Salmon is a versatile lunch option that can be grilled, baked, or fried depending on the meal. It’s packed full of flavor, works well with most seasonings, and is easy to prepare.
As it contains a lot of protein and omega-3 fatty acids, it can be incorporated into your weekly meal plan. To keep your meal exciting, you can serve salmon with a variety of side dishes. The best sides will balance out the flavors of the salmon, without overpowering its taste.
Below we have listed some delicious side dishes to serve with salmon, they are are easy to prepare and will complement the taste of your salmon.
Side Dishes to Serve with Salmon
1. Salad
For those who enjoy feasting on salmon during the summer, a salad is a great option for a side dish, though there is no reason why it can’t be enjoyed during the winter too.
You can use canned vegetables or fresh vegetables depending on your preference and you can also add some spices if you want a salad with a bit more of a kick.
Combine your favorite salad items e.g peppers, onions, tomatoes, etc, and then finish with some mango and black beans. If possible, try and store the salad in the fridge for a short time before serving it with the salmon.
See Also: What To Serve With Fried Fish
2. Green Beans
Simple sides work very well with salmon. Select some tasty green beans and then add them to a pot full of boiling water.
Steam them for around 2 to 3 minutes or until you notice that they are brighter in color. There are multiple ways of seasoning green beans.
If you want them to have more of a subtle taste you can sprinkle some salt and pepper on time, but if you want to create a more noticeable flavor you may add a dash of lemon zest.
Alternatively, you may wish to saute the beans in garlic before adding the lemon and serving.
3. Spaghetti Squash
Spaghetti squash, sometimes referred to as vegetable squash is a great option for those seeking a healthier alternative to pasta. It contains fewer carbs but is high in fiber and nutrients. Begin by roasting your squash.
The length of time that this takes will depend on the size of your squash, those that are larger are likely to take longer.
Allow it to cook for around 45 minutes or until it seems tender. Once it is cooked, you will need to de-seed it and mix it in with some roasted tomatoes. To finish, you can then season it with some basil.
4. Carrots
As a popular side option, carrots are used to accompany many dishes. You can cook them by boiling or roasting them and they can be seasoned in several ways. The first option is to flavor them with apple cider and maple syrup.
Once they have finished cooking, add them to a heated pan with either butter or oil. Add the apple cider and a dash of vinegar combining them together for a couple of minutes until they appear to have a glazed coating.
If this doesn’t appeal to you, you may prefer to roast your carrots before seasoning them with some herbs and salt.
Another option is to roast them with balsamic vinegar and brown sugar. Regardless of how you season your carrots, the textures and flavors will work with the salmon.
5. Broccoli
Just like steamed beans, steamed broccoli is another great tasting, easy side dish. First, you will need to steam your broccoli until you can easily prod it with a fork. In a heated pan, saute some almonds before adding the broccoli.
Don’t let it cook for too long but ensure that the broccoli and almonds are mixed together before removing the pan from the heat.
6. Mash Potatoes
When it comes to side dishes, you can’t go wrong with some mashed potatoes and it also compliments fish very well.
Cook your potatoes and prepare your mash as you normally would, then when it’s done, season it with garlic and herbs of your choice. You can also add plain Greek yogurt or sour cream if you prefer mash with a creamier texture.
7. Noodles with parmesan
When we think of spaghetti, we typically think of a hearty pasta dish, however, they can also make a great side dish. This is a perfect option for those looking for simplicity without compromising on taste.
Once you have cooked your noodles you can add in some butter. To finish the dish add a sprinkling of parmesan on top and a dash of black pepper.
8. Roasted Red Potatoes
Low in calories but super filling, potatoes offer a nice, healthy side. Though there are many ways of cooking potatoes, roasting them is particularly tasty.
For this side, you will need to chop up your potatoes into generously sized chunks that are good for roasting. Then you can season them with some rosemary, pepper, salt, and olive oil.
Once mixed, you can then pop the dish in the oven and allow them to roast until they look slightly brown with a crispy coating. If desired, you can also add lemon to the potatoes before putting them into the oven.
9. Couscous
This is a super convenient side dish. You can either purchase a ready-made version from your local supermarket or you can make it yourself.
To accompany your couscous, you can saute some summer squash and zucchini in a pan with olive oil, pepper, and salt.
If you are making your own couscous from scratch, once it has finished cooking you can then add the sauteed ingredients to it. As this is a versatile dish, you have the choice of serving it cold or hot.
10. Brussels Sprouts
Did you know that Brussels sprouts are just as nice raw as they are cooked? They are especially tasty when added to slaws.
