Halibut is a popular fish that works well with a variety of side dishes. It’s low in fat and high in protein, so it’s an excellent choice for healthy eating. Halibut also has a mild flavor that makes it easy to pair with other flavors. Here are 20 amazing side dishes for halibut that will complement your grilled halibut meal perfectly.
What Is Halibut?
Halibut is a flaky, white fish that’s related to cod, haddock and pollock. It has a mild flavor and firm texture that makes it ideal for grilling and pan-frying. Halibut is also excellent baked or poached.
Halibut is a popular choice for dinner parties because it’s easy to prepare, elegant and adaptable to many recipes. Halibut recipes include everything from simple grilled halibut steaks to more complex dishes like halibut with garlic sauce.
The most common way to cook halibut is by pan-frying or grilling it until it’s golden brown on both sides. You can also bake it in the oven if you prefer a healthier option for cooking your fish. Halibut steaks are also great on the grill!
Why Consider Serving Side Dishes for Halibut?
Halibut is a very lean fish that doesn’t need much help in the flavor department. But it can be served with a side dish or two.
There are several reasons to serve side dishes with your halibut.
The first reason is to add a helping of vegetables to your meal. While many people like eating seafood on its own, it’s always nice to have some fresh veggies in the mix too.
The second reason is to add more texture and color to your plate. While white meat can look beautiful, it’s sometimes nice to see a variety of colors and textures on the plate as well. You can do this by adding red and orange vegetables like sweet potatoes or carrots along with green veggies like broccoli or asparagus.
The third reason is that certain side dishes pair well with certain types of fish, especially halibut, which has a mild flavor and doesn’t need much help from other ingredients
What to Serve with Halibut? 20 BEST Side Dishes
1. Rice pilaf
This simple side dish of rice with onions, carrots and celery is an excellent accompaniment to halibut. The secret to a good pilaf is to use long-grain rice, which has a nutty flavor.
2. Brown rice
Brown rice is a whole grain that contains more fiber and nutrients than white rice. It’s also much better for you than polished white rice, which is stripped of its bran layer. Brown rice takes longer to cook than white rice because it has more starch in its outer layer, but once it’s cooked, it can be used interchangeably with white rice in recipes.
3. Quinoa
Quinoa is a whole grain that’s high in protein. It’s also gluten-free, making it a great option for those with allergies. Quinoa pairs well with bold flavors like herbs and spices.
4. Cauliflower rice
Cauliflower rice has become a popular alternative to traditional rice. It’s a great way to cut down on carbs and calories. Cauliflower is also rich in vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, vitamin K and fiber.
5. Roasted Brussels sprouts
Roasting Brussels sprouts is a surefire way to bring out their natural sweetness. We like to toss them with olive oil and roast them until browned and crispy on the outside, then sprinkle with lemon juice, salt and pepper. They’re great as a side dish or as an appetizer with some grilled halibut.
6. Roasted asparagus
The best part about cauliflower is that it takes on whatever flavor you season it with. In this recipe we use garlic, lemon zest and Parmesan cheese to infuse it with flavor. The cauliflower gets roasted until tender, after which we squeeze lemon juice over it for some acidity that balances out all of the rich flavors in the dish.
7. Oven roasted potatoes
This simple dish is perfect for halibut because the potatoes absorb the flavors of the fish and other ingredients. The potatoes are cooked in a skillet with garlic, thyme, rosemary and olive oil. The rosemary and thyme add a slight flavor to complement the halibut while the olive oil adds richness to the dish.
8. Steamed broccoli
Broccoli is an excellent source of vitamin C and it also contains iron and potassium. Steaming broccoli is easy because you don’t have to worry about overcooking it or burning it on the stove top like some other vegetables. Any type of fresh vegetable can be used as long as it is steamed until tender but not mushy.
9. Sweet potato fries
Sweet potatoes are a great source of beta-carotene, which is converted to Vitamin A in the body. This essential vitamin helps keep your skin healthy and hair shiny. Sweet potatoes are a great source of antioxidants, which help prevent cell damage caused by free radicals. You can enjoy sweet potato fries as a side dish for any meal or snack!
10. Corn on the cob
Corn on the cob is an American favorite during summer months. One ear of corn has about 100 calories with no fat or cholesterol. Corn contains complex carbohydrates that digest slowly to provide long-lasting energy. It is also rich in B vitamins such as niacin (B3), pantothenic acid (B5) and folate (B9).
