What to Serve with Mofongo? 7 BEST Side Dishes

If you've decided to take a break from the usual hamburgers and poached eggs, mofongo is a great option.

It's a Puerto Rican dish made with mashed, fried plantains mixed with spices and protein (usually pork or seafood).

A little background on the dish - Mofongo is believed to have evolved from the fufu dish (an African dish), made up of mashed starchy veggies, such as cassava and plantains.

Mofongo is a delicious, traditional, and comforting food that goes well with a variety of sides.

Read further if you want to know what to serve with mofongo.

7 Top Side Dishes for Mofongo

1 - Garlic Paprika Chicken

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An addition of crispy, tender and juicy baked chicken with paprika and garlic sauce - or pair the meal with garlic butter shrimp side ideas - might just be what you need to complete your meal with mofongo.

This fantastic chicken dish has been around for years and is a food lovers' favorite.

Although it sounds fancy, all you need is chicken (preferably drumsticks), garlic, olive oil, herbs, and spices.

Baking at 425˚F for 45 minutes will give you the crispiest, crunchiest, and tastiest garlic paprika chicken.

2 - Sautéed Shrimps

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Mofongo is a flexible dish.

It goes well with any kind of meat, seafood, or anything that you can think of.

If you can get your hands on some shrimp, try this simple and delicate recipe as a side - or switch to New Orleans BBQ shrimp side ideas for a bolder option.

Shrimp is the most widely-consumed seafood in America, and it isn't surprising to know.

It is a delicate yet extravagant seafood, which adds a good amount of protein to your meal.

You don't need a complicated dish to improve your meals.

Simple recipes like this bring out the most flavors of your main dish.

Note: Only cook your shrimps till they are pink and opaque all the way through.

Cooking them for a long time will make them chewy and stringy.

3 - Garlic Sauce

If you feel like you need something liquidy, hot, and savory to amp up your mofongo, a creamy garlic sauce will do the trick - or try lemon garlic shrimp side pairings for a citrusy, garlicky companion.

Garlic is a beloved ingredient in many dishes and is often used for seasoning.

However, you can truly enjoy its flavors alone by making a garlic sauce.

It tastes great with mofongo too.

This bulbous food is native to Central and South Asia and Iran.

Besides giving incredible flavors to dishes, it offers several health benefits.

Tip: Add your lemon juice to the sauce at the beginning as it will prevent the garlic from getting bitter.

4 - Avocado Salad

Let your dish hit some summer notes by adding a bowl of avocado salad.

It will bring a simple and fresh flavor to your mofongo.

Did you know? Avocado is actually a berry, also known as butter fruit or alligator pear.

It is a great source of nutrients and vitamins.

Serving avocado salad with mofongo is a good choice as the avocado's buttery and nutty taste will balance and go with the main dish's flavors (also consider orzo salad side inspirations for a heartier salad option).

You'll surely impress your guests with the combination.

Tip: Brush some lime/lemon juice on the sliced avocadoes and keep it in an airtight container to prevent it from browning.

5 - Caldo de Pollo

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Try Caldo de Pollo, aka chicken vegetable soup; for another chicken-forward accompaniment, look into arroz con pollo side suggestions.

They are nutritious and incredibly tasty.

Caldo de Pollo is a healthy soup dish that you can enjoy any time, but many people love it during winter nights or when they have a cold.

So, you can say that it is a comfort dish.

Caldo de Pollo will help wash down the mofongo down your throat when it starts to get a little dry and hard to swallow.

Add a teaspoon of vinegar to the soup if you find it dull at any point.

You can also use salt, soy sauce, fish sauce, or fresh lemon juice to boost the taste.

6 - Roasted Red Pepper Soup

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If you want to add some sweetness and intense char flavors on the side of mofongo, go for roasted red pepper soup - roasted veg ideas like roasted carrots side suggestions also bring complementary sweetness and char.

It is another great addition to your meal as you'd have the flavorful soup wash down the starchy food.

While making roasted red pepper soup, ensure that you're baking the peppers on a large tray to avoid overcrowding.

Add some spice using red pepper flakes.

The most important thing? Don't throw the leftovers away, as this soup taste even better the next day.

7 - Pork Roast

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Have you been thinking of pork, but the ingredients list has stopped you? Consider making some pork roast.

You'll only need some pork loin, garlic cloves, black pepper (freshly ground), and seasoned salt.

However, make sure you have some time before serving, as this dish takes up to two hours to cook.

Adding a simple version of pork roast to your mofongo brings a lot of flavor, texture, and variety.

It also rounds up the meal beautifully.

If you have a favorite pork roast recipe, go ahead and use it.

Garlic-forward seafood pairs nicely with mofongo complements like garlic butter shrimp side ideas. Chicken-centric sides also fit well; see arroz con pollo side suggestions for additional pairings.