Are you planning a special lobster dinner but don't know what sides to serve? There's no need to worry – when it comes to lobster sides, less is more. The lobster will be the shining centerpiece of the meal, and the side dishes should enhance its rich, sweet flavor. In other words, a sumptuous lobster dinner can be uncomplicated and thrown together with little time and effort. Here are 12 dishes and sides you can pair with lobster:
From wild-caught live lobsters to hand made Maine crab cakes, we have all the goodies to complete a traditional Maine feast. You'll taste the quality when you bite into our hand-selected lobsters caught by local fishermen and sent directly to you. All of our products are shipped overnight in insulated packaging to ensure freshness and come with easy instructions to help you make your lobster dinner a success. To enjoy a delectable lobster feast you can only find in Maine, purchase a superior lobster dinner today!- Steamed clams or fresh mussels
- Potato salad
- Pasta salad
- Fresh salad
- Coleslaw
- Clam chowder
- Corn on or off the cob
- Mac and cheese
- Cheesy biscuits
- Crusty loaf of bread (or similar)
- Veggie fries
- Champagne
Fresh Maine lobster is commonly served with boiled corn on the cob, potatoes, and a side of melted butter. Nevertheless, you can still have fun making a complete feast with a variety of simple sides. Let's look at the best side dishes for different occasions, sure to transport you and your guests to the rocky shores of Maine.
Traditional Sides for a Romantic Lobster Dinner
Lobster has long been associated with luxury and is the perfect dish for spoiling your loved ones. Here are classic lobster sides to set a romantic mood any day of the year:
1. Butter
Lobster and butter represent the ideal marriage — they complement each other perfectly. Butter brings out lobster's sweet side, and they work together to create a creamy, delectable mouthfeel. You could easily serve a simple side of melted butter and make your date smile. However, if you wish to spice things up, you can serve lobster drizzled with Thermidor butter for a smooth, savory flavor that highlights the lobster's best qualities.
To make Thermidor butter, you'll need a few ingredients, including dry white wine, a shallot, Dijon mustard, butter, tarragon, paprika, and parsley. After you boil and simmer the wine and shallot, whip the rest of the ingredients together and spoon the buttery sauce over cooked lobster. You can grill the lobster for a few minutes until the butter begins to brown. Either way, your date is sure to fall in love. You could also serve lobster with clarified butter. Clarified butter is butter without milk proteins and water, leaving you with nearly pure butterfat. To make clarified butter, melt unsalted butter in a saucepan and let it come to a gentle boil. As the butter boils, the foamy milk proteins will sink to the bottom, and the water will evaporate. Once the bubbling subsides, pour the melted butter through cheesecloth or a coffee filter, leaving you with sweet, golden clarified butter — perfect for a lobster bath.
2. Light Fresh Salad
A light, refreshing salad pairs well with lobster tails because it adds zing without stealing the limelight. A salad is also a good choice if you want to save room for dessert, like a traditional whoopie pie. Consider serving lobster with a garlicky, lemony Caesar salad to enhance the flavors. To make an impressive Caesar salad dressing, you'll need anchovies, garlic cloves, egg yolks, Dijon mustard, fresh lemon juice, olive oil, and plenty of Parmesan cheese. Mash the anchovies and garlic into a paste, then whisk in the other ingredients. Using crisp whole leaves of romaine lettuce, toss the ingredients together and top with Parmesan cheese and croutons. You can make your own croutons by tossing torn bread pieces in olive oil and baking until golden. For something a little different but equally light and tasty, try an easy shaved asparagus salad with homemade Parmesan dressing. Shave raw asparagus into a bowl with a vegetable peeler, mix Parmesan with lemon juice, olive oil, and warm water in a separate bowl, and toss the asparagus with the dressing, seasoning with salt and black pepper. Enjoy a classy lobster tail side.
