What to Serve with Monkfish? 7 BEST Side Dishes

Also known as frog fish, sea-devils, or fishing frogs, monkfish is a deep-water fish mostly found in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans.

You can easily find it in most seafood markets.

However, it is usually relatively more expensive than other common types of fish, such as hake or cod.

Once you bring your monkfish home, all there's left to do is grab your apron and start cooking.

Grill, bake, roast, or simply boil - the options are endless.

Likewise, when it comes to "what to serve with monkfish," the sky is the limit.

Below, we have mentioned our top picks for side dishes that go with the flavor of monkfish.

7 Best Side Options for Monkfish

1 - Cilantro-Lime Rice

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Try a bowl of fresh and zesty cilantro-lime rice to add the perfect side dish for your monkfish recipe - or pair it with chicken fried rice side ideas for a heartier spread.

Fish and rice is a dreamy combo.

It is an incredible source of protein and has low saturated fat and GI carbs content.

You can make your rice interesting, too, while serving a fancy plate of monkfish.

And cilantro-lime seasoning is the best we can think of.

The zesty flavors from the lime juice and sharp cilantro herbs works like a dream with the monkfish.

Plus, it takes less than half an hour to prepare this dish so you'll want to make it a side dish for everything.

2 - Cheesy Broccoli Rice

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Another special rice dish that blends exceptionally with monkfish is cheesy broccoli rice - and it shares much in common with beef and broccoli side pairings for vegetable-forward plates.

They are covered in crispy breadcrumbs and cheesy sauce, so you might want to make extra servings.

While broccoli is one of the best green vegetables nature has blessed us with, cheese improves the dish and make it even more delicious.

Both ingredients serve well as complementary foods for monkfish.

Therefore, combining them only makes sense.

What's the secret to making this dish extra flavorsome? Use chicken broth instead of salted water to boil your rice.

Also, Long grain rice works best for this dish.

3 - Sautéed Mushrooms and Onions

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If you like umami flavors, you wouldn't want to miss out on this side dish.

Sautéed mushrooms and onions work best as a side dish, complementing many meals - similar to stuffed mushrooms side pairings that highlight umami flavors.

You can pair it with monkfish to let the flavors from the fish shine through.

Besides being truly savory, sautéed mushrooms are good for your health too.

They contain vitamins, antioxidants, and potassium, among other nutrients.

Combined with onions and the right seasonings, you can enjoy a deliciously round-up meal with sautéed mushrooms and onions.

4 - Carrot and Quinoa Salad

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While this salad is a satisfying dish on its own, they are frequently put as sides for fish, chicken, and other meats - see carrot salad side options for more serving ideas.

Carrot gives you loads of vitamins, and quinoa is best known for increasing satiety.

So, you guests will never leave your home half-full with a carrot and quinoa salad on the side.

• Rinse or soak your quinoa to remove its bitterness. .
• Don't be scared to add other ingredients. The salad tastes great with avocado and chickpeas too.

5 - Arugula Salad

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If you want to create excellent side dishes for your monkfish without any fuss, Arugula salad will work best for you - or try arugula pesto side ideas for a bolder flavor profile.

Also called rocket, Arugula has a fresh, peppery, bitter, and tart flavor.

It is a popular salad vegetable that that pairs well with wild rice, couscous, small pastas, fish, and meat.

Parmesan cheese works best for arugula salad.

You only need about 5 oz arugula and 2 oz parmesan cheese as the main ingredients.

Tips to decrease the bitterness: Marinade the arugula in a lemon juice and coconut oil mixture for a minimum of 30 minutes.

Massage it thoroughly to improve the leaves' wilting process.

Why go for sides that take hours to prepare when you can create something fresh like this in just minutes? Your guests will be happy to see some healthy greens too.

6 - Tangy Carrot Slaw

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You might make this a side dish today, but we bet it will become an everyday ingredient on your table.

The generous addition of Dijon mustard in this recipe makes tangy carrot slaw special and perfect for balancing the oil and heaviness of main dishes.

The tangy carrot slaw is a tangy and sweet dish that calls for some proteins like fish - it pairs well with recipes in Asian slaw side suggestions that balance richness.

So, don't miss out on it when you serve monkfish.

You can eat the slaw right away or refrigerate it for half an hour to let the flavors meld.

7 - Roasted Potatoes and Carrots

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For big and bold flavors, we recommend adding roasted potatoes and carrots to your sides.

They are a convenient combination, featuring vegetables and starch for a filling meal.

There's no need to explain why potatoes are everyone's favorite.

They're just that good.

When paired with something sweet and healthy like carrot, you won't ask for anything else.

The smoky flavors from the starchy potatoes and carrots will be a heavenly combination for your protein-filled monkfish.

Tip: Keep in mind that carrots cook faster than potatoes.

You'd want to roast the potatoes first, or cut them in smaller sizes.

Many of these sides work beyond monkfish - chicken fried rice side ideas fills out heartier menus. roasted carrots side ideas provides simple, vegetable-forward options that suit most seafood plates.