In summary: Some highlighted salmon side dishes include Raw Asparagus Salad, Roasted Brussels Sprouts and White Beans Salad, Sweet Potato Salad, Sauteed Broccolini with Pesto, Pine Nuts, etc. These side dishes provide a range of flavors and textures that complement the richness of salmon, making for a delicious and well-balanced meal.
When it comes to fish, salmon is my first choice, and I could quite easily eat it every night. Salmon is high in omega-three and a good healthy option. It’s an oily fish, which makes it very difficult to overcook. It’s always juicy, so it’s my favorite! It’s delicious every time.
Not sure what to serve with your salmon? Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. I have put a list of delicious salmon side dishes together, so you don’t have to think.
The following salads and vegetables are great sides with salmon, and there are many to choose from. Whether you are making baked salmon, pan seared salmon, steamd salmon, pan fried salmon, grilled salmon or any savory salmon dishes, there’s always a perfect side to go with it.
Here’s What to Serve With Salmon:
#1. Raw Asparagus Salad
What goes well with salmon? Asparagus! This is a simple, quick, and easy salad. Asparagus is delicious, and you don’t need to do much with them.
This salmon side calls for thinly sliced asparagus and then tossed with lemon and a few ingredients like Parmesan, crispy bread crumbs, and walnuts. It’s delicious, never mind healthy.
#2. Roasted Brussels Sprouts and White Beans Salad
Not a fan of brussels sprouts? Promise to give this recipe a try; it’s one of the best salmon sides. The caramelized brussels sprouts with the Tahini dressing are sensational; it’s a combination that just works.
Tossed with the butterbeans, it makes this side dish slightly more substantial. This dish is worth trying with your salmon.
I love sweet potatoes, and in this salad, they are no exception. Think roasted sweet potatoes with peppery rocket leaves, sweet jewels of cranberries, all tossed with a lovely honey mustard dressing. A great wholesome side for your salmon that you could serve up for lunch or dinner.
#4. Sauteed Broccolini with Pesto, Pine Nuts, and Chili
The tender-stemmed broccoli makes for a great side to your salmon. This is a great flavor combination, with the broccoli sauteed in garlic tossed with the crunchy pine nuts and a touch of chili.
Choose the pesto of your choice; mine would be basil to stir through. This side is packed full of flavor, and it looks great, too, with the red flecks of chopped chili and pine nuts sprinkled over.
Packed with nutrients and protein, this salad is full of flavor and good for you. All the salad goodies are dressed in a delicious Thai spiced peanut dressing.
Imagine ginger, garlic, soy, and peanut butter- you know it will taste good. The salad is finished off with some roughly chopped peanuts and is a winner on its own. Serve it with some salmon, and it’s even better.
Pumpkin, roasted in maple syrup and whole grain mustard, sounds delicious. Toss in a few tomatoes, baby spinach leaves, feta- all dressed with some good quality olive oil and red wine vinegar and finished off with some lightly toasted flaked almonds. The perfect balance of flavors and texture.
Steamed vegetables are a healthy option but can be a tasty one. Cooked until just al dente, these green vegetables can be delicious. Tossed in a simple vinaigrette with good quality olive oil and finished with creamy crumbled feta. This side dish is light and healthy.
This recipe is a heartier side to serve with your salmon, perfect for a cold evening to warm you up. It’s a one-pot wonder, and it’s so good it can even be eaten on its own. The Parmesan, pasta, and spinach are all creamed up and seasoned to perfection.
It’s creamy, cheesy and full of flavor. This dish is delicious. Top it with a piece of perfectly cooked salmon and a wedge of lemon, heaven!
This is possibly my favorite chickpea salad too. Full of Mediterranean flavors of bell pepper, onion, parsley, and celery, this chickpea salad is so easy to make with ingredients you are most likely to have lying in the fridge and pantry.
