pops up – what on earth do you serve with it? You want sides that complement its rich flavor without stealing the spotlight.
No sweat! We’ve scoured kitchens far and wide to bring you the 7 best side dishes that do just that.
From simple to fancy, we’ve got you covered. Ready to elevate your bouillabaisse game?
Keep reading to find out how!
Why Consider Serving Side Dishes with Bouillabaisse?
The seasonings of Bouillabaisse will vary depending on the region you reside in or the area you come from.
The base ingredients include adding garlic, onions, fennel, tomatoes, etc.
However, there are many recipes, and some people even add bell peppers or chorizo.
It is a great seafood dish to provide at your dinner party.
It is mainly served as a main course, and thus some side dishes are necessary to go with it.
Since it is a seafood dish, some side dishes made with seafood will be excellent or something with a strong flavor that will blend with Bouillabaisse.
What to Serve with Bouillabaisse? 7 BEST Side Dishes
Since Bouillabaisse is a seafood meal, a side dish is a must.
Fish dishes are more delicate than meat dishes, so a fresh, tasty side dish is always satisfying.
Here are some of the best side dishes that go well with Bouillabaisse.
1. Crusty French bread
French bread, known as Baguette, is a typical side eaten with Bouillabaisse.
Its recipe is simple and easy to learn.
If you follow the steps correctly, you will get lovely golden-brown, soft, tasty bread ready to eat.
The bread might taste a little salty and bland, but it is best for the savory Bouillabaisse.
You can even serve the bread with some butter or jam or even cheese to make it taste better.
You can buy the bread at a bakery or make it at home.
This is a typical side dish, but it works great with the Bouillabaisse.
2. Roasted Cauliflower
Cauliflower goes well with almost anything, and it can also be made in any way you like.
You can boil it, roast it, fry it or even eat it raw as a salad, and it also does not need any fancy ingredients to taste good.
If you want a great cauliflower recipe to serve with Bouillabaisse, you can try out the spicy roasted cauliflower.
It uses a very simple recipe: cumin seeds, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, chili powder, and olive oil.
These seasonings make the cauliflower more flavor as you roast them.
It is a simple but tasty side dish to go with your seafood meal.
You can also add some jalapeno peppers if you want your cauliflower a little bit spicier.
3. Garlic Roasted Potatoes
What doesn’t taste good with potatoes? Everyone consumes potatoes and loves them, whether it’s boiled or fried if it is roasted with some herbs.
As the name suggests, Garlic roasted potatoes are very simple to make and tasty.
Garlic is a delicious flavoring ingredient, and frying your potato with some garlic butter sauce will leave your mouth watering.
It is thus one of the best side dishes to serve with Bouillabaisse because it enhances the seafood taste.
Also, remember to serve them warm if you want the flavors to burst in your mouth.
4. Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic Glaze
You can opt for roasted Brussels sprouts if you want a healthy side dish.
They can be roasted in the oven using only essential ingredients like black pepper and olive oil.
They are the simplest side dish you could ask for.
Roasting them on low heat boosts the sweetness of the vegetable.
Also, adding a balsamic glaze over your Brussels sprouts gives it a sweet, sour taste, perfect for eating with Bouillabaisse.
You can even make the Balsamic sauce at home.
This is easy to make, healthy, sweet, delicious side dish you won’t want to miss at your dinner party.
5. Grilled Shrimps
Your Bouillabaisse, another seafood side dish, will remind you of the sea.
And how do you do that? Grill some shrimps for your side dish, easy, right?
As we all know, shrimp itself is tasty enough, so you do not require any extra ingredients.
Just season it with some spices and herbs and roast them.
Want some extra kick of spiciness? Add some paprika or pepper, and you have spicy grilled shrimp.
The smoky grilled, juicy, delicious shrimps will be perfect with the Bouillabaisse, and it will be a seafood meal to remember.
6. Garlic Butter Rice Pilaf
Garlic butter rice pilaf is a simple side dish that goes well, especially on a seafood menu like Bouillabaisse.
The dish consists of rice cooked in a broth and mixed with vegetables, spices, and nuts.
Rice pilaf can taste very plain or flavorful; it simply depends on your recipe.
You can either use chicken or beef soup to cook the rice, and adding garlic and butter to your rice makes it more tasty and irresistible.
This plain yet savory recipe will be a great complimentary side dish with your Bouillabaisse.
7. Creamy Coleslaw
Creamy coleslaw is a common side dish mixture of carrots and cabbage with mayonnaise and other seasonings.
It is great to eat during picnics and barbecue parties.
It is very quick and simple to make, and it provides a complete balance of all the ingredients.
Some people prefer to add cabbage and leave out the carrots, but that is up to your preference.
Creamy coleslaw can be enjoyed with Bouillabaisse as it is very bland and refreshing, and it’s smooth.
The creamy flavor will be a great combo with the salty, spicy Bouillabaisse.
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