Salmon is easily one of my favorite fish. I also love trying different salmon recipes, from sushi rolls to fish tacos! Full of nutritious protein and omega 3’s, it’s a worldwide favorite for lunch and dinner any day of the week. While making salmon is one thing, another thing to consider is what goes good with salmon? Many times, the simplest ways to serve it (grilled salmon, pan-fried, baked) are the best, and the same goes with the sides!
While salmon is super healthy for you, it’s also one of the most well-known and delicious fish you can eat. When it comes to the best side dishes for salmon, it’s hard to go wrong with classic side dishes. Nearly anything goes with salmon, from potatoes to veggies and rice.
Salmon is a flavorful and versatile fish that has earned its place in homes and gourmet restaurants alike. When it comes to finding side dishes for such a protein-rich entree, it’s crucial to select recipes that complement the culinary delicacy of the fish. Choosing the perfect accompaniment is key to creating a well-rounded and satisfying meal experience.
From nutritious and colorful vegetables to warm and comforting grains, the options for side dishes to pair with salmon are truly diverse. A balance between taste, texture, and nutritional value should be considered, offering a variety of flavors that complement and enhance the star of the dish, the salmon.
Exploring different cuisine profiles and culinary techniques opens up a world of possibilities for side dishes. Incorporating refreshing flavors like citrus, herbs, and seasonal produce can elevate the dining experience and bring a harmonious touch to the entire meal. So, dive into the endless choices and discover new favorites to accompany your cherished salmon dishes.
Salmon is one of those ingredients that is perfect for breakfast, lunch or dinner. But what should you eat with it? This list of 24 sides for salmon are all so good that I would eat them on their own, to be honest.
A sheet pan, olive oil, potatoes and seasonings is one of those simple side dishes for salmon that will definitely have everyone asking for seconds. What goes with salmon? Potatoes, first of all. The meat-and-potatoes combination is unbeatable, and these are sprinkled with enough flavorful herbs that any roasted roots are good sides for salmon.
Russet red potatoes are choice for this recipe, with their thin skins and smaller size. Any small potatoes are ideal, while you can make any other white (or sweet!) potato work.
Lemon pasta is the perfect fresh and filling side dish to salmon. The noodles pick up the fish flakes. This is a great meal after a really busy day as it is packed with nutrients and can really satisfy even the hungriest stomachs. Top with capers or freshly ground pepper.
Broccolini is a broccoli crossbreed with long delicate stalks. If you can find it in the store, be sure to pick it up and prepare it to eat with salmon! This recipe uses only a few ingredients for a light and healthy side dish. Olive oil, lemon juice and other pantry staples create a great addition.
Green beans come in such abundance during harvest season and are made to eat with baked salmon. Delicious and affordable, adding a great green bean side dish when making salmon side dishes is a smart move.
Fresh green beans are the best for this recipe. Trim them and they are ready to mix in. Frozen and canned would work in a pinch! Warm buttery green beans, what’s not to love?
When deciding what to serve with salmon, filling options like rice work the best, especially if you’re making some of these other side dishes for salmon. Cilantro Lime rice is a great recipe to make ahead and mix in with food.
While this recipe is made for white rice, it’s not just any white rice. Long grain jasmine and basmati rice just plain tastes better, but of course, you can use any rice you want!
Once you learn how to roast vegetables, you will find yourself pulling out that sheet pan an astonishing number of times a month. Roasted Brussel sprouts are, in my expert opinion, a foolproof way to bring out the wonderful flavors that Brussel sprouts have
Balsamic roasted Brussel sprouts emphasize the sweet nuttiness that Brussel sprouts have. Roasting them helps to change the flavor enough that it’s the best of both worlds: you’re getting your greens and you love eating them.
Bok Choy is a Chinese type of green that tastes like a succulent cross between spinach and cabbage. This recipe uses all of the bright flavors from ginger, soy sauce, and garlic that makes Asian food so delicious. Use olive oil, sesame oil, or chili oil.
If you have extra, be sure to eat it raw in salads! It is a simple recipe that really pulls together fast.
This 5 star Thai Peanut Noodle Salad recipe will make you feel healthier and more energetic. Serve the salmon on top or on the side. For some of the ingredients, like edamame, you can make your own or visit your local Asian mart.
The recipe is vegan, leaving out the sometimes hard-to-find fish or oyster sauce that Thai food has in almost all of its recipes. Serve with the salmon filet on top.
Fresh asparagus is a must for this recipe, or go for frozen if you can find it.
While it seems like a sophisticated side dish, it only takes six ingredients (counting salt and pepper!). The sauce is so good you might have to stop yourself from licking the plate.