You don’t need to do much to prepare your sprouts. Simply chop them up into small, easily digestible pieces. We’d recommend serving them as part of an apple slaw.
Cut your chosen apples up into similar-sized pieces and then mix them in a dish. Finish by adding your slaw dressing and desired seasonings.
11. Rice Pilaf
For those looking for a more unique side dish to accompany their salmon, this is a great option. A great thing about rice pilaf is that it can be seasoned how you like.
For example, those looking for a more simple side may boil the rice in vegetable or chicken stock. To enhance the flavor, you can saute some garlic and onions. Mix in the rice and let it cook until it appears fluffy.
Another option is to add almonds and dried fruit to the rice pilaf. Add a sprinkling of cinnamon and cumin if you want to intensify the flavor.
12. Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes are nutritious root vegetables that have a delicious sweet taste. They taste especially nice when roasted as they are tender with a crispy coating. Because sweet potatoes have quite a prominent taste, you don’t need to season them much.
The cooking time will differ depending on the size of the sweet potato. Once your sweet potatoes have cooked you can serve them with butter and a pinch of salt and pepper.
13. Tomatoes and Cucumber
Though we have mentioned salad previously in our list, another option is to make a tomato and cucumber salad. This side dish works best when made from fresh ingredients.
Select your tomatoes and cucumber and cut them into small chunks. Next, you will need to add them to a bowl and flavor them with herbs of your choice, olive oil, pepper, and salt. This is a super easy side that can be rustled up within seconds.
14. Green Vegetables
This is another healthy side dish for salmon. Some may find green vegetables served alone a little too bland.
A great way of enhancing the flavor is by adding some hollandaise sauce. This sauce also goes very well with salmon. Although many people may opt for asparagus, you can add your favorite vegetables.
15. Frittata
As a frittata is an egg based dish, it’s a great sauce of protein. One that has been made with vegetables is also super nutritious. This side dish will require a little more effort on your part as you will need to dedicate enough time to making it.
In a cast-iron skillet, begin by sauteing your vegetables of choice, then add around 6 to 8 whisked eggs. From a creamier flavor, you may wish to add some cheese to the pan at this point.
Once you have added the ingredients, you can then put your pan into the oven and allow it to cook until the eggs appear to have set. You can then remove it from the oven and cut it into nicely sized wedges.
16. Acorn Squash
Nutritious and rich in antioxidants, acorn squash is another healthy side dish. Depending on the size of your squash, you can either cut it in half or cut it in quarters. Instead of roasting and serving the squash as it is, we would recommend adding a delicious stuffing.
To create the stuffing you will need to combine apples, sauteed onions, and herbs to a pan to cook.
Once cooked you can then scoop generous amounts of the mixture into the halves or quarters depending on how you cut it, before roasting it in the oven. You should expect it to take a maximum of 45 minutes to cook.
18. Artichokes
Artichokes are full of vitamins, low in fat, and rich in fiber and antioxidants. To prepare the artichokes you will need to steam them for around 25 minutes in a saucepan with water ensuring that their stem side is facing upward.
You will notice that they will feel more tender once they are cooked. To strengthen the flavor you can add some pepper, garlic, and salt.
We would recommend making your own dipping sauce to accompany the cooked artichokes. It needn’t be overly complex. In fact, you can make a nice sauce using pepper, salt, herbs, and Greek yogurt.
To consume the artichokes you will need to remove the leaves, dip them in the sauce and enjoy. This side may not appeal to everyone but it’s a great option for those who want to experiment with their side dishes.
19. Roasted Corn
Corn is potentially one of the best side dishes for summer meals. It isn’t difficult to prepare and it tastes great. For this side dish, you will need to set your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and then put your corn chunks inside.
Let it cook for around 25 minutes or until its color has intensified and it feels tender. Once it has cooked, allow it to cool, and then sprinkle some lemon juice over it and garnish with chopped cilantro.
What ingredients are needed to make these sides?
To make the sides that we have mentioned above, you will not require a huge amount of ingredients. It is likely that you may have some readily available in your kitchen cupboards.
- Salad
- Green beans
- Spaghetti squash
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Mash potatoes
- Noodles with parmesan
- Roasted red potatoes
- Couscous
- Brussels sprouts
- Rice pilaf
- Sweet potatoes
- Tomatoes and cucumber
- Green Vegetables
- Frittata
- Acorn Squash
- Artichokes
- Roasted Corn
Final Thoughts: Best Sides For Salmon
Many side dishes will go very well with salmon. Some can be made within seconds and others require a little more preparation.
You can also season your sides as you would like. If you make plenty you will also have enough for the days that follow.
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