Fact: salmon is the best fish ever. Well, at least it is to me! Whether it’s pan-fried, baked, or grilled, you can’t go wrong. It’s rich and savory, yet it’s so healthy for you. It’s extremely quick and easy to prepare, too! I try my best to incorporate salmon into our weekly meal rotation. But no matter how good salmon is, there’s nothing more boring than repetitive meals. To make things more exciting, I switch up the side dishes all the time. Thankfully, there are an array of dishes that go well with this fatty fish. I’m sharing the best sides that will make salmon shine like the star that it is. From salads and veggies to rice and pasta, I’ve got you covered. Without further ado, here are 23 spectacular sides for salmon.
1. Lemon Pasta
Let’s start off with a simple dish that delivers maximum flavors. This lemon pasta is light, refreshing, and done in just 15 minutes! Lemon, cream, and white wine make up the sauce of this pasta. Together with al dente noodles, they make one heck of a dish. Add a piece of crispy pan-fried salmon on top, and you’ll have a hearty and healthy dinner.
2. Buttery Garlic Green Beans
Sweet and crisp beans are pretty fantastic on their own, so you don’t need a lot to make them stand out. In this recipe, all it takes are butter, garlic, and lemon zest. You can already smell the fragrance just by picturing it! The key to this stunning side is using fresh ingredients. The fresher your beans and garlic are, the better your dish will taste. Serve your buttery garlic green beans with pan-fried salmon and voila! You’ll have a fancy meal for the family.
3. Roasted Parmesan Rosemary Potatoes
Nothing makes potatoes taste better than roasting them. Popping spuds in the oven is like doing a magic spell. Your potatoes will improve in both flavor and texture! Do you know what makes roasted potatoes taste even more magical? Three things: garlic, parmesan cheese, and rosemary. The combination of these ingredients is just… I can’t even begin to explain. They make the potatoes taste so mind-blowingly delicious. Crisp on the outside, fluffy on the inside, and bursting with flavor all around. Pure ecstasy. Serve this mouthwatering side with baked salmon for an irresistible meal.
4. Lemon Butter Broccolini
Broccolini may not be as popular as its cousin, but don’t count it out just yet. This cruciferous vegetable has a lot to offer. Here’s a brief history lesson for ya: broccolini dates back all the way to 1933. It’s the product of a crossbreed between broccoli and Chinese broccoli. While its stems are longer, its florets are much smaller. Just because they’re small doesn’t mean they lack flavor. In fact, all you need are lemon and butter to make it a perfect side dish to salmon!
5. Thai Noodle Salad with Peanut Sauce
Got a hankering for something different for dinner? How about an Asian twist to your salmon? This Thai noodle salad made with rice noodles, carrots, cabbage, bell peppers, and radishes is dressed with the tastiest peanut sauce. It’s guaranteed to knock your socks off. I’m not exaggerating when I say this is the tastiest peanut sauce I’ve ever had. Perfectly sweet, creamy, and mildly zesty, it’s the best thing that can happen to a salad. The secret ingredient? Fresh orange juice! It sounds so simple, but it’s more than enough to add a bright and refreshing flavor to the salad.
6. Baby Bok Choy
Searching for a quick, easy, and tasty side for your salmon? Look no further! This baby bok choy is all you need. Crisp leaves bursting with flavors from garlic, ginger, and soy sauce — that’s the stuff! Bok choy is a Chinese cabbage that’s packed with fiber and nutrients. It’s so good for you, and I highly suggest you add it to your diet! Plus, it’s so easy to prepare. It comes together in just 10 minutes, too. It may be simple, but it won’t disappoint. This dish is definitive proof that sometimes you can find joy in the simplest things.
7. Roasted Brussels Sprouts
These poor guys. They have the worst reputation in the world of veggies, and it’s not even their fault. That’s why I’m making it a mission to change people’s minds about them! If you grew up hating this misunderstood vegetable, that’s probably because they were over-cooked. When you cook Brussels sprouts properly, you’ll be surprised at how good they are. Sweet and earthy, nutty, and creamy: those are the things to expect from a perfectly cooked sprout. They are not mushy and soggy, but are rather crisp on the outside and tender on the inside. They’re so good, they actually make a fine side dish to salmon. Try it and see for yourself! All you need is to roast them with olive oil, salt, and pepper.
8. Cilantro Lime Rice
Rice may not be the most exciting side dish there is. Cilantro lime rice, however, is a completely different story. It’s made with basmati long grain rice browned in olive oil, flavored with cilantro and lime, and fluffed to perfection. This recipe can easily rival that of Chipotle. Serve this with salmon for a stunning meal. Trust me, this side is so addictive, you might just grab the bowl for a second serving! Don’t worry, I won’t judge.
9. Asparagus with Hollandaise Sauce
Asparagus spears roasted to crisp perfection and coated with hollandaise sauce: this side can’t get any better. This vibrant dish calls for the most basic pantry ingredients. Flavor your asparagus with olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper, and pop it in the oven. Topped with a rich and luscious Hollandaise sauce, this dish is nothing short of perfection. It tastes amazing on its own, but it’s even more phenomenal served on the side of baked salmon.
10. Asian Coleslaw
Give your salmon an Asian flair by accompanying it with a quick and easy coleslaw. Infused with a sweet and tangy dressing, it’s all you need for a magnificent meal. Just picture it: shreds of green and purple cabbage, carrots, and red bell peppers coated in a rice vinegar dressing. What a bright, colorful, and refreshing side! And you need not be a health expert to tell that this dish is good for you. The best part? This side dish comes together in under 15 minutes of hands-on prep.