Full of bright colors and crispy cabbage, add the Asian coleslaw for an extra special side dish. This would make a great addition to any outdoor picnic!
The key ingredient here is the sesame dressing full of healthy fats instead of mayonnaise. Sprinkles of sesame seeds and even dried wakame (seaweed) if you have it make the Asian coleslaw sweet, salty and crunchy.
With all the fresh ingredients, make it ahead and it might even taste better the next day!
A piece of salmon with lemon herb couscous is a Mediterranean-style feast. The small balls of semolina flour are a great alternative to pasta or rice dishes, with a less heavy texture, and are fast-cooking (done in 5 minutes).
Adding chopped-up parsley can make the dish more like tabouli. Sundried tomatoes, olives, cucumber, and feta mixed in are also complementary flavors.
Risotto is a meal that is consistently delicious, but the cooking process in normally super precise. This fast version of a risotto cuts down on stirring time so you can dig in sooner.
Mushrooms add earthiness that is a great choice for side dishes for salmon. It’s something that is familiar yet still out of the norm.
Grilled or roasted corn on the cob will be a delicious side to serve with salmon. There are so many ways to make an ear of corn, and this version with an herby, buttery topping is so good. Seriously, you will want to have seconds. During summer, corn is in season, and you can find affordable prices (on fresh or frozen).
Sugar snap peas in their pod are always a treat. While they are delicious raw or in a salad, cooking them will make the pods easier to chew.
This recipe is so simple and comes together for a healthy and easy side dish. Sprinkle them with freshly grated parmesan cheese and you will be so surprised how quickly they go down. Sliced almonds are also a topping to use.
Honey glazed carrots is a side dish to serve with salmon that will have everyone saying “more, please!” Shredded carrots in particular pick up the sweetness, and goes perfectly with a side salad. This recipe can easily be used with frozen carrots to cut down on prep time. It’s ready in three steps: make the sauce, cook the carrots, drizzle, and serve!
Broccoli is one of the healthiest vegetables, plus they look like little trees! What’s not to like? Try something new by cooking it in this simple, savory garlic and parmesan sauce. Even the pickiest eaters will eat this until there’s nothing left. Devour this broccoli and make enough for seconds!
This make-ahead chilled beet salad is unbeatable (get it?) when served with salmon. Let the basic mixture sit for at least four hours and create a delicious, fast pickle. It will also last for weeks, with heart-healthy beets and great flavor. Spoon on top of a fresh greens mixture or on top of the salmon.
Roasted carrots are very versatile. They are also super easy and can use as little as two or three ingredients for super flavorful root goodness. Sweet, spicy, or savory, make these however way your family enjoys them. Throw some other veggies on the pan for a medley, or make them on their own.
If you bake the fish or broil it, serving it with a side of Sweet Potato Medallions will be a hit with the kids or kids-at-heart. Irresistible coin-shaped sweet potato slices are seasoned and then roasted until crispy golden brown on the outside and soft on the inside.
These are great on their own. You can also dip them in ketchup, mayo or sour cream.
If you have the right tools, like a spiralizer, these pesto zoodles are a snap! You might be able to find precut zoodles or simply slice them into long and thin pieces.
While pesto is easy to make, jarred pesto will also be handy when you’re busy making dinner and cleaning up.
Zoodles are a low-carb and low-calorie side dish that is just as fun with pasta but with more nutrition per bite than some other salmon side dishes.
The mild and nutty flavors of sesame rice makes this rice recipe one of the perfect sides for salmon. You can create a Japanese-themed salmon night with this recipe, salmon, and a bowl of miso soup. Adding sesame seeds gives important trace minerals like zinc, copper and manganese.
Serve with or without chopsticks! Top with dried seaweed or sliced green onions.
The presentation of this dish is beautiful, with lemon slices on top of bright green spears baked to perfection. Roasting asparagus is the secret to having them be crispy and also soft, with baked-in lemon and cheesy flavor.
It is also low-calorie and very easy to put together.
Rice pilaf and fish is a popular dish in European countries. Also: fruit? For dinner? Who thought! The apples and raisins give a unique sweet flavor.
This particular version is holiday-friendly, with flavors like cinnamon and allspice. Replace with italian or Mediterranean seasoning for a savory yet still sweet version.
Cassie brings decades of experience to the Kitchen Community. She is a noted chef and avid gardener. Her new book "Healthy Eating Through the Garden" will be released shortly. When not writing or speaking about food and gardens Cassie can be found puttering around farmer's markets and greenhouses looking for the next great idea.
