What to Serve With Scallops: 15 Best Side Dishes

Enhance your scallops with delightful side dishes like Lemon Garlic Asparagus and Creamy Parmesan Risotto. Lemon Garlic Asparagus adds bright, savory notes, while the risotto offers luxurious, rich flavors. Try Sautéed Spinach for a nutritious, invigorating option, or Roasted Brussels Sprouts with a balsamic drizzle for a hearty complement. Garlic Butter Green Beans provide a savory and aromatic pairing. Don't forget Butternut Squash Puree, Pesto Pasta, or revitalizing Mango Avocado Salsa. Balsamic Glazed Carrots also make a delightful side. These dishes ensure your meal is well-rounded and delicious. Discover more pairings for your perfect scallop dish.

Lemon Garlic Asparagus

delicious spring vegetable side

One excellent accompaniment to scallops is lemon garlic asparagus, which enhances the dish with its bright and savory flavors. This combination not only creates a delightful flavor pairing but also offers numerous health benefits.

Asparagus is rich in vitamins and minerals, adding nutritional value to your meal. The lemon and garlic bring a fresh, zesty touch that complements the sweet, delicate taste of scallops.

Creamy Parmesan Risotto

delicious comforting italian cuisine

Pairing scallops with creamy Parmesan risotto creates a luxurious and satisfying meal that balances the delicate seafood with rich, savory flavors.

To guarantee the success of this dish, consider a wine pairing such as a crisp Chardonnay.

For cooking tips, use Arborio rice for its creamy texture and stir frequently, adding broth gradually.

This combination assures a delightful dining experience, blending textures and tastes perfectly.

Sautéed Spinach

deliciously saut ed fresh spinach

Sautéed spinach provides a nutritious and vibrant side dish that complements the delicate flavor of scallops. Rich in vitamins and minerals, this leafy green offers significant health benefits.

For a delightful result, use simple cooking techniques: sauté fresh spinach in olive oil with garlic until wilted. This quick method retains its bright color and nutrients, making it a perfect, healthy pairing.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts

tasty thanksgiving side dish

After enjoying the vibrant sautéed spinach, roasted Brussels sprouts offer a hearty and flavorful complement to scallops.

The sprouts, with their crisp texture, are elevated by a balsamic drizzle that adds a touch of sweetness.

Incorporating bacon bits brings a savory crunch that pairs wonderfully with the tender scallops.

This combination creates a balanced and delectable side dish that enhances your meal.

Garlic Butter Green Beans

delicious side dish recipe

Garlic butter green beans provide a savory and aromatic side dish that complements the delicate flavors of scallops. The rich flavor profile, enhanced by garlic and butter, makes these beans a delightful addition.

For best taste, blanch the green beans first, then sauté them with minced garlic and butter. This simple yet elegant cooking tip guarantees a perfectly balanced and delicious accompaniment.

Corn and Tomato Salad

fresh summer vegetable dish

An invigorating corn and tomato salad offers a vibrant and tangy contrast to the rich and tender scallops.

The sweetness of fresh corn combined with the acidity of ripe tomatoes creates a delightful flavor contrast.

This side dish not only enhances the taste but also adds a stunning color presentation to your plate, making the meal both visually appealing and deliciously balanced.

Truffle Mashed Potatoes

delicious truffle infused potato dish

For a luxurious and creamy accompaniment to scallops, consider serving truffle mashed potatoes. The rich flavor of truffle oils enhances the smooth, mashed textures, creating a delightful contrast to the tender scallops.

This side dish not only adds depth to your meal but also elevates the overall dining experience, making it an ideal choice for special occasions or a gourmet dinner at home.

Herb Quinoa Pilaf

tasty and nutritious dish

A herb quinoa pilaf, with its fresh and earthy flavors, provides a nutritious and flavorful counterpart to scallops.

The nutty flavor of quinoa complements the delicate taste of scallops, while its high protein content makes it a hearty side dish.

Herbs like parsley, cilantro, and mint add vibrancy, making this pilaf a well-rounded and satisfying addition to your meal.

Citrus Arugula Salad

fresh and zesty salad

Complementing the herb quinoa pilaf, a zesty arugula salad offers a tangy and invigorating contrast that enhances the overall dining experience with scallops.

The citrus vinaigrette brings a revitalizing zing, while the arugula provides a peppery bite. Adding a nutty crunch with toasted almonds or walnuts creates a delightful texture, making this salad a perfect side dish to balance the rich flavors of scallops.

Grilled Zucchini

healthy summer barbecue side

Grilled zucchini offers a smoky and tender accompaniment that pairs beautifully with the delicate flavor of scallops. Employ cooking techniques like high-heat grilling to achieve perfect char marks, enhancing both texture and taste.

Seasoning options range from simple salt and pepper to more adventurous blends like garlic and herbs, ensuring a versatile and delightful side dish that complements scallops wonderfully.

Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus

delicious and savory side dish

Bacon-wrapped asparagus offers a savory and crispy contrast that elevates the dining experience when paired with succulent scallops.

Utilizing simple cooking techniques, such as roasting or grilling, brings out the best in this delightful side dish.

The smoky flavor of the bacon perfectly complements the mild sweetness of the scallops, creating a harmonious blend of flavor combinations that is sure to impress.

Butternut Squash Puree

creamy fall comfort food

Another excellent accompaniment to scallops is butternut squash puree, which provides a rich and creamy texture that enhances the dish's overall depth of flavor.

This flavor pairing offers a delightful contrast, balancing the sweetness of the squash with the savory, delicate taste of the scallops.

The smooth texture of the puree perfectly complements the tender, slightly firm scallops, creating an exquisite dining experience.

Pesto Pasta

cooking with basil sauce

Pesto pasta serves as a vibrant and flavorful companion to scallops, enhancing the dish with its aromatic blend of fresh basil, garlic, and Parmesan.

The nutty flavor from pine nuts and the vibrant color of the pesto make the pasta visually appealing and delicious.

This pairing not only adds a beautiful contrast but also complements the delicate taste of the scallops perfectly.

Mango Avocado Salsa

fresh and zesty dip

Mango avocado salsa offers an invigorating and vibrant accompaniment to scallops, balancing their richness with a burst of tropical flavors.

This salsa variation combines ripe mango, creamy avocado, red onion, and lime juice, creating a revitalizing mix that complements the delicate taste of scallops.

Its colorful presentation and zesty profile make it an appealing and delicious choice for enhancing your seafood dish.

Balsamic Glazed Carrots

savory side dish recipe

Enhancing the natural sweetness of carrots with a tangy balsamic glaze creates a flavorful side dish that pairs exceptionally well with scallops. Employing caramelization techniques, the carrots develop a rich, deep flavor while retaining their nutritional benefits.

This simple yet elegant dish brings out the best in the scallops, offering a balanced, nutritious, and visually appealing accompaniment that elevates any dining experience.