11. Baked sweet potato
Sweet potatoes are another great option as they have a lot of flavor and go well with fish. If you want something spicy, try these chipotle sweet potato wedges or these roasted sweet potato fries with lime salt.
12. Mashed potatoes
This is one of the best sides to go with your halibut. Mash up some potatoes with some sour cream, butter and salt and pepper. You can also add chives or parsley if you want extra flavor!
13. Tomato-Garlic Butter Sauce
This is an easy sauce for halibut that can be made in minutes. Simply saute two cloves of chopped garlic in olive oil until fragrant, then add two cups of chopped tomatoes and one tablespoon each of chopped basil and oregano. Let simmer until the tomatoes have broken down into a sauce, then season with salt, pepper and red pepper flakes to taste. Serve over cooked halibut fillets.
14. Steamed Artichokes
Artichokes are a great way to add some heartiness to your meal while also adding some nutritional value. They’re a great source of iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium and antioxidants. If you would like to try something new, steamed artichoke hearts are delicious. You can also steam whole artichokes if you prefer them over hearts.
15. Lemon-Caper Sauce
The lemon-caper sauce is delicious with halibut. It has a light flavor that won’t overpower the delicate taste of the fish. The sauce also goes well with chicken, pork, and beef. You can make this sauce ahead of time and store it in your refrigerator until you’re ready to use it.
16. Sautéed baby carrots
Sautéing baby carrots brings out their natural sweetness, which complements the flavor of halibut very nicely. You can use this dish if you’re looking for an easy, yet elegant side dish to complement your halibut entrée.
17. Mac and cheese
Macaroni and cheese is one of the most popular comfort foods in America. It’s easy to make macaroni and cheese from scratch, or you can use a boxed version of this dish if you don’t want to spend too much time cooking dinner. Halibut goes well with macaroni and cheese because its mild flavor allows the taste of the macaroni and cheese to shine through. You can also add vegetables like broccoli or peas to your halibut dish for an even healthier meal option.
18. Coleslaw
Coleslaw is made from shredded cabbage, carrots and mayonnaise dressing. It’s best served cold, so make this dish just before eating it with your halibut. If you don’t have time to make homemade coleslaw, look for prepackaged varieties at your local grocery store.
19. Lentil Salad
This spicy lentil salad is a great complement to grilled halibut because it gives you some texture contrast between the crunchy lentils and soft halibut meat. You can make this salad ahead of time if you want to spend less time at dinner prep time.
20. Grilled Pineapple
Pineapple can be an odd choice for a fish dish, but it works surprisingly well. The sweetness from the fruit contrasts nicely with the richness of the fish while still complementing it perfectly. This recipe is quick and easy to make, so it’s perfect if you’re pressed for time!
Tips for choosing your best side dishes
Halibut is a great choice for dinner, and with side dishes, it can be even better. Here are some tips on choosing the best side dishes for your halibut dinner.
1. Consider your audience
If you’re serving halibut to a crowd who loves a variety of foods, then it’s okay to have a few different types of sides on the table. But if there are people who don’t enjoy seafood, or if you’re making dinner for guests with dietary restrictions, then stick with one or two types of side dish and pair them with an appropriate sauce or condiment that will complement the fish without overpowering it. For example, if someone doesn’t like mushrooms, cut them out and replace them with another vegetable or starch that everyone likes.
2. Look at what else is on the menu
You don’t want to serve something that clashes with the main course or makes it too heavy by adding too many carbs from potatoes or pasta in addition to carbohydrates from breads and rolls. For example, if you’re serving chicken as well as halibut for dinner and want to include rice pilaf as a side dish option for both entrees, stick with peas or green beans instead of mashed potatoes. They can be served alongside the fish, or as a light side dish in a separate serving container so you have more options for those who don’t like potatoes.
3. Consider the ingredients in your fish sauce
Some fish sauces can be loaded with carbs because of their added sugar or starch, and if you’re going to serve your guest something to dip your fish in, you don’t want that extra carbohydrate to derail your plan for eating healthy.
Conclusion
Halibut is generally a great white fish. However, selecting the best side dishes for halibut can be tricky because of the delicate nature of this fish. It is important to get some nice side dishes that will complement your meal. With that being said, these 20 amazing side dishes for halibut should provide any person with an excellent idea of what will work well.
