The best sides for Coquilles St Jacques are Zucchini Risotto, Paris Mash, Pesto Stuffed Mushrooms, Pan-Fried Green Beans, and Lobster Artichoke Dip.
Zucchini Risotto -
Scallops make a lovely combo with risotto, no matter how you cook the seafood.
For a lighter option, try Lobster Artichoke Dip. Besides the above dishes, there are several other dishes that you can serve with the scallops, and we'll list them below.
Coquilles St Jacques is a French dish made of sea scallops which also go by the same name.
It's a delicacy that contains cheese, white wine, whipping cream, mushrooms, and other ingredients.
The scallop dish is delicious and versatile as you can serve plenty of items with it.
They include roasted asparagus, sweet potato fries, crispy onion rings, shrimp spaghetti, and lobster artichoke dip.
Besides the above dishes, there are several other dishes that you can serve with the scallops, and we'll list them below.
10 Best Sides for Coquilles St Jacques
Here are some side dishes which you can serve with coquilles St Jacques - and chili party side suggestions work when the menu includes bold flavors.
1 - Zucchini Risotto
Scallops make a lovely combo with risotto, no matter how you cook the seafood.
So, it will be a good side dish to serve with coquilles St Jacques.
Scallops are light, and the rice dish is filling, so you can enjoy a full meal.
Typical risotto is yummy, but you can change the dish by adding sliced zucchini, cheese, and other items just before serving - see zucchini boat side ideas for complementary pairings.
The typical variety of rice for making risotto is arborio, an Italian short-grain rice named after the town of Arborio.
It's a readily available rice so you can cook the risotto only with it.
2 - Paris Mash
If you're a fan of mashed potatoes, you'll love the smoother and fluffier version; the Paris mash.
It's a delicacy that complements coquilles St Jacques nicely.
Paris mash often features in high-end restaurants, and its texture is so soft that it looks like you can almost pour it like liquid.
You can be sure that when you serve the dish, everyone will enjoy the combo.
The Paris mash has a lot of butter and cream, so it's rich.
On the other hand, the scallops are lighter, so you'll have a perfect balance.
You can use different types of potatoes for the mash, but Yukon Golds are often used as they're buttery, creamy, and thick.
3 - Pesto Stuffed Mushrooms
Mushrooms have a meaty flavor, but they're light.
They're versatile and taste great with most foods.
They also taste excellent with coquilles St Jacques.
While sautéing is the usual method for making mushrooms, you can cook them in other ways.
Stuffed mushrooms with pesto are delicious, slightly tangy, and creamy - much like pesto gnocchi side pairings that balance herb and cheese flavors.
Pesto comprises Parmesan cheese, olive oil, basil leaves, garlic, salt, and pepper.
It's best to use fresh pesto, but if you don't have much time, you can also buy a ready-made variety.
Button or cremini mushrooms are commonly used to make the dish.
However, cremini or baby bella mushrooms are more flavorful than button mushrooms, so you can use them.
4 - Pan-Fried Green Beans
It may sound like an odd combo, but pan-fried green beans also match nicely with scallops - similar to how fried green tomato side ideas pair crispy, tangy elements with seafood.
They're both light dishes but have different ingredients, so you'll have a complete meal when you combine the two.
Making pan-fried green beans takes about fifteen minutes to prep and fifteen minutes to cook.
Hence, you can fry several batches quickly if you invite many guests.
Green beans are vegetables that grow year-round, so you can make a dish at any time.
But choose fresh beans for the best outcome.
The freshest beans should be bright and break when bent.
5 - Lobster Artichoke Dip
It's always nice to add a variety of dishes to a menu, but of course, they should go with the main dish, in this case being coquilles St Jacques.
How about a lobster artichoke dish to go with the scallop dish - or try lobster ravioli side suggestions for another rich seafood pairing.
It's not something you see often, but it's delicious and compatible with scallops.
The dip is also easy to make, and you can do so with only a few ingredients.
Cream cheese, mayonnaise, Parmesan, and Romano cheese add a creamy texture and extra flavors.
Any seafood tastes best when fresh, but its flesh can deteriorate as it ages.
So, check when buying and choose moving, active lobsters with springy tails and hard shells.
6 - Sweet Potato Fries
Fries are among the most popular side dishes as they're yummy and versatile - consider sweet and sour meatball side ideas when a sweeter, tangy contrast is desired.
They also go well with coquilles St Jacques.
However, you can make the fries with sweet potatoes instead of regular spuds.
If you haven't made fries with sweet potatoes, there isn't any need to stress because the cooking process is the same as with regular potatoes.
If you want your fries to be crispier, add a little cornstarch.
You can also add some spices like smoked paprika, chipotle powder, or Cajun seasoning if you want some spiciness in your food but go easy, or the fries can become a lot hotter.
7 - Roasted Asparagus
Coquilles St Jacques pair nicely with all veggies; so you have lots of options - roasted options like roasted carrot side ideas complement buttery scallop sauces.
Asparagus roasted with tomatoes are flavorful, and versatile.
They also complement scallops, and are healthy.
Yummy roasted asparagus with tomatoes require only a handful of ingredients.
But the flavors are incredible.
A little cheese can make the veggie dish even more delicious.
The dish tastes best with fresh asparagus but you can use frozen spears too.
But you mustn't overcook the veggies or they'll get mushy.
8 - Crispy Onion rings
Onion rings are a classic dish that tastes amazing.
They may be old-fashioned, but they pair nicely with scallops and many other dishes.
Onion rings are also popular with everybody, so the combo will be a hit - try onion ring side suggestions for different batter and seasoning ideas.
Crispy onion rings follow the same process as other veggies; coat in flour mixture, dip in egg mixture, and coat in breadcrumb mix before frying them.
When done, you'll have crispy and yummy onion rings.
For convenience, use large onions and make several portions so that everybody can grab a few pieces when they eat the food.
9 - Shrimp Spaghetti
How about shrimp with spaghetti? The combo isn't too familiar, but it's good, and you won't regret serving the dish.
It also pairs nicely with scallops. The taste of the shrimp makes the dish like it's quite complex.
But it's precisely the opposite because it's easy to make the dish even though you have to use many ingredients.
However, you must remember one point when making shrimp spaghetti.
See that the pasta cooks perfectly; it must be al dente.
Else, no matter what you use, the dish will be spoiled.
10 - Garlic Sautéed Spinach
Let's complete the list with a simple but tasty and healthy spinach.
Sautéed spinach with garlic is a suitable item to serve with coquilles St Jacques.
Sautéing the spinach is easy, and you don't have to spend much time.
Hence, it can be a suitable dish to cook when you're short of time and when there are many guests to feed.
More matured spinach may be slightly bitter, so you can make the dish with baby spinach, as it has a milder flavor.
You can also add some unsalted butter to make it creamier.
Frequently Asked Questions
Zucchini Risotto Scallops make a lovely combo with risotto, no matter how you cook the seafood. It's a delicacy that complements coquilles St Jacques nicely.
Most home cooks pick this because it adds contrast and rounds out the meal.
Grain dishes and roasted vegetables are the best candidates. This side dish holds well in the refrigerator for up to two days.
Store the components separately and combine just before serving to keep textures intact.
A good side dish either contrasts or goes with the dominant flavor. If the main is rich and savory, something with acidity or crunch balances the plate without competing.
Can side dishes be swapped based on dietary needs?
Yes.
Most classic pairings have easy swaps - substitute roasted vegetables for grain sides, or use cauliflower rice instead of regular rice for a lower-carb option.