20 Most Delicious Side Dishes for Salmon In 2024
Salmon is one of everybody’s favorite fish, and it is also one of the most versatile. And while it is a fish, it is a special sort of fish so it needs to have special side dishes. If you want to see the best sides for other fish, like fish in batter, etc read here.
Salmon goes well with just about everything, from salads to pasta to sandwiches. But what are some great ways to prepare for it? Here are a few suggestions that we have found if you are looking for the best side dishes for your favorite salmon recipe. Of course, a few are lemon roasted baby potatoes, green beans, and rice.
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What are the Side Dishes for Salmon
Everyone adores salmon for a variety of reasons. It’s a wonderful source of protein, high in omega-3s, antioxidants, Vitamin B, and selenium. It helps with weight loss and is simple to prepare and cook. On the other hand, salmon dishes are made more enticing with the side dishes that come with them, which we’ll go through in this article.
Best Salad Side Dishes for Salmon
1) Fresh Cucumber and Tomato Salad
This fresh salad is delicious with salmon during the summer, but it’s also good in the winter. Fresh or canned vegetables are both acceptable. Combine black beans, corn kernels, diced tomatoes, diced bell peppers, minced red onions, mango, chopped fresh cilantro, cumin, salt, and pepper in a mixing dish. To make a spicier salad, add a small jalapeño after chopping. Serve the salad chilled, ideally for at least an hour before eating.
2) Thai Noodle Salad
Thai noodles are often served cold, so they’re perfect for cooling off when you’ve had too much spicy food. Combine cooked chicken breast, snow peas, sugar snap peas, carrots, green onions, sliced almonds, lime juice, soy sauce, sesame oil, and hot chili paste (optional). Toss all ingredients together until evenly coated. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving.
3) Snap Pea and Mint Salad
Snap peas are crunchy and sweet, and they pair perfectly with fresh herbs like mint and basil. Add snap peas, shredded lettuce, chopped scallions, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper to a mixing bowl. Mix gently and serve immediately.
4) Grilled Peach and Arugula Salad
Peaches are a classic fruit, and they can be used in many different recipes. This grilled peach and arugula recipe is delicious because the two fruits complement each other nicely. Slice peaches into halves and grill them over medium heat for 5 minutes per side. Remove it from the grill and let it cool slightly. Then, cut the peaches in half again and remove the pits. Chop the peaches and combine them with arugula, blue cheese crumbles, walnuts, red onion, and apple cider vinaigrette. Season with salt and pepper.
5) Black Bean and Mango Salad
Black beans are a healthy choice, and they go particularly well with citrus flavors. Combine black beans, orange segments, grapefruit segments, red onion, lime juice, and cilantro in a mixing bowl. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Let it sit for at least 15 minutes. Serve chilled.
Best Vegetable Side Dishes for Salmon
6) Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Brussel sprouts are a polarizing vegetable: they aren’t everyone’s cup of tea. However, when paired with salmon, they’ll have you reconsidering your stance. Brussel sprouts can be delicious simply prepared with olive oil, salt, and pepper. You’re ready to go if you serve them with pan-seared salmon in lemon zest.
Roasting Brussels sprouts releases their essence! Whether you’re serving this delicious, simple Brussels sprout side dish at a special dinner or a weekday dinner, it’s always a hit.
7) Sauteed Green Beans
Green beans are one of those veggies that should be eaten raw. They’re crisp and tender, and they pair beautifully with salmon. Simply sauté green beans in olive oil, garlic, and rosemary. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Serve warm.
8) Classic Coleslaw
Coleslaw is a perfect side dish for any meal, but it’s especially nice with fish. The best coleslaws are made with cabbage, carrots, celery, and mayonnaise. If you don’t want to use mayonnaise, try using sour cream instead.
9) Green Vegetables with Hollandaise Sauce
Hollandaise sauce is an excellent way to dress up steamed or roasted vegetables. It’s also great on top of eggs.
