This creamy salmon chowder recipe is easy to make with common household items and tastes great! It has corn, potatoes, crispy bacon, and fresh dill.
Salmon chowder is a beloved dish, rich in history and comforting flavors. This seafood-based, creamy stew is a great way to stay warm, but because it’s so rich, it begs for creative pairings to bring balance and contrast. From crispy, herbed potatoes to tangy salads, the possibilities are diverse.
When thoughtfully crafted side dishes complement salmon chowder’s creamy base, delicate salmon notes and smoky aromas. They can provide textural contrast, brightness, and complexity. This exploration of complementary sides will inspire you to move beyond cliché crackers and bread.
Consider Texture and Flavor Contrasts
Chowder’s velvety texture begs for contrast. Crispy crunchy sides provide delightful textural interplay. Crunchy dill pickle spears offer a tangy, refreshing bite. Their acidity balances chowder’s richness. Buttery sourdough rolls present a crispy exterior yet soft airy interior. Their aroma fills the air as the perfect dipping bread.
Beyond texture, chowder’s indulgent flavors invite bright, acidic, and herbal accents. Between bites, a sour apple cider salad with crunchy apples and herbs wakes up the taste buds. Lemon asparagus with a zesty punch adds lightness. Spicy avocado salsa brings creaminess, freshness, and a fiery kick.
Rustic, Herb-Infused Sides
Warm, rustic sides like herb-roasted potatoes harmonize with chowder’s humble origins. Halved tiny potatoes or cubed Russets turn deliciously crispy, especially when roasted with rosemary. Quinoa pilaf infused with herbs provides fluffy, wholesome grains to soak up the rich broth. Savory wild mushroom toast topped with thyme offers delightful earthiness.
Seasonal Produce for Brightness
Incorporating seasonal vegetables adds freshness and vibrance. Sweet honey glazed carrots in fall and winter provide natural sweetness. Come spring, lemon asparagus or garlic roasted Brussels sprouts bring welcomed greenery. In summer, cucumber tomato salads showcase ripe garden produce. Always opt for seasonal bounty.
Baked Goods for Indulgence and Nostalgia
Warm baked goods indulge our cravings for comfort. Pull apart buttery rolls or slices of honey wheat bread satisfy as perfect dipping accompaniments. For nostalgia, cast iron skillets of cornbread dotted with bacon and jalapeños are meant for crumbling into the creamy depths. Cheddar jalapeño cornbread fuses spicy and creamy in harmony.
Globally-Inspired Touches
Blend tradition with eclectic flair by incorporating globally-inspired sides. For texture, crunchy wontons fried to golden perfection contrast elegantly with creamy spoonfuls. Garnished with green onions, they balance richness and crunch. Alternatively, steamed jasmine rice or coconut rice blend seamlessly, soaking up the luxurious broth.
Satisfying Starchy Sides
Hearty starches provide comforting familiarity. Fluffy roasted garlic mashed potatoes or smooth, velvety sweet potatoes impart cozy indulgence, ideal for chilly days. Salt-and-vinegar roasted potatoes offer bite-sized flavor bombs. For a sweet-savory profile, maple-glazed baked beans present a beloved, nostalgic accompaniment.
Complementary Baked Goods
Warm, oven-fresh baked goods are crave-worthy accompaniments. Pull-apart rolls emerging straight from the oven provide an irresistible aroma. Their soft, buttery interior soaks up the creamy broth nicely. Cast iron cornbread studded with corn and green chiles offers crumbly nostalgia. It allures with smoky undertones.
Alternatively, popovers served fresh convey airy lightness, contrasting the chowder’s richness. Their hollowed interior awaits spoonfuls of chowder to create the perfect bite. Flaky biscuits represent yet another beloved, buttery option.
Salads for Balance
While chowder satiates, fresh, vibrant salads restore brightness to the palate. A kale apple salad provides crisp sweetness to balance hearty spoonfuls. The juicy crunch of each apple slice invigorates the senses. For lighter fare, an arugula salad with pomegranate seeds and a tart vinaigrette cuts through indulgent flavors.
