What to Serve With Paella Dinner: 15 Best Side Dishes

Enhance your paella dinner with an array of delightful side dishes. Mixed green salads with vinaigrette offer crisp textures, while Spanish garlic shrimp adds a revitalizing touch. Tomato and olive skewers provide a fresh contrast, and a platter of nutty Manchego cheese pairs perfectly with Spanish wines. For a crunch, try patatas bravas or grilled vegetables. Chorizo-stuffed peppers add depth, and marinated olives bring a invigorating note. Serve gazpacho for a rejuvenating first course, and don't forget the crusty bread. Complement with serrano ham, roasted red peppers, and a zesty citrus salad. Finish with a glass of sangria and flan for dessert. Discover the full list to create a memorable feast.

Mixed Green Salad

colorful and nutritious salad

A mixed green salad provides a revitalizing and light complement to the rich and flavorful paella. Featuring an assortment of leafy greens, this salad can be dressed with various vinaigrette varieties, from tangy balsamic to zesty citrus.

The crisp textures and fresh flavors enhance the dining experience, ensuring each bite remains balanced and delightful, making it an ideal side dish.

Spanish Garlic Shrimp

delicious tapas dish choice

Complementing the freshness of the mixed green salad, Spanish garlic shrimp offers a savory and aromatic addition to the paella dinner.

This dish features shrimp marinated in a flavorful seafood marinade, enhancing its rich taste.

Simple yet effective cooking techniques, like sautéing in garlic and olive oil, guarantee the shrimp remains tender and juicy, perfectly balancing the hearty flavors of the paella.

Tomato and Olive Skewers

delicious mediterranean appetizer option

Tomato and olive skewers provide a vibrant and invigorating contrast to the rich flavors of paella, offering a simple yet elegant side dish. These skewers, infused with Mediterranean flavors, are easy to prepare and visually appealing.

Skewer variations can include cherry tomatoes, Kalamata olives, and fresh basil, creating a delightful combination that complements the main course while adding a fresh and zesty touch.

Manchego Cheese Platter

cheese platter with manchego

Manchego cheese platter is an exquisite addition to a paella dinner, offering a rich and nutty flavor profile that enhances the overall dining experience.

Pair this aged Spanish cheese with a selection of Spanish wines for a delightful combination.

The cheese pairings will elevate the meal, providing a balanced contrast to the robust flavors of paella, making the dinner even more memorable.

Patatas Bravas

delicious spanish tapas dish

Another classic Spanish side that pairs wonderfully with paella is Patatas Bravas, known for its crispy potatoes topped with a spicy tomato sauce.

The cooking techniques involve frying the potatoes until golden brown, achieving a delightful crunch.

The spicy tomato sauce adds a zesty kick, making it a favorite among many.

Serve with dipping sauces for an added layer of flavor.

Grilled Vegetables

vibrant summer barbecue side

Grilled vegetables provide a healthy and flavorful complement to a paella dinner, enhancing the meal with their smoky and charred notes. Utilizing seasonal produce guarantees the freshest taste, while mastering grilling techniques brings out their natural sweetness.

Popular choices include bell peppers, zucchini, and asparagus. These vegetables not only add color and nutrients but also balance the rich flavors of paella.

Chorizo Stuffed Peppers

delicious stuffed peppers recipe

Why not elevate your paella dinner with chorizo stuffed peppers, which bring a tantalizing blend of smoky, spicy, and savory flavors to the table?

Choose from pepper types like bell or poblano, and explore stuffing variations such as adding rice, cheese, or vegetables.

This delightful side dish complements paella perfectly, adding depth and richness to your dining experience.

Marinated Olives

savory marinated olives recipe

To further enhance your paella dinner, consider serving marinated olives. They introduce a burst of Mediterranean flavors and a pleasing contrast to the main dish. With numerous marinade variations, such as lemon, garlic, or herbs, and different olive types, like kalamata or green olives, this side dish adds both diversity and depth.

Their tangy and savory notes perfectly complement the rich and hearty paella.

Gazpacho Soup

chilled tomato soup recipe

Gazpacho soup, a chilled tomato-based dish from Andalusia, offers an invigorating and light contrast to the hearty paella. This cold soup is perfect for summer refreshment, bursting with fresh flavors of tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers.

It complements paella beautifully, adding a cool, vibrant touch to the meal. Serving gazpacho guarantees a balanced dining experience, enhancing the enjoyment of your paella dinner.

Crusty Bread

freshly baked sourdough loaf

A loaf of crusty bread serves as an essential accompaniment to paella, offering a delightful texture contrast and a means to savor every bit of the flavorful sauce.

When considering bread selection, opt for varieties like ciabatta or baguette, which hold up well for dipping sauces. This choice enhances the dining experience, allowing guests to enjoy the rich flavors of the meal fully.

Serrano Ham

delicious spanish cured meat

In addition to crusty bread, Serrano ham serves as a refined and flavorful side dish that complements the rich and diverse tastes of a paella dinner.

For preparation tips, thinly slice the ham to enhance its delicate texture.

Pairing suggestions include serving it alongside fresh melon or figs, which balance the ham's savory notes and create a delightful contrast with the paella.

Roasted Red Peppers

delicious and flavorful peppers

Roasted red peppers provide a smoky and sweet complement to the robust flavors of a paella dinner, enhancing the overall dining experience.

These versatile peppers can be served as stuffed peppers with various fillings or as part of tapas variations, offering a delightful burst of flavor.

Their rich, charred taste pairs beautifully with the savory elements of paella, creating a harmonious meal.

Citrus Salad

summer dish with oranges

Bringing an invigorating contrast to the hearty flavors of paella, a citrus salad offers a revitalizing and vibrant side dish option. This colorful salad, accented with a tangy citrus dressing, brightens the palate.

Salad variations may include oranges, grapefruits, and lemons, paired with fresh greens. The rejuvenating taste helps balance the richness of the paella, making it a delightful combination.

Sangria

fruit filled spanish wine

To complement the vibrant citrus salad, an invigorating glass of sangria serves as an ideal beverage pairing for a paella dinner.

This traditional preparation involves a delightful mix of red wine and a medley of fresh fruits. The fruit pairing enhances the flavors of the paella while adding a rejuvenating, festive touch.

Sangria's rich, fruity essence balances the savory notes of the meal perfectly.

Can the Same Side Dishes for Tritip also be Served with Paella?

Yes, the best side dishes for tritip can also be served with paella. Grilled vegetables, green salad, and garlic bread make excellent accompaniments for both tritip and paella. The flavors complement each other and create a delightful dining experience.

Flan

delicious custard dessert option

A classic Spanish dessert, flan offers a creamy, caramel-infused finale to a paella dinner. Made with traditional ingredients like eggs, milk, and sugar, this delightful treat comes in various flan variations, including coconut and chocolate.

Its smooth texture and rich flavor perfectly complement the vibrant tastes of paella, making it an ideal choice for a sweet, satisfying conclusion to your meal.