Have you thought about what a tasty side dish you could make to go with your salmon? Salmon is one of the easiest fish to cook, which makes it a great healthy weeknight meal. There are many tasty ways to make salmon even better with the right side dishes. Salmon is flaky, juicy, tender, and delicious on its own. You’ve come to the right place if you want to know what to eat with salmon, whether you want to serve it for lunch or dinner. Over 25 of our most popular and best salmon side dishes are shared here. These include vegetable side dishes, pasta side dishes, potato side dishes, the perfect rice, salads, and more.
Salmon is one of the most versatile proteins because it goes well with many different tastes. If you choose the right side dishes, your salmon dinner can go from plain to beautiful. It’s important to pick sides that go well with salmon without taking away from its rich, delicate flavor.
Here are 21 of the best side dishes that bring out the best in perfectly cooked salmon fillets or steaks.
Fresh Green Salads
Bright, crisp green salads make excellent lighter sides for salmon. The acidity of vinaigrettes and the crunch of veggies cut through the fattiness of salmon. Great options include:
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Kale salad – Toss curly kale with pumpkin seeds, Parmesan, and a lemon vinaigrette.
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Spinach salad – Baby spinach, strawberries, red onion, walnuts, and balsamic dressing
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Arugula salad – Arugula, shaved fennel, and orange segments with a citrus dressing.
Grain and Bean Salads
Hearty whole grain or bean-based salads provide delicious contrast to rich salmon. The nuttiness of farro or wheatberries along with crunchy veggies give great texture.
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Quinoa tabbouleh – With tomatoes, cucumber, parsley and lemon vinaigrette.
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Wheat berry salad – With roasted squash, dried cranberries, and goat cheese.
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White bean salad – Cannellini or great northern beans tossed with red onion and Italian vinaigrette.
Roasted Vegetables
Roasting concentrates the natural sweetness of veggies which caramelizes beautifully against the salmon. Favorites include:
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Roasted asparagus – Simple olive oil, salt and pepper brings out its flavor.
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Balsamic Brussels sprouts – Brussels sprouts halves roasted with balsamic vinegar.
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Honey glazed carrots – Carrots roasted with honey, lemon and thyme.
Sautéed Greens
Quick-sautéed greens like spinach, kale or chard add color to the plate. A squeeze of lemon or red pepper flakes add brightness.
Buttery Mashed Potatoes
Creamy, butter-loaded mashed potatoes are a homey classic with salmon. Or try roasted garlic mashed potatoes or loaded baked potatoes.
Rice Pilaf or Risotto
Fluffy rice pilafs and creamy risottos make satisfying sides for salmon. Arborio rice cooked in broth yields a rich, cheesy risotto.
Pasta
Pasta primavera with veggies or linguine tossed in pesto make easy carb sides for salmon. Serve pasta under the fillet or on the side.
Fresh Bread
Crunchy baguettes, focaccia or dinner rolls are great for dipping in any pan sauces or butters from the salmon.
What to Drink with Salmon
Cool, crisp wines or beers make excellent pairings for salmon:
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Sparkling wines – Prosecco, Cava or Champagne cut through salmon’s richness.
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White wines – Opt for light, citrusy Sauvignon Blanc or unoaked Chardonnay.
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Rosé wines – Salmon is one of the best pairs for dry rosés.
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Light beers – Wheat beers, pilsners and lagers complement without overpowering.
Simple Tips for Pairing Sides with Salmon
Follow these tips for choosing sides that work well with salmon:
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Pick bright, acidic sides like salads and veggies to balance the richness.
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Avoid heavy cream-based sides that weigh down the salmon flavor.
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Lean on lemon, herbs, garlic, shallots to season sides to complement salmon.
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Stick to lighter cooking methods like roasting, sautéing, boiling or grilling for sides.
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Vary textures with a crunchy salad and creamy risotto or potatoes.
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Combine colors and flavors – Pair roasted beets and greens with salmon for visual appeal.
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Consider the salmon preparation – Grill-blackened salmon can handle heartier sides than delicate poached or baked salmon.
With light, healthy sides that don’t overpower its flavor, salmon can be enjoyed multiple times per week as part of a well-balanced diet. Avoid heavy cream or cheese-laden side dishes that mask the subtle flavors of the fish. By pairing salmon with fresh veggie sides, whole grains and greens, you can enjoy its omega-3 richness guilt-free.
More Side Dish Recipes
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Best Salmon Side Dishes
Greek lemon roasted baby potatoes are easy to make and taste great with a mix of Greek herbs, garlic, and lemon. They are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.
Lemon butter pasta is quick and easy to make, light yet filling, and loaded with flavor. A delicious twist on classic buttered noodles ready in 15 minutes.