Greek salads with tomatoes, cucumbers, feta, and olives offer a savory accent between rich bites. Their cool crunch balances each warm spoonful. Salads help pace the meal, underscoring vegetables’ important supporting role.
Final Thoughts
Approaching chowder thoughtfully by incorporating acid, texture, aromatics, and global touches makes for a memorable meal. While delving into chowder’s creamy depths offers comfort, creative pairings provide delightful contrast. This exploration of complementary sides inspires new traditions without compromising the familiarity we crave.
Why you’ll love it
My favorite thing about this chowder with salmon is the delicate and super flavorful broth. It’s a tasty summer soup (think garden-fresh corn and dill), but you could make it any time of the year. It’s pure comfort on a rainy day!.
This easy salmon chowder recipe has all the tasty and easy-to-find seafood chowder ingredients you want: smoky bacon, chunks of flaky salmon, fresh dill, and lots of bright corn that gives every bite a natural sweetness.
- Bacon – it makes everything better!
- Salmon: One pound of fresh salmon is what we’re using, but you can use more than that. Up to 1. 5 pounds is totally fine.
- The building blocks of all good soup are onion, carrot, celery, and garlic. I like sweet onions.
- Flour – to thicken it up
- Adding clam juice and chicken broth together makes the chowder taste better and have more depth than using just chicken broth. For sure, use a good fish stock if you can get to one.
- Heavy cream – to make it silky and luscious
- Potatoes – we’re using Russets
- Corn – use either fresh or frozen
- Dill – this herb goes so well with salmon
- You can get everything ready ahead of time if that’s more your style! I like to prepare as I go to save time.
How to make salmon chowder
This is an overview with step-by-step photos. Full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.
Chop the bacon, and cook it in a soup pot. Meanwhile, prep the veggies. Transfer the bacon to a plate, and don’t discard the fat. Sear the salmon for 2 minutes per side, then transfer to a plate.
Spoon out some of the fat, and sauté the onions, carrots, and celery. Stir in the garlic, followed by the flour, and stir for about a minute. Pour in the broth and clam juice, and scrape up any browned bits from the pot. Add the cream, corn, potatoes, and most of the bacon.
Cook until the potatoes are tender, stirring occasionally. Break up the salmon using a fork, and discard the skin. Remove the chowder from the heat, and add in the salmon and dill. Season with salt & pepper, and top with the remaining bacon.
Super Easy And Delicious One-Pot Salmon Chowder Recipe!
FAQ
What can I serve with salmon chowder?
How long does salmon chowder keep?
What is salmon chowder made of?
What to eat with seafood chowder?
Bacon-roasted cabbage is the perfect side dish for seafood chowder. The crunchy, salty cabbage pairs perfectly with the fatty, crispy bacon. The chewy bacon and crispy cabbage also provide a nice contrast in texture. The cabbage also helps to cut through the richness of the chowder, making it a more well-rounded meal.
What side dishes go with seafood chowder?
Also, soups and chowders are kinds of hard-to-find side dishes. However, there are a few classic side dishes that have always worked very well with seafood chowder. If the soup does not have any potatoes in it, then you could go with any number of potato sides. Some of the bests are French fries, tater tots, and loaded potato skins.
What to serve with salmon?
Basics like rice, vegetables, or salad work well with salmon, but we have much more too. Here are 55 side dishes to serve with salmon, no matter how you plan on cooking it. We especially love any kind of roasted potato side or a bright potato salad showered with lots of fresh herbs. Melted Parmesan takes these roasted potatoes to a whole new level.
What are the best side dishes for salmon?
The best side dishes for salmon should be simple enough to make while the salmon cooks, and deliver plenty of flavor without outshining the beautiful fish. Basics like rice, vegetables, or salad work well with salmon, but we have much more too. Here are 55 side dishes to serve with salmon, no matter how you plan on cooking it.