Shrimp has a bad rap for having a bland taste. But have you ever considered looking at it this way: the mild flavor of shrimp makes it one of the most versatile seafoods you can cook in different ways!
And when cooked right, shrimp can make one flavorful and rich dish.
If you don’t believe us, here’s one shrimp recipe that will change how you see shrimp—the bang bang shrimp.
If you haven’t heard about Bang bang Shrimp yet, you’re missing out on a lot! It’s a breaded shrimp dish that’s crunchy on the outside and tender and juicy inside. The best thing about it is its iconic zesty sauce that’s also creamy, sweet, and spicy.
We won’t deny it. The Bang Bang Shrimp can certainly hit all the right spots. However, it’s best eaten with a side dish you can enjoy a well-rounded and extra filling meal.
So what to serve with Bang Bang Shrimp? Check out the fantastic ideas that we have in this article. Keep on reading!
What to Serve with Bang Bang Shrimp? The Sides to Try!
Are you ready to make a complete meal out of your Bang Bang Shrimp? If so, here are the best answers on what to serve with Bang Bang Shrimp:
1. Fried Rice
What to serve with bang Bang Shrimp? At the top of our list is the easiest yet quickest side dish to make—fried rice!
If you have leftover or day-old rice, take them out of your fridge and turn it into delicious and filling fried rice.
The best thing about fried rice is you have lots of options. You can simply chop up any vegetables you have (carrots, corn, green peas, etc.) and add them to your fried rice. And don’t forget about the seasoning, as it’s the key to making your fried rice extra flavorful. Our go-to fried rice seasoning would be a mixture of soy sauce, oyster sauce, and sesame oil.
Just mix everything well, and you’re good to go!
Pro Tip: To get the perfect texture, cook fried rice in a seasoned wok.
2. Cauliflower Rice
If you want a low-carb yet equally filling alternative, go for cauliflower rice. In addition to being low carb, preparing this dish is one of the best ways to incorporate more vegetables into your diet. (*)
This recipe may seem intimidating, but it’s pretty easy to do. You need to grate the cauliflower and sauté it in a large skillet until it becomes tender.
Pro Tip: Replicate the flavors of fried rice by adding a soy sauce or any type of seasoning that would suit your diet.
3. Almond Rice Pilaf
Another healthy comfort food that would go well with a crunchy and delicious shrimp dish would be almond rice pilaf.
The nutty flavor and toasty texture of the rice would match the decadent and unique flavors of the shrimps pretty well.
Pro Tip: Sautéing rice is the best way to make a less sticky, fluffy, and light rice dish.
4. French Fries
Are you looking for a carbohydrate source other than rice and the like? If so, go for potatoes. French fries would be the safest yet one of the best options you have.
Since this is finger food, it’s the best side dish to serve with your shrimps for game nights or movie nights.
5. Salad
If you’re cutting down on carbs, serving salads would be the best way to go. The good news is there are lots of salad types, toppings, and dressings that you can choose from.
Our simplest salad recipe would be a green salad with lettuce, arugulas, and kale as the base.
We usually top it off with walnuts or pecans, a few dried cranberries, tomato, cucumber, and many more. For a low-carb dressing, we love using balsamic vinaigrette. (*)
6. Roasted Vegetables
You can always go for roasted vegetables for those who are not fans of salads. For us, two of the best vegetables for roasting would be broccoli and asparagus.
Go for roasted broccoli if you want to enjoy a vegetable side dish that’s as crunchy as your Bang bang shrimp. Drizzle it with lemon juice and add a dash of pepper flakes to boost its flavor.
On the other hand, we recommend roasted asparagus if you want more texture. To make the dish more interesting, top it off with grated cheese.
7. Grilled Zucchini
For a smoky twist, choose grilled vegetables as your side dish. We love going for juicy and vibrant vegetables like zucchini when it comes to grilled vegetables.
Aside from having plenty of health benefits, the slight sweetness and mild flavor of zucchini will work well on most main dishes like Bang Bang Shrimp.
To boost its flavors, you can season it with olive oil, Italian seasoning, and red wine vinegar.
Pro Tip: Avoid grilling overripe zucchinis as it can get quite bitter.
8. Grilled Corn Salad
How about a side dish that tastes like summer? If yes, a crunchy and bright salad is definitely in order!
We love having our grilled corn salad with diced zucchini and cherry tomatoes. However, the best part of the dish is its bright and lemony dressing made of lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, and olive oil.
Don’t forget the basil leave toppings for a savory twist!
Pro Tip: Top it off with crumbled feta to give the salad that creamy touch it needs.
9. Coleslaw
Serving Bang Bang Shrimp on top of a bed of coleslaw will make for a nutritious meal and a beautiful one! In addition, the different colors of coleslaw can genuinely make your meal more appealing.
But of course, it’s not the only reason we love Bang Bang Shrimp with coleslaw. We consider this a good side dish because it adds a light and refreshing twist to the meal. Plus, the crunchy vegetables match the crispy texture of the shrimp pretty well.
10. Crab Cakes
To prepare the ultimate seafood spread, serve Bang Bang Shrimp with Crab Cakes. These are as equally crispy and delicious as your shrimp.
Crab cakes may seem like a complicated recipe, but it’s pretty easy! First, you need to break down fresh crab meat into flakes and season it with Dijon mustard, mayonnaise, and Old Bay Seasoning. Next, coat it with breadcrumbs and bake or fry, then serve!
Pro Tip: The best dipping sauce for crab cakes would be remoulade sauce made of Dijon mustard, lemon juice, lemon zest, and other spices like salt, pepper, smoked paprika, and cayenne pepper.
11. Polenta
Bang Bang Shrimp already seems to have sweetness, spiciness, tanginess, and crunchiness. But if you take a closer look, it lacks one element—a creamy twist.
That’s what Polenta can give you. This is especially true if you serve it with a cheesy Polenta dish.
Pro Tip: Our personal favorite would be a parmesan-ricotta Polenta because the ricotta gives the dish its rich and creamy texture. At the same time, the parmesan adds a complex flavor to it.
12. Mango Guacamole
You might be wondering why you would serve Bang Bang Shrimp with guacamole? Well, there are lots of reasons why!
For one, the creamy texture will add depth and texture to your crunchy shrimp. Also, the flavors of this mango guacamole match the flavors of your shrimp as it’s sweet, tangy, and spicy too!
The combination of the avocadoes, mangoes, and tomatoes makes this one vibrant and delicious dip to serve with your Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos.
13. Refried Beans
Here’s another side dish that we borrowed from the Mexican cuisine, and it’s the best side for Bang Bang Shrimp tacos.
If you love the texture of mashed potatoes, you’ll certainly enjoy it too. This dish is made of mashed and cooked pinto beans so that it can add a creamy texture to your meal. In addition, we love adding vegetables and cheese to our refried beans to boost their flavor.
The best part is the beans are vegan-friendly, gluten-free, and incredibly healthy! (*) It has high fiber and protein content to make you feel full for longer.
Pro Tip: For your convenience, you can use canned beans in preparing your refried beans.
The Bottom Line
What to serve with Bang Bang Shrimp? You have lots of options for this—rice, vegetables, potatoes, fruit salsas, etc. But, honestly, the sky is the limit when it comes to finding a suitable side dish for this tangy, sweet, spicy, and crunchy shrimp dish.
If you decide to prepare Bang Bang Shrimp for the fam, don’t forget to serve it with any of the side dishes that we’ve shared with you. We promise you will love them!
