What to Serve with Shrimp Fra Diavolo? 10 BEST Side Dishes

Shrimp fra diavolo is an Italian dish of shrimp in spicy tomato sauce (fra diavolo).

The word “fra diavolo” translates to “among the devil,” and the sauce gets its name from the minced red chile which gives out the hot taste.

The shrimp in spicy sauce is tasty, hearty and versatile and you can have it with numerous items.

Spaghetti, toasted orzo, crusty bread and grilled bell peppers are some dishes to serve with shrimp in spicy sauce.

So when thinking about what to serve with shrimp fra diavolo, you have many options including the ones which we’ll list below.

Why Consider Serving Side Dishes with Shrimp Fra Diavolo?

The spicy seafood is a fantastic dish, but there’s no way that you should eat more than the recommended portion.

It can upset you and one dish doesn’t make a complete meal.

Shrimp fra diavolo tastes good with many foods so why shouldn’t you take the opportunity to enjoy several dishes?

Shrimp fra diavolo is popular and everyone loves it, but it won’t be enough for everyone even if you make a considerable portion.

Side dishes will be useful as there’ll be more food and everyone will have sufficient.

What to Serve with Shrimp Fra Diavolo? 10 BEST Side Dishes

Here are some dishes to serve with shrimp fra diavolo.

1 – Arugula Salad

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Adding a fresh veggie dish can balance the meal when you have a hearty dish like shrimp fra diavolo.

Arugula salad is a perfect example, and that’s why it’s here on the list.

Arugula was overlooked for a long time, but times have changed, and it’s frequently used in salads and other dishes.

The leaves are slightly peppery but a suitable dressing and a thorough massage can make the greens milder.

A honey, lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper dressing binds the salad with arugula leaves.

Top it off with shaved parmesan cheese.

2 – Vegan Caesar Salad

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You already have a hearty dish with seafood, so any number of salad dishes will be a good idea to list here.

Shrimp fra diavolo and Caesar salad also make a great pair, so serve them together.

But instead of regular Caesar salad, you can make it into a vegan version so that your meal doesn’t get too heavy.

Vegan salad is equally delicious but lighter so you’ll have a full meal but won’t feel bored.

Leave out non-veg ingredients and use only leafy greens, avocado and bread cubes.

Lettuce spoils fast so buy the freshest and use them quickly.

Look for leaves that are crisp, with a light crunch and bright green.

3 – Grilled Bell Peppers

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Adding grilled bell peppers with shrimp fra diavolo will be a good idea because the simple veggie dish adds a fresh element and doesn’t make the shrimp extra heavy.

Bell peppers are not only delicious and versatile but also make a nutritious addition to a meal.

So you can enjoy the taste and absorb the goodness.

Grilling peppers is also easy and do you know? You need only four ingredients.

Yes, four including peppers, olive oil, salt and pepper.

But once done, you’ll have the tastiest peppers that create magic with shrimp fra diavolo.

4 – Celery and Fennel Salad

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Here is another salad you can pair with spicy shrimp.

It’s celery and fennel salad which offers a crunchy and tangy feature.

The salad is all raw veggies and seasonings so your palate will feel refreshed.

The salad has usual ingredients like extra virgin olive oil, white wine vinegar, salt and pepper besides the fresh veggies.

Green olive tapenade adds more flavor making your salad fresh and tangy.

Salads taste best with the freshest veggies so see that both fennel and celery are fresh.

For example, fresh fennel should feel firm and smell like anise, or even licorice.

The white part should be flawless and the stalks must be bright green.

5 – Cherry Tomato Salad with Roasted Lemons

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This list has several salads but it shouldn’t worry you because they all complement shrimp fra diavolo.

If you serve spicy shrimp frequently, the salads will come in handy.

Cherry tomato salad with roasted lemons is another fresh dish that tastes delicious and matches spicy shrimp.

It contains few ingredients but tastes terrific.

Making the salad is also easy as all the items are readily available.

Roasted lemon slices with olive oil, salt, sugar, and oregano mixed with fresh cherry tomatoes, onion, mint, red wine vinegar and parsley produce the best salad ever.

6 – Spaghetti

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You can also include a simple spaghetti dish with shrimp fra diavolo.

If you love noodles and pasta with tomato sauce, you’ll love this combo because it’s even better.

Cook any good quality spaghetti as instructed until al dente, remove water, toss with shrimp fra diavolo and serve hot or warm.

There, simple but you’ll want to eat more once you take a mouthful.

You can also use other pasta varieties if spaghetti isn’t available.

Penne, macaroni, rotini and fusilli are all suitable to enjoy with shrimp fra diavolo.

You must just remember to cook the pasta perfectly or even the yummy shrimp won’t help.

7 – Toasted Orzo

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It’s also a pasta dish but a different one so it’ll be a good idea to add it to the list as you can choose them alternately when serving shrimp fra diavolo.

Orzo, also called risoni, looks more like grain than pasta because of its size and shape.

Orzo is a versatile pasta you can cook and enjoy in multiple ways.

There are two ways you can serve toasted orzo with shrimp fra diavolo.

First, toast the orzo on the stove top with little oil and salt and toss with the spicy shrimp dish.

Or you can also make a toasted orzo salad and serve it beside the shrimp.

8 – Crusty Bread

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You don’t want to waste the incredible gravy when eating the spicy shrimp dish and you don’t have to because crusty bread will do the job of soaking up the sauce.

You have many options when it comes to crusty bread because it’s easy to make it.

You can quickly make fresh crusty bread to serve with shrimp fra diavolo.

Or you can buy readymade stuff like baguettes.

Make garlic bread with the baguettes and watch how your guests love the combo when you set it on the table.

If time is not on your side, you can serve simple crusty bread to wipe the sauce.

9 – Basmati Rice

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Rice is one of those grains that combine effortlessly with any dish.

It complements shrimp fra diavolo and will take down the heaviness of the spicy dish and refresh your tastebuds.

The shrimp is already delightful so you don’t have to make a complex dish with rice.

Simple cooked rice is sufficient to enhance the shrimp’s flavor and take it to another level.

There are wide varieties of rice to choose from but cook with basmati, the long, slender-grained aromatic rice.

It provides a fluffy texture and tastes incredible to match the spicy shrimp perfectly.

10 – Brussels Sprout Salad with Mustard and Parmesan

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We’re at the end of the list with a salad but it’s only fair because shrimp fra diavolo tastes excellent with veggies.

Brussels sprout salad with mustard and parmesan cheese is crunchy, creamy and tangy.

The salad will balance and complete your meal and refresh your palate so you won’t feel overwhelmed.

You can make the salad with a handful of ingredients but still turn it into something special.

Some walnuts (raw or toasted), parmesan cheese, onion, shaved Brussels sprouts and simple olive oil, mustard and lemon juice dressing will be delightful.

Smaller veggies are more tender and sweeter than bigger ones, so remember this when purchasing.

Conclusion

Whenever you feel like serving shrimp fra diavolo, the ten side dishes above will come in handy.

Most are vegetables but cooked differently so you won’t feel bored.

It’s necessary to serve separate dishes at every event so that monotony doesn’t set in.

For example, serve arugula salad, spaghetti and Brussels sprouts at the first gathering and go with rice, grilled bell peppers and Caesar salad at the next.

Select three more on the next occasion. If you rotate the dishes, their novelty will not diminish.