3. Steamed Mussels or Clams
One of the best lobster tail sides is more seafood, especially if you're trying to win someone's heart. Steamed mussels with garlic and white wine will make your date feel pampered from head to belly, without overpowering the main course. To make the mussels, heat olive oil, butter, shallots, and crushed red pepper flakes in a large pot for a few minutes. Then, add mussels, dry white wine, and parsley, cooking for a few more minutes until the mussels are ready and a sweet seafood aroma fills the air. You might also dine like a Maine native and pair your lobster with fresh Maine steamer clams. Complete your journey to seafood paradise with a loaf of fresh, crusty bread.
4. Champagne
Grab your champagne flutes when you set the table because nothing says romance like sparkling wine and lobster. A glass of bubbly is highly versatile and pairs well with just about any main course. However, the driest champagne works best with lobster and seafood dishes. If you prefer wine, you can't go wrong with a bottle of crisp Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc.
Best Side Dishes for a Family Lobster Meal
Despite lobster's rich flavor and reputation as a delicacy, it can also make a healthy, casual meal for the family. Plus, kids get the chance to play with their food — everybody wins. Celebrate family dinnertime with these comforting and satisfying lobster side dishes the whole family will love.
1. Mac and Cheese
Mac and cheese is a popular lobster side because it's filling, buttery, and complements the delicate lobster flavor. Try a simple, classic mac and cheese recipe made with milk, butter, flour, and sharp cheddar cheese. Or, you might mix cooked lobster meat with mac and cheese to make it easy for little ones to dig in. For lobster mac and cheese, use silky mascarpone and sharp cheddar. Want to keep things as simple as possible? Order our mouthwatering Lobster Mac and Cheese made with three different kinds of cheese, panko breadcrumbs, and succulent lobster meat.
2. Pasta Salad
Another way to fill up hungry bellies around the table is to serve a refreshing and hearty pasta salad alongside lobster. Try pasta salad mixed with plenty of nutritious veggies and a bright lemon dressing. You can make a pasta salad easily using any vegetables you wish and a simple homemade dressing. For example, you might toss in a rainbow of colors like sweet red peppers, zucchini, and carrots. For an easy lemon dressing, mix garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, Dijon mustard, and seasoning.
This Lemon Basil Pasta Salad combines grilled zucchini, red onion, bell peppers, and a creamy green dressing made of blended basil, Dijon mustard, honey, lemon zest, lemon juice, and olive oil. Toss the ingredients with penne pasta or stick with a seaside theme and make the kids smile with pasta shells.
3. Cheesy Biscuits
Imagine breaking open a warm, fluffy biscuit filled with gooey golden cheese. Now imagine being served a freshly cooked lobster. What could be better? Just about everyone loves buttery, cheesy biscuits, and they go great with seafood. Even if you're not much of a baker, you can still make biscuits easily and in a short time as the perfect lobster side dish. For example, these easy, cheesy biscuits take less than a half-hour to make and involve a few basic ingredients you might already have on hand.
Easy Lobster Side Dishes
There are plenty of options when it comes to making fast lobster side dishes. The following sides can be whipped up in almost no time and work amazingly well with lobster for any occasion.
1. Coleslaw
Coleslaw is a classic lobster side dish. It's crunchy, light, slightly sweet, and peppery, and it can be prepared quickly and easily. A zesty citrus coleslaw works best with rich lobster flavor. Consider making coleslaw dressed in orange juice, lime, oil, sugar, and salt. Mix in veggies like a red bell pepper and green onion, and toss in cilantro. If you want a little heat, you can add a minced jalapeño — just make sure to wear gloves! To change things up, consider serving lobster with easy-to-make fennel slaw.
2. Corn on the Cob
If lobster and butter got married, corn on the cob would be the best man. That's because corn on the cob and lobster have a lot in common. First, corn is a bit sweet and loves to take a butter bath just like lobster. Second, corn on the cob and lobster are both so much fun to eat. With corn on the cob, you can be inventive and add all kinds of toppings or seasonings to make it more exciting. It's easy to prepare and great for a casual dinner with friends or family. You could even boil the corn in the same pot with the lobsters, just as they do in Maine. The traditional way to cook corn is to boil it in a large pot of salted water for about three to five minutes. You can also microwave corn, left in their husks, on high power for four to six minutes. If the weather is nice, toss the corn on the grill for a smoky flavor. Serving corn on the cob with butter is enough to make a crowd happy, but you can also place a variety of toppings on the table to add to the experience. For example, dinner guests can smear herbed goat cheese over fresh hot corn or brush grilled corn with pesto and grated Parmesan cheese for a lobster-friendly side.
3. Bread
Are you short on time and need a lobster side quickly? Consider stopping at a local supermarket or bakery and picking up a crusty loaf of bread. You can choose any bread you wish, but aim to pick a loaf that is high quality, tough on the outside, and soft and fluffy on the inside. For example, you might choose a baguette, ciabatta, or sourdough bread. Try to buy bread the day you plan to use it, and if possible, avoid pre-sliced bread to keep it fresh longer. If you wish to serve the bread warm, you can pop the whole loaf in the oven directly on the rack. Cover the top of the loaf with foil to prevent burning or moisten the loaf with a small amount of water. For heavy bread, preheat the oven to 350 degrees and bake it for about 15 minutes. For light bread, like a baguette, preheat the oven to 300 degrees and warm it for about 10 minutes.
Also, consider serving cornbread — another classic seafood side dish. Cornbread is relatively easy to make and doesn't take too much time. Using a few basic ingredients, you can have a fresh pan of cornbread on the table in about a half hour.
Lobster Sides for Lobster Rolls
If you plan on dishing up lobster rolls, you might be wondering what to use as a side since the lobster meat will be served on a split-top bun. If you use our complete lobster roll kit, you'll also get crunchy kettle-cooked potato chips so you won't have to worry about a thing. Lobster rolls are often served with chips and a pickle; however, here are some sides to turn this New England specialty into a full, hearty meal.
1. Clam Chowder
A cup of velvety clam chowder completes a traditional lobster roll meal. To make New England clam chowder, you'll need clams, potatoes, heavy cream, and celery. Or, you can save time and try our delicious clam chowder for a real taste of Maine. We also recommend our New England clam chowder and haddock chowder for belly-warming lobster roll sides.
2. Veggie Fries
There's nothing wrong with pairing a lobster roll with classic French fries, chips, or even tater tots. However, if you want to try something different, consider serving other veggie sides like zucchini fries or carrot chips. To make zucchini fries, you'll need breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan cheese, eggs, and zucchini. You'll dip the zucchini strips into whisked eggs, then the breadcrumb-cheese mixture, and bake for about 20 minutes. Sweet, crispy carrot chips are a yummy alternative to potato chips and are easy to make. To make carrot chips, slice carrots, toss them with olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic powder, and spread the chips onto a baking sheet. Bake at 450 degrees for about 30 minutes or until the chips are brown and crispy.
3. Potato Salad
A summery, lemony potato salad tastes delicious with lobster rolls any time of the year. Try this Lemon-Dijon Potato Salad recipe featuring lemon zest, Dijon mustard, minced shallot, honey, celery, and olive oil. It's equally delightful served warm or chilled.
Make Dinner With Fresh Maine Lobster
A fresh lobster dinner is a sure way to treat your friends, family, or anyone you love to an unforgettable meal. Keep in mind that the lobster will be the main attraction, so there is no need to stress the details. Whether you are the host or guest, you can relax and enjoy the rich, delicately sweet flavors of Maine lobster. At Maine Lobster Now, we make it possible to enjoy sustainably harvested Maine lobster no matter where you live in the country. We offer everything you need to experience the treasures of Maine's coast delivered directly to your doorstep.
