What to serve with jambalaya – the best side dish recipes to make this meal a satisfying feast for the whole family!
Jambalaya is a one-pot recipe with Creole heritage, and it has French, Spanish, and West African influences. Typically consisting in rice, meat, and veggies, it’s the kind of comfort food that you can’t help fall in love with.
Sausage is almost always included as in ingredient, and you’ll also often find chicken, pork, and prawns.
This chicken and chorizo jambalaya is one of my favourite recipes, and I usually serve it up once every couple of weeks.
If you’re not sure what to serve with jambalaya, you’re in the right place.
Here, we’re going to take a look at the best side dishes and accompaniments that are suitable for everything from a simple midweek meal for your loved ones, to a special dinner party when you really want to impress.
Let’s get down to it…
A chunk of freshly baked bread is a delectable side dish for practically every meal you could ever imagine, and jambalaya is no exception to this rule.
Serve it hot straight from the oven, with some butter.
It’s so good for mopping up the juices!
Sweet and nutritious, corn on the cob is such a simple but beautiful side dish.
Simply place under a hot grill for around 15 minutes, turning regularly.
It’s best served with a little butter, salt and pepper, and your favourite fresh herb.
Jambalaya is a fairly hearty meal all in its own, so if you want a side dish that’s on the lighter side, you can’t go wrong with a fresh salad.
Just chop up your favourite salad veggies, like lettuce, cucumber, and tomato, and serve with a simple dressing.
Black-eyed peas are a traditional Southern dish, making them a great choice for pairing with your jambalaya.
In this context they’re usually cooked with bacon, smoked sausage or turkey, garlic, celery, chilli peppers, and a fragrant blend of spices.
Southerners believe that black-eyed peas symbolise good luck and fortune, and for this reason they’re a popular dish for New Year celebrations. Of course though, they’re delicious served at any time of the year!
Cornbread is a native American dish, and it can lend itself to sweet or savoury dishes. It’s light and crumbly, and makes a wonderful side dish for a variety of meals, including jambalaya.
These cornbread wedges can be frozen for up to a month, so you can have a batch set aside for your next Southern inspired meal.
If you’re stuck for what to serve with jambalaya, you can’t go too far wrong with a green vegetable medley.
Just steam broccoli, asparagus, courgette, and green peppers, and add a little butter and seasoning.
You’ll be ensuring that your family are getting their 5-a-day, and it’s a good choice if you’re trying to follow a healthier lifestyle.
A savoury scone is a tasty alternative to bread, and the creamy cheese and salty bacon makes for a delectable accompaniment to all kinds of stews.
My cheese and bacon scones are easy to make, and I serve them alongside everything from a bowl of piping hot tomato soup, to a weekend jambalaya feast.
Many people would agree that when it comes to side dishes, you really can’t beat a good old fashioned potato.
To make garlic roasties, parboil your potatoes on the hob then drain in a colander, shaking them up so you create those lovely crispy bits.
Next, roast in a hot oven with garlic, your favourite herbs, and a drizzle of olive oil.
Grilled prawns can make a meal extra special, so they’re a great contender for a side dish if you have guests visiting or you’re celebrating an occasion.
They’re even better if they’re grilled on the barbecue, and dressed with a drizzle of freshly squeezed lemon juice!
Courgette – otherwise known as zucchini – has a pleasant slightly sweet taste, and a tender texture.
It has a mild flavour, making it a great side dish for a rich and meaty main course like jambalaya.
If you fancy getting creative, slice is very thinly so it resembles spaghetti, and stir fry for a few minutes with some fresh garlic and chilli.
A freshly baked garlic flatbread is much lighter than its baguette style counterpart, letting your beautiful jambalaya be the real star of the show.
Want to have a go at making your own?
This garlic herb flatbread recipe is one of my personal favourites.
It requires just eight simple ingredients, one bowl, and is one of those recipes that you’ll come back to time and time again.
Imagine delicious chunks of okra, dredged with a cornmeal batter, and fried until beautifully golden brown.
They’re crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, and are often regarded at the South’s answer to popcorn!
They’re oh so moreish, so just make sure you make enough to feed the crowd!
If you’ve never tried hush puppies before, you’re in for a real treat!
They’re small, savoury morsels of flavour, deep fried and often served as a side dish or as an appetiser for jambalaya.
Widely regarded as soul food, they have a deep and meaningful heritage, and can be given your own unique spin. Some people like to stuff them with different types of cheese, for example.
To come back to these ideas later, pin the image below on Pinterest.
If you have any inspiration or suggestions that haven’t been included here, be sure to leave a comment and share your thoughts. I love hearing from you!
