Salmon is a highly popular fish to eat in a variety of ways – from grilled to smoked to raw.
However, if you don’t know what goes good with salmon, then you’ll probably struggle to integrate salmon into your dinners.
Whether you’re cooking for a family or you want to fry up a quick salmon for lunch, here is our list of the best foods that go with