Roughly chop the vegetables and parsley, chuck in a tin of chickpeas, and toss it all together with a squeeze of lemon and a splash of good olive oil. Season well, and hey presto! Your salmon side is sorted.
#11. Garlic Herb Roasted Potatoes Carrots and Zucchini
Potatoes make great side dishes for salmon. Roasted with garlic and tossed in mixed herbs. Add carrots and zucchini to the mix, and you know you are a winner! The vegetables are roasted all together in one tray! The sweetness of roasted carrots and fresh herbs fragrance will make this side perfect.
You can serve this side of vegetables with just about anything, but it would work perfectly with salmon. Serve it with a cheek of lemon and a dollop of mayonnaise. Dinner is sorted!
The thought of this makes my mouth water. These Chinese leafy greens are my favorite, and the sound of this recipe makes my mouth water. I love Asian flavors, and it works so well with salmon. It’s sweet and savory, with just the right amount of crunch.
The dish is finished with a sprinkle of sesame seeds to add extra flavor and texture. Place your salmon on top and sprinkle with a little more sesame seeds and a drizzle of extra soy- et voila.
Looking for something carb-free, why not try this cauliflower mash. The mash is jazzed up with some spinach and feta, similar to the greek spanakopita! Instead of butter and cream, the cauliflower has been mashed up with greek yogurt and feta, with chopped spinach and spring onions stirred through.
The cheese and onion add great flavor to the cauliflower, and this side is the perfect option for those watching their waistlines. This dish is packed with flavor and light on carbs. Sprinkle some parmesan cheese on top if desired. The mashed cauliflower is a great low-carb alternative to mashed sweet potatoes or regular potatoes.
Garlic, mushrooms, and thyme are the perfect combinations. Through some cauliflower into the mix, you are onto something good. This can be served as a meal or as a side for your salmon, and it’s a one-pot wonder and carb-free!
Garbanzo bean is another name for chickpea. Wild rice with chickpeas sounds like a winning combination, mixed with sauteed peppers and Zucchini- this side dish is packed full of nutrients, fiber, and flavor. It’s the perfect side dish for salmon for dinner, finished with a lemon butter sauce, and I’d be pleased.
If this rice dish is too complicated for you, try making cilantro lime rice. Just cook normal white rice then add chopped cilantro and lime juice in the end, mix it well when serving. You might add some lemon zest on top too.
I love anything with aubergine, and it’s a delicious, versatile vegetable. This salad has some roasted roast aubergine mixed in with some beluga vegetables- a great sauce of protein and fiber.
It’s finished with fresh mint, red onion, and cherry tomatoes- all mixed in red wine and tahini vinaigrette and finished with a garnish of walnuts. Serve with a dollop of yogurt if you’d like—a hearty, healthy, and delicious side dish for your salmon.
#17. Griddled Aubergine with smashed Avocado & Blistered Tomatoes
These are possibly three of my favorite vegetables all in one. This side dish is delicious. Griddled aubergine with a smokey flavor, served with smashed creamy avo and topped with sweet blistered cherry tomatoes spiced up with smoked paprika and balsamic vinegar.
The creamy smokiness of the aubergine and the smashed avo is offset by the tart sweetness of the balsamic tomatoes. This side is bursting with flavors that work so well together. Pair that with your salmon; you have a winning recipe!
#18. Pomegranate and Aubergine Salad with Harissa and Sun-Dried Tomatoes
This vegetable salmon side is bursting with flavor, from the sweet jewels of pomegranates to the tart sun-dried tomatoes and pomegranate molasses and the subtle spice of harissa- this dish screams middle eastern origins.
The aubergine is fried, tossed together with all the ingredients, left to marinate for a few hours, and finished with chopped pistachios and pomegranate seeds. You can just imagine the flavors- so give it a try!
Sometimes, the simpler the food, the better. There is nothing quite like crispy potatoes that are perfectly crisp and golden. This honestly is my idea of heaven, which is topped off with spoonfuls of chimichurri.
