Who does not enjoy a fresh shrimp cocktail? How about coconut shrimp with sweet and sour sauce? Even just garlic and lemon shrimp do the trick.
Know all the best side dishes for shrimp. Stay tuned to find out all the recipes that go well with your next shrimp meal.
What Is Shrimp?
Shrimp is a crustacean that belongs in the seafood category. It is often paired with prawns, although they are not the same species. You will likely find shrimp paired with fish in many dishes and cuisines.
Although high in protein and low in fat, shrimp is one of the most common food allergens out there. Shrimp is frequently considered dirty in some religions and prohibited, such as in Islam and Judaism. However, well-cooked shrimp should not be a cause of concern for anyone else.
Before cooking shrimp, you will need to remove the head, tail, and veins. Still, if you buy your shrimp in grocery stores, it will likely come without its head and previously de-veined.
You will find shrimp in many cuisines, including Thai, Japanese, Latin American, American, and more. Some popular shrimp dishes include popcorn shrimp, shrimp cocktail, shrimp lo mein, shrimp fried rice, and more. Baking, sauteing, or steaming your shrimp maintains its nutritional value without much-added fat.
Nutrition Facts
One cup of boiled or steamed shrimp (145 g) has the following nutritional content (*):
- 132 calories
- 113 g water
- 25.2 g protein
- 1.87 g fat
- 1.68 g carbohydrate
- 0 g fiber
- 0 g sugar
- 100 mg calcium
- 0.348 mg iron
- 34.8 mg magnesium
- 316 mg phosphorus
- 146 mg potassium
- 503 mg sodium
- 54.8 µg selenium
- 89.9 µg vitamin A
- 233 mg cholesterol
From the nutritional profile above, you can probably tell that shrimp is very tasty and high in protein choice. You can always make it healthier by boiling, steaming, or sauteing, and adding some vegetables. In any case, if you want to try a high-protein, low-fat meal, shrimp is a perfect choice.
What Goes With Shrimp
Below are some options for side dishes that you can serve with shrimp at any time!
#1. Lemon and Pesto Spaghetti
Pasta always goes well with seafood, especially when it is light and citrus. This lemon and pesto spaghetti is delicious and pairs well with your shrimp any time.
Ingredients:
- 1 box spaghetti
- 3 cups spinach
- 2 tablespoons minced garlic
- 1 ½ tablespoon pesto
- ¼ cup of lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon parsley
- Salt and pepper to taste
Follow these steps to prepare your lemon and pesto spaghetti:
- Add the spaghetti to a large pot with water and salt. Cook it following box instructions. Drain your pasta and return to the put.
- Add half the olive oil to a saucepan along with half the minced garlic.
- Toss in the spinach, and cook for about 5 minutes.
- Add the spaghetti, the remaining olive oil and garlic, lemon juice, pesto, oregano, parsley, salt, and pepper.
- Toss everything well until the pesto covers the pasta entirely.
- Serve your lemon and pesto spaghetti warm with shrimp on top or the side.
#2. Pearl Couscous with Tomatoes and Basil
You can never go wrong with couscous and shrimp. In this case, the pearl couscous with tomatoes and basil is delicious and fresh.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup pearl couscous
- ½ cup vegetable broth
- 1 cup water
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes, chopped
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- A bunch of basil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Follow these steps to prepare your pearl couscous with tomatoes and basil:
- Add the water and broth to a saucepan. Once it begins to boil, add the pearl couscous, and cook for about 10 minutes.
- In the meantime, add the olive oil and minced garlic to a skillet. Once warm, add the tomatoes, bell pepper, basil, salt, and pepper.
- Cook your vegetables for about 5 minutes.
- Once your couscous is ready, fluff with a fork, and then add the sauteed vegetables.
- Toss the couscous well.
- Serve your Caribbean rice and beans warm, with shrimp on top or the side.
#3. Pineapple Guacamole
Guacamole is never a bad idea, especially when it comes to shrimp. Adding a bit of pineapple gives your recipe some sweet and sour flavors.
Ingredients:
- 3 ripe Hass avocados
- 1 cup fresh pineapple, chopped
- 1 red onion, diced
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro
- 1 lime, juiced
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
Follow these steps to prepare your pineapple guacamole:
- Peel and pit your avocados, and then place them in a large bowl.
- Chop the onion, pineapple, and cilantro. Add them to the bowl.
- Using a fork, begin to mash your avocado and mix everything well.
- Stir in the lime juice, cumin, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Continue to mash and mix for a few more minutes.
- Serve your pineapple guacamole fresh next to the shrimp.