11. Creamy Mushroom Risotto
Perfectly seasoned rice loaded with mushrooms, onions, and parmesan cheese: you can’t go wrong with that! This mushroom risotto is incredibly rich and creamy. It’s the ultimate side dish for salmon! You’re probably thinking: Kim, mushroom risotto? That’s gotta be one tough dish to make! But come on, you know me better than that. This recipe is quick and easy, and anyone can do it.
12. Lemon Herb Couscous
If you’re looking for a completely new side dish to accompany your salmon, look no further. This lemon herb couscous is everything you need and more. First of all, we’re using Israeli couscous for this dish. What is it, you ask? This type of couscous is made with small, pearl-like rounds made with semolina wheat and flour. It cooks in just 10 minutes and may be used as a replacement for rice and pasta. The couscous is then added with cucumber, tomatoes, nuts, and raisins. For the dressing, you’ll have a light and tangy lemon vinaigrette. Just imagine all those colors, flavors, and textures in one bowl! Topped with a slice of seared salmon, it’ll be a wonderfully unique and healthy meal.
13. Sugar Snap Peas
Sugar snap peas are the star of this next dish. With the perfect combination of sweet, salty, crisp, and buttery, they deserve to be in the spotlight. Sauteed in oil and butter, this side is ready in under 5 minutes! Sure, it’s simple, but it’s absolutely spectacular. You can end there, but you can also customize it according to your preferences. Sliced almonds, pine nuts, Sriracha sauce, garlic, parmesan cheese — the list goes on and on.
14. Honey Glazed Carrots
Carrots are already sweet, crisp, and magnificent as is, but if you drizzle them with honey, they become even more irresistible. Carrots infused with honey, brown sugar, and orange juice have such unique and amazing flavors. Best of all, this side takes only 20 minutes of your time. Pair this with your salmon for the perfect contrast of sweet and savory and tender and crisp. What a scrumptious and nutritious meal for the entire family. It’s so good, even the kids will enjoy it!
15. Lemon Roasted Red Potatoes
Red potatoes with lemon, garlic, and rosemary and roasted to perfection? It can’t get any better than this! The ingredients may be basic, but the flavor isn’t. The combination of lemon, garlic, and rosemary is divine. Plus, this recipe is extremely easy to make. It only needs 5 minutes of prep time. In fact, the only “hard” part is slicing the garlic. If you don’t want to go through the trouble, just use garlic powder instead! Problem solved.
16. Parmesan Broccoli
Broccoli crusted with parmesan cheese and baked until golden brown? Mmm! Roasting with parmesan cheese makes any veggie kid-friendly. That creamy, nutty flavor is just pure bliss. Apart from broccoli, I also do it with cauliflower and Brussels sprouts. It’s always a hit! After all, who can say no to baked cheese… loads and loads of it? This side dish is so ridiculously tasty, it’s borderline addictive!
17. Roasted Sweet Potatoes
These roasted sweet potatoes are wonderfully sweet, crisp, and tender. It’s love at first bite! Roasting sweet potatoes makes them taste better than ever. The oven really does wonders! Providing a sweet contrast, it’s an excellent side dish to the savory salmon. Plus, this side is a cinch to make. All you need are sweet potatoes, chili powder, paprika, cumin, garlic powder, salt, and pepper!
18. Balsamic Roasted Baby Carrots
What do you get when you put baby carrots, brown sugar, and balsamic vinegar in an oven? A lip-smacking side dish, that’s what. I can’t even begin to explain how delicious this dish is! It’s sweet, crunchy, and absolutely stunning. Any entrée will be lucky to have it as a companion. It’s great with salmon, in particular. Together, they make a glorious harmony of flavors and textures.
19. Pesto Zucchini Noodles
Pesto zucchini noodles and salmon: if this isn’t healthy and refreshing, I don’t know what is. Pasta is one of the greatest dishes known to man. I love it so much, I just had it today for lunch… and dinner. The only problem is, one bowl is loaded with hundreds and hundreds of calories. This is why “zoodles” were born. These zucchini noodles are a thousand times healthier than pasta, but also delicious. It’s the perfect alternative, especially if you’re trying to cut down on carbs. In this recipe, we’re coating zucchini noodles in a rich and creamy pesto sauce. Pair this with pan-seared salmon for the most satisfying and guilt-free meal!
20. Lemon Roasted Asparagus
It’s difficult to find a recipe that’s tasty, nutritious, and easy to make. So you can just imagine how ecstatic I was when I came across this one! All it takes to make this superior side are 7 ingredients, 1 bowl, and 10 minutes of roasting. As a busy bee, this means a lot! Did I mention that this side is only 118 calories per serving? This recipe is gold!
21. Sesame Rice
Steamed white rice may be a little too boring. But did you know that it only takes one ingredient to transform it into something extraordinary? With the help of sesame oil, you can turn your rice from dull to delightful! This dish may look plain, but it’s full of excitement. Just a few drops of toasted sesame oil is enough to pack rice with flavor! This dish is also super hearty and starchy. If you’re looking for something to bulk up your meal, this is the side for you.
22. Cucumber Dill Salad
In the mood for a light and refreshing meal? Pair your salmon with crisp and refreshing cucumber coated with sour cream and dill. As simple as the ingredients may be, this cucumber dill salad is loaded with flavor. I mean, who can resist the classic combo of sour cream and dill? It’s out of this world! Plus, this dish comes together in a jiffy. Just 10 minutes, and you’re done!
23. Rice Pilaf with Dried Fruits and Almonds
This rice dish is definitely unique and exciting. Have you ever tried basmati rice with dried fruit and almonds? If you haven’t, you’re in for a treat! Apart from the intriguing addition, this dish is also infused with cumin, cinnamon, and turmeric for maximum flavor. The aroma, flavors, and textures of this dish are sensational! Try this rice pilaf with grilled salmon for a meal you won’t soon forget. Click on a star to rate it!
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