15 Best-Ever Side Dishes to Serve With Salmon
Side dishes help to accentuate the main dish in such a way that it intensifies its natural flavors. Not all main dishes pair harmoniously with every side dish, though—salmon boasts such a distinctive flavor that it can sometimes be challenging to find a true complementary side dish. This is exactly why we took the time to carefully craft a list of the very best side dishes for salmon so that all of the fish's delicious flavors aren't smothered by competing flavors. The salmon should keep the spotlight, after all.
Here are the 15 best salmon side dish recipes you can easily make at home.
Vegetarian Pesto Gnocchi With Green Beans and Tomatoes
Who doesn't love gnocchi? Gnocchi tossed in an herby pesto is a recipe for deliciousness, and it makes for a perfect side dish for salmon. Why? Pesto is often used to coat the top of salmon, so you know this side dish will do its part not to disagree with the main meal.
Get our recipe for Vegetarian Pesto Gnocchi with Green Beans and Tomatoes.
Sautéed Balsamic Zucchini
Zucchini is loaded in water, which makes this a hydrating side dish to partner with a heavily seasoned piece of salmon. It's also very low in calories and carbs, which is important if you're trying to drop a few pounds.
Get our recipe for Balsamic Zucchini Sauté.
Asparagus Salad with Fried Egg
Asparagus marries well with salmon, both flavor and texture-wise. Salmon has an inevitable fishy taste, while asparagus has an inherent earthy one. Salmon, if cooked correctly, is so soft and plump to the touch that your fork should slide right through it without any resistance. When lightly sautéed, asparagus lends a nice crunch to the salmon it's paired with. The two foods offer different experiences, but when served together, you'll find that they are a compatible duo.
Get our recipe for Asparagus Salad with Fried Egg and Prosciutto.
Simmered Lentils
Lentils are one of the most healthy side dishes for salmon. They are chock-full of fiber, and they absorb all of the flavors it's cooked with. In this case, garlic and chopped onion snag the spotlight. You can serve salmon on the side or right on top for a superfood dinner bowl.
Get our recipe for Nutrient-Packed Simmered Lentils.
Spicy Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Add some heat to your salmon with this spicy side dish! Regular mashed potatoes are delicious, but sweet potatoes just pack a little more flavor.
Get our recipe for Spicy Mashed Sweet Potatoes.
Sweet and Sour Onions
Sweet and sour onions? How does that happen? It's easy—you take chopped onions and then caramelize them with either white or red wine vinegar and sugar. The result? A wonderful topping for your salmon.
Get our recipe for Sweet and Sour Onions.
Coleslaw
You may look at this and think coleslaw is a more suitable side dish for fried chicken, but we can assure you it pairs well with salmon all the same.
Get our recipe for Easiest Healthy Coleslaw.
Roasted Butternut Squash
Butternut squash, when roasted with sage and maple syrup, makes for a delectable side dish. Pair this sweet vegetable with a buttery filet of salmon, and you're in for a real treat.
Get our recipe for Roasted Butternut Squash.
Gnocchi with Peas and Prosciutto
Gnocchi goes well with just about any protein, and it's even better eaten as a side dish if you're watching your carb intake.
Get our recipe for Gnocchi with Peas and Prosciutto.
Roasted Parmesan Asparagus
Salmon is loaded in healthful omega-3 fatty acids, which also help to boost satiety. So, if that piece of salmon typically fills your belly pretty well on its own, you may want to consider a lighter side such as a non-starchy side like asparagus.
Get our recipe for Roasted Parmesan Asparagus.
Bacon and Blue Cheese Stuffed Dates
Between the savoriness from the bacon and the cheese and the sweetness of the dates, this side dish is the perfect marriage of sweet and salty. You'll only need about two of these to go along with your salmon as they're high in protein, but they make a great appetizer or side to your salmon.
Get our recipe for Bacon and Blue Cheese Stuffed Dates.
Yukon Gold and Sweet Potato Gratin
Potato gratin is typically loaded in cream and butter, which makes it traditionally an unhealthy side dish. Thankfully, this recipe slashes that fat content in half. It also adds sweet potatoes into the mix, which are rich in both vitamins and fiber. This side dish will surely go well with your plate of salmon.
Get our recipe for Yukon Gold and Sweet Potato Gratin.
Brussels with Bacon and Almonds
Brussels sprouts used to get a bad reputation, but with the help of bloggers and recipe developers in previous years, they have been branded as a delicious way to add some greens to your plate, and luckily, they pair perfectly with salmon.
Get our recipe for Brussels Sprouts Garnished with Bacon and Almonds.
Fried Rice
Fish pairs very nicely with fried rice. This recipe calls for the egg on top rather than scrambled and mixed within. Between the salmon filet and the egg, this meal will provide all of the satiating protein you need to maintain good health.
Get our recipe for Vegetable Fried Rice.
Crispy Rosemary Potatoes
We saved one of the best side dishes for salmon for last. What better way to complement a lean piece of protein than with a good-for-you carb? Rosemary is what takes these roasted halved potatoes to the next level. Pick out the right mustard, and you've got yourself a savory meal.
Get our recipe for Crispy Rosemary Potatoes.