10) Roasted Red Cabbage
Red cabbage has a rich flavor, and it goes really well being along with other salmon side dishes. To roast red cabbage, cut off the leaves and slice the core out of the center. Place the leaves on a baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil. Bake at 400°F for 20 minutes. Toss the leaves with sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper.
Best Pasta Side Dishes for Salmon
11) Garlic Butter Parmesan Pasta
Parmesan cheese is a classic pairing with seafood, so it makes sense that it would work well as a side dish for salmon too. Add some fresh garlic to melted butter in this recipe and stir in grated Parmesan cheese. Add more cheese if desired.
12) Pesto Zucchini Noodles
The combination of pesto and salmon is a match made in heaven. Make some pasta from zucchini and cook it with pesto to cut down on the calories in pasta. Serve with salmon and plenty of parmesan cheese for a low-carb supper.
13) Herbed Couscous
By now, you should be aware that couscous is a tiny pasta. So use your pantry to prepare Israeli couscous, which includes almonds, raisins, cucumber, and tomatoes with a squeeze of lemon zest to serve with grilled salmon. Fresh herbs like basil and parsley are good partners for salmon. Try adding herbs to couscous before cooking it.
14) Creamy lemon Pasta
Pasta is a wonderful accompaniment to salmon because it adds texture and substance to the delicate fish. This creamy lemon pasta is easy to make and pairs perfectly with salmon. Just toss cooked pasta with ricotta cheese, fresh lemon juice, and chopped chives.
15) Parmesan noodles
Spaghetti doesn’t always have to be served with tomato sauce. This is a kid-friendly and straightforward side dish. Drizzle the noodles with melted butter instead of using a tomato sauce and add shaved parmesan on top. Remember to add freshly cracked black pepper too!
Best Potato Side Dishes for Salmon
16) Garlic and Herb Mashed Potatoes
Potatoes go very well with salmon, and these mashed potatoes are no exception. Mix together 2 cups of shredded potato, 1/2 cup of milk, 3 tablespoons of butter, 1 tablespoon of minced garlic, and 1 teaspoon of dried dill weed. Cook the mixture according to package instructions. Top each serving with a sprinkle of paprika.
17) Hasselback Potatoes
Hasselback potatoes look fancy, but they’re actually pretty easy to make. Start by cutting a thin layer of skin off the potato. Then cut through the flesh and scoop out the insides. After removing the insides, place the potato back into its shell. Repeat this process three times, then bake the potato at 350°F for about 45 minutes. When done, sprinkle with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.
18) Baked Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes are an excellent source of vitamin A, fiber, and potassium. They also taste great when baked. Cut the sweet potato lengthwise and remove the seeds. Spray the inside of the oven with nonstick spray and heat the oven to 450°F. Bake the potato until tender, about 30 minutes. Sprinkle with cinnamon and nutmeg. You can also use just a little bit of salt and pepper to add a more rich flavor to the baked potatoes.
19) Rosemary Roasted Red Potatoes
Red roasted potatoes are often overlooked, but they’re delicious. To roast them, simply wash the potatoes and pat dry. Rub them with olive oil and sprinkle with rosemary. Place the potatoes on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Roast the potatoes at 400°F for about 40 minutes or until soft.
20) Spicy Mashed Sweet Potatoes
This recipe combines two of our favorite foods: sweet potatoes and spicy food. Mash up half a sweet potato and mix in a small amount of chili powder, cayenne pepper, and a pinch of salt. Add more spices if desired. Serve hot.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are the Best Bread Side Dishes for Salmon?
You can serve either flatbread, garlic bread, bagels, bread toasts, or dinner rolls.
What Can I Serve with Salmon Fillets?
Salmon goes well with so many different types of side dishes, including pasta, rice, couscous, quinoa, steamed fresh vegetables, salads, and grilled veggies.
What Is the Best Rice Side Dish for Salmon?
Rice is one of the most versatile side dishes you can choose from. It’s perfect as a main course, but it works well as a side dish. You can serve either cilantro lime rice, coconut rice, fried rice, or plain basmati rice.