The trick to these crispy spuds is to boil them first until they are soft. Then you smash them with a fork to flatten them and pop them in the oven with lashings of olive oil and salt, and roast them until crispy and golden.
Serve them hot out of the oven with the chimichurri herb paste and your piece of salmon. Delicious.
#20. Creamy Potato Leek Gratin with Fennel & Gruyere Cheese
We all know potato and leeks work well together; add in some fresh fennel bulb, and you are taking it to the next level. All baked in a delicious cream cheese sauce, this gratin bake is super tasty. Topped off with gruyere cheese and baked until golden on top. Serve this up alongside your salmon, and you can thank me later.
#21. Artichoke, green peas, and preserved lemon salad
I love artichokes, on their own or in a side of salad or vegetables. This side works particularly well with salmon. The freshness from the peas, the buttery artichokes, the salty olives, and the zesty citrus flavor from the preserved lemons are a great combination. These flavors will cut through the fattiness of the salmon and create the perfect balanced dish of flavors.
#22. Sugar Snap Pea Salad with Radishes, Mint, and Ricotta
I love sugar snap peas and ricotta. Throw in some peppery radishes and some fresh mint, and this salad sounds excellent. The creamy ricotta will balance the pepperiness of the radishes, and the sweet peas and mint add a whole lot of freshness. Simply dressed with some good olive oil and balsamic vinegar, letting the fresh ingredients shine.
If you don’t have peas, feel free to use fresh green beans instead.
They are traditionally very British, but they must love it for a reason, right? And it’s almost always served with fried fish and chips. But this would be the perfect side to serve with salmon.
There’s most certainly a bag of frozen peas in your freezer, mixed up with some fresh mint. Blend it to your preferred consistency, season with salt and pepper, and enjoy your grilled salmon.
#24. Grilled Zucchini With Goat Cheese, Basil & Honey
This dish takes time, but once the grilling of the Zucchinis is done, it will be so worth it. The charred flavor makes the dish heavenly with creamy goat cheese. This is the perfect summer side dish. Dressed with sweet honey and seasoned simply with salt and pepper. This dish is simple yet tasty—the ideal light side dish for your salmon.
These stuffed peppers are sensational- filled with quinoa, chickpeas, and sundried tomatoes and packed full of flavor and nutrients. The peppers are stuffed and then topped with grated cheddar cheese and baked in the oven.
Baked until the cheese has melted, you can just imagine the flavors. High in fiber, protein, and flavor- a great side to have with you Slamon mid-week.
This is not your typical coleslaw, and this has charred sweetcorn and feta in it!
The creamy slaw, salty feta, and sweetness from the sweetcorn work so well together. All bound with a mix of yogurt and sour cream and flavored with some spice- smoked paprika, cumin, and chili powder. The perfect salad side for grilled salmon, the creamy-based salad works with fatty fish.
Who doesn’t like ratatouille? It can be served with almost anything or even just eaten on its own, with roast aubergine, peppers, and courgettes bound in a fresh tomato, minced garlic (or garlic powder), and basil sauce. And simply seasoned with salt and pepper and mixed dried herbs, like the classic ratatouille.
This side dish is so fresh and has the acidity to balance the richness of the salmon. This is a duo that is worth trying. Ratatouille topped with a piece of grilled salmon and a squeeze of lemon, dinner is served!
A good side dish with salmon could be a quinoa salad, steamed vegetables, roasted potatoes, or a mixed green salad with citrus vinaigrette, offering a balance of flavors and textures.
What to serve with poached salmon?
Serve poached salmon with light and fresh sides like a dill-infused cucumber salad, lemony asparagus, or a couscous with herbs for a well-rounded and complementary meal.
Having completed three years at cooking school, Gabi then went into the realm of private cheffing where she got to travel the world, cooking for the rich and famous in their luxury homes and holiday homes. Through her travels, she has experienced different cuisines, which she has added to her cooking repertoire.
