Are you contemplating what to serve with your shrimp pasta? We’ve got your back with our comprehensive list of the best side dishes to serve with shrimp pasta.
Shrimp pasta is a delicious dish that will always be welcome at the dinner table. This Italian classic is traditionally made with either linguine, spaghetti, or angel hair pasta. The shrimp is cooked in a garlic butter sauce before being added to the pasta. All of this is coated generously with creamy alfredo sauce, making this dish a global hit.
Contents
- Best Side Dishes to Serve With Shrimp Pasta
- 1. Broccoli
- 2. Chorizo and Sweet Potato Bake
- 3. Roasted Lemon Pepper Asparagus
- 4. Sautéed Brussel Sprouts
- 5. Creamed Spinach
- 6. Stuffed Tomatoes
- 7. Cucumber Salad
- 8. Stuffed Eggplant Parmesan
- 9. Sautéed Mushrooms
- 10. Garlic Bread Rolls
- 11. Kale Salad with Chickpeas and Shallots
- 12. Whole Roasted Carrots
- 13. Cherry Tomato Galette
- Conclusion
Best Side Dishes to Serve With Shrimp Pasta
With a main dish like shrimp pasta, many factors need to be considered when choosing a side dish. Pasta dishes are very filling, so they should be paired with a lighter side dish. Shrimp pasta sauce is typically made with cream, butter, lemon, and garlic, so it’s rich and flavorful. Therefore, the side dish should complement and elevate these flavors.
1. Broccoli
Broccoli is a vegetable side dish that pairs great with shrimp pasta. You can sauté, roast, steam, or boil your broccoli. And it’s a hearty and healthy dish to have on your plate. Broccoli is packed with nutrients and easy to make.
Depending on the preparation method, the texture of the broccoli may vary. Roasting the vegetable would give it a crunchy texture, offering a contrast to the softer texture of the shrimp pasta. Broccoli has muted flavors that allow the shrimp pasta’s robust flavor to shine through.
2. Chorizo and Sweet Potato Bake
This side dish is for sweet potato and meat lovers. A delicious one-pot dish, chorizo and sweet potato bake is packed with flavor. It’s sweet and spicy, just what’s needed for the shrimp pasta. And after baking, the top is crisp, adding some texture to the meal.
3. Roasted Lemon Pepper Asparagus
Asparagus is always a great side dish for pasta, and shrimp pasta is no exception. It’s a simple dish of asparagus stalks roasted and garnished with lemon slices.
The asparagus has a slight crunch adding texture to the soft pasta dish. Roasted lemon slices add a sweet acidity as they caramelize in the oven. And the asparagus stalks remain crisp while tender inside.
4. Sautéed Brussel Sprouts
Brussels sprouts are a great vegetable to pair with shrimp pasta. They taste great and are a rich source of nutrients. It tastes incredible with aromatic dressings such as garlic, anchovies, and the like.
The key to bringing these beautiful flavors to life is charring the sprouts on the sides. This makes them perfectly crisp on the outside while cooked through on the inside. They add flavor, color, and texture to your pasta dish.
5. Creamed Spinach
Creamed spinach is a fantastic side dish to pair with shrimp pasta. It is delicious and will turn anyone into a fan of the dish. This side dish is rich in nutrients and a delicious way to get in your daily greens.
When paired with shrimp pasta, creamed spinach is a hit. The creaminess matches up in texture with the sauce of the shrimp pasta. Aromatics like onions and garlic shine through and complement the umami taste of the shrimp.
6. Stuffed Tomatoes
If you’re looking for an eccentric spin on your shrimp pasta, you can go for stuffed tomatoes. These are a simple side of garlic, herbs, rice, and breadcrumbs stuffed into hollowed-out tomatoes. It’s a regular feature in Turkish, Iranian, Italian, Greek, and Armenian cuisines.
This savory dish pairs well with shrimp pasta, complementing the dish’s creaminess. It also bursts with nutrients and adds a pop of color to your plate.
7. Cucumber Salad
Cucumber salad is a refreshing side dish that can help cut through the creaminess of the shrimp pasta. Dressed in vinaigrette and lemon juice, this salad features ingredients like dill, olives, garlic, and cucumber. This introduces a crisp and cool element to the main dish.
The dish looks refined and elegant, especially when arranged well. It’s bursting with nutrients and subtle flavors that allow the taste of the shrimp pasta to shine through.
8. Stuffed Eggplant Parmesan
The flavor of eggplant is unique. It’s tender, mild, and sweet but with a slight earthiness that many vegetables embody. Stuffing eggplant with mushrooms, kale, and quinoa is a creative way to eat this vegetable. When topped off with parmesan cheese, it will knock your socks off.
Stuffed eggplant is a well-rounded side dish with sources of protein, fiber, and vitamins all in one dish. This brings balance to the carbs in the pasta dish. It’s also flavorful and delicious, making it a great side dish.
9. Sautéed Mushrooms
Mushrooms are known for their meaty texture and umami taste. This makes them the perfect fit as a side dish for shrimp pasta. Sautéed mushrooms with garlic will add a whole new dimension to the flavor profile of shrimp pasta.
They release juices, making them delicious and succulent. Mushrooms are soft and light, and the meaty texture makes them delectable. Garnish them with fresh parsley.
10. Garlic Bread Rolls
Pasta and garlic bread go hand-in-hand. Garlic bread is a flavorful variant of bread with butter and aromatic herbs and spices. It smells absolutely divine and pairs well with most pasta dishes.
The texture of the bread makes it easy to scoop up the sauce from the pasta. And the butter and garlic in the bread complement the flavorful shrimp pasta beautifully.
11. Kale Salad with Chickpeas and Shallots
Salads always pair well with pasta dishes, and shrimp pasta is no exception. If you’re looking for big flavors in a salad, this side dish is for you. This salad has it all, from taste to texture and visual appeal.
The roasted chickpeas and shallots add an element of crunch to this salad. Raw kale is a superfood filled with nutrients and introduces freshness to the main. Dressed in lemon juice, this salad is delicious, healthy, and refreshing.
12. Whole Roasted Carrots
Carrots are always a sweet addition to any dish, but roasted carrots are absolutely amazing. Paired with shrimp, this side adds a level of sweetness that the main dish lacks.
Roasted whole, the char on the carrots adds a smoky flavor while retaining its natural sweetness on the inside. The red wine vinegar and spices it is roasted in add a new dimension of flavor to the meal. And a few mint leaves as a garnish adds a touch of freshness.
13. Cherry Tomato Galette
Galettes have a puff pastry base and a sweet or savory topping or filling. They look like pizza and taste amazing. This side dish pairs well with shrimp pasta. The tomato filling is made from roasted tomatoes with herbs and garlic making it a flavorful affair. You can garnish it with cheese for extra decadence.
Conclusion
Shrimp pasta is a delicious dish and can be paired with light side dishes. The side dishes listed above accentuate the flavor profile of the shrimp pasta without overwhelming it. And any of them will be a hit at your next dinner party.