Easy coconut rice is light, fluffy, delicious, and flavorful. Its a quick and easy side dish that compliments all Thai, South Asian, and tropical dishes.
Buttery sautéed garlic green beans is a simple side dish that is quick, easy and delicious. Make these vibrant, crispy and tender green beans in 10 minutes.
This lemon kale salad is easy, tasty, and good for you. It only takes minutes to make with fresh ingredients. The perfect quick lunch or dinner.
Asparagus cooked in an air fryer in just 6 minutes gets crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. It is tossed in a small amount of olive oil with garlic and seasonings.
Mashed red potatoes are a simple and easy side dish with elegant flavor and plenty of nutrition. They are creamy, comforting, and have the best texture.
Cacio e pepe is a simple, authentic Italian pasta dish made with just four ingredients in 20 minutes. Its delicious, flavourful and easy to make.
A tasty homemade dijon vinaigrette is added to a roasted brussels sprouts salad that has creamy potatoes, crunchy string beans, and soft brussels sprouts.
Fresh, bright, and lively cilantro lime rice is a side dish that will make any meal taste better. Its a quick, easy, one pot recipe.
Baked Sweet Potato Wedges are crispy, delicious, flavorful. Serve as an appetizer or side dish. They are salty, savory, and sweet, with a hint of spice.
A quick and easy 5-minute tomato, cucumber, and avocado salad with a tasty lemon vinaigrette is a light and refreshing salad.
Creamy Parmesan (No Wine) Risotto is a classic Italian dish that is rich, creamy, and comforting. It may look hard to make, but it’s actually quick and easy.
Buttery sautéed garlic mushrooms are silky smooth with an incredible caramelization and earthy rich flavour. A simple side dish in under 15 minutes.
Five simple ingredients are all you need to make this quick and easy pesto penne pasta dish in less than 15 minutes. The easiest dinner.
Easy garlic and herb roasted carrots are sweet and tasty, and they’re the perfect side dish for any dinner, whether it’s a holiday dinner or a weeknight dinner.
A cold vegan soba noodle salad with fresh vegetables and a tasty saucy dressing is the best thing to eat on a hot day.
Quick and easy roasted garlic Parmesan baby potatoes are crispy on the edges and tender inside. They are delicious, flavourful and bakes in just 30 minutes.
This creamy cucumber salad is the easy, refreshing snack and side dish your summer cookouts have been missing. Make it ahead with just 5 minutes prep. Another one of the classic Memorial Day recipes.
This carrot rice pilaf is quick and easy to make in one pot. It gets a lot of flavor from sautéed carrots, onion, garlic, herbs, and stock.
There is garlic butter in Hasselback Potatoes, and they are cut in special ways that make the outside crispy and the inside soft.
Lemon Parmesan Green Beans are the perfect side to any entree dinner meal — buttery, lemony, and cheesy. This quick side dish is easy to make in 20 minutes.
Corn on the cob baked in the oven with homemade garlic butter is buttery, juicy, crunchy, and the outside is perfectly charred, and you don’t even need a grill.
These crispy smashed potatoes are the perfect side dish. They’re easy to make, crispy on the outside, tender and fluffy on the inside, and so flavorful.
Sides That Will Perfectly Complement Your Salmon
FAQ
What is salmon usually served with?
What does Gordon Ramsay serve with salmon?
How is salmon best served?
What goes well with baked salmon?
Broccolini’s mild flavor (accented with garlic and lemon juice in this recipe) makes it the perfect side to pair with a show-stealing main, like Alaska Salmon Bake with Pecan Crunch Coating . Sprinkled with Parmesan and rosemary, crispy new potatoes would complement Baked Dijon Salmon . Browse Top-Rated Salmon Recipes.
Is eating salmon beneficial?
Salmon is beneficial for health and is part of a healthy and balanced diet. Salmon has vitamin D, healthy fats, calcium, selenium, iodine, iron, phosphorus, magnesium, and protein.
What to eat with salmon?
This cool and refreshing cucumber salad is the perfect pairing for rich, oily salmon. Reviewer Lauren Sarges suggests you salt the cucumbers first to draw out excess water. Similar to pasta primavera, this creamy pasta side dish makes for a hearty meal when paired with salmon. The addition of prepared pesto sauce brings herbaceous flavor.
What to serve with grilled salmon?
This crunchy raw salad would cut through rich entrees like Salmon with Garlic-Butter Sauce thanks to parsley, mint, and lemon juice. “Our favorite way to make asparagus! Served it with grilled salmon — excellent,” VWS writes. Thanks to peanut butter — ahem, a savory secret ingredient — this slaw would be irresistible with Sweet Glazed Salmon .