#4. Caribbean Rice and Beans
Rice is always a delicious side dish to serve with seafood, but this Caribbean recipe makes it that much better. You can prepare this ahead of time to save yourself some work and reuse it with another protein.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups rice
- 1 cup vegetable broth
- 1 cup water
- 1 can of black beans, drained
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 2 tablespoons minced garlic
- 1 yellow onion, chopped
- ½ teaspoon thyme
- ½ teaspoon lime juice
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley
- Salt and pepper to taste
Follow these steps to prepare your Caribbean rice and beans:
- Add the vegetable oil and garlic to a large saucepan. Once warm, add the onion and cook for 5 minutes.
- Drain the black beans and add them to the saucepan.
- Stir in the thyme, lime juice, parsley, salt, and pepper. Cook for another 5 minutes.
- Add the water and vegetable broth, allow the liquid to boil, and add the rice.
- Lower the heat to a simmer and cook for about 25 to 30 minutes.
- Uncover your saucepan and fluff the rice with a fork.
- Serve your Caribbean rice and beans warm with shrimp on top or on the side.
#5. Sauteed Corn, Zucchini, and Tomatoes
For those who like the combination of vegetables and shrimp, this mix is the right recipe to go for. Corn, zucchini, and tomatoes go very well together, and more so, with your favorite seafood.
Ingredients:
- 1 large zucchini, sliced
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes, chopped
- 1 can of sweet corn, drained
- 1 red onion, diced
- ½ teaspoon parsley
- ½ teaspoon thyme
- ½ teaspoon oregano
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- Salt and pepper to taste
Follow these steps to prepare your sauteed corn, zucchini, and tomatoes:
- Wash, clean, and chop your vegetables.
- Add the olive oil and garlic to a skillet. Once warm, add the onion and cook for about 5 minutes.
- Add the zucchini and cook for another 5 minutes.
- Stir in the tomatoes and drained corn. Cook for another 3 minutes.
- Season with parsley, thyme, oregano, salt, and pepper.
- Toss everything and cook for a couple more minutes.
- Transfer to a serving bowl and serve warm with shrimp on the side.
#6. Parsley Potatoes
Potatoes are never a bad idea, and they go well with anything. In this case, the parsley adds citrus and aroma that perfectly complements your shrimp.
Ingredients:
- 8-10 red potatoes
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 3 tablespoons fresh parsley
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- Salt and pepper to taste
Follow these steps to prepare your parsley potatoes:
- Wash and clean your potatoes. Cut them into halves and place them in a pot with water and salt. Simmer your potatoes for about 20 minutes.
- Drain the potatoes and set them aside.
- Melt the butter along with garlic in a skillet. Once warm, add the potatoes to the skillet.
- Stir in the parsley, oregano, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Cook for about 10 minutes.
- Serve your parsley potatoes warm with shrimp on the side.
#7. Apple Pecan Salad
When you want a salad that speaks for itself, this apple pecan salad is the perfect recipe. You can change the apples for pears, peaches, and strawberries.
Ingredients:
- 4 cups spinach
- 1 green apple, chopped
- 1 cup pecans, chopped
- 1 cup feta cheese
- ⅓ cup dry cranberries
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
Follow these steps to prepare your apple pecan salad:
- Wash and clean your spinach and apple.
- Chop the apple and pecans, and place them in a bowl.
- Mix the apple cider vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in another bowl.
- Add the dressing to the spinach, apple, and pecans. Toss well.
- Crumble the cheese and sprinkle it on top. Toss once more.
- Serve your apple pecan salad fresh with extra dressing on the side.
How Can I Pick The Perfect Side to Go with Shrimp?
Shrimp can be prepared in many ways, whether grilled, sauteed, baked, or steamed. You can add all sorts of flavors to shrimp, such as citrus, sweet, sour, spicy, or savory. Serving the right side dish with your shrimp will make the meal much better.
For grilled shrimp, you might want to choose a more acidic side dish that will break through the smokiness. Go with the pineapple guacamole, which is always a safe bet and very fun. The parsley potatoes are also a good idea that complements your shrimp any time.
If you are baking or sautéing your shrimp, you might want something that adds a little more flavor and density. Lemon pesto spaghetti is never a bad idea and is very easy to make. You can also try the pearl couscous tomato and basil, which are both sweet and citrus.
For steamed and all other preparations, go with something like sauteed corn, zucchini, and tomatoes. The apple pecan salad is also fresh and mixes well with any flavors. The Caribbean rice and beans can make your meal that much filling.
Conclusion
Not only is shrimp healthy, but it can also be delicious. With the correct side dish, like any of these, you will feel like your meal is complete. Next time when you wonder what to eat with shrimp, try making one, two, or three of these recipes at a time and mix and match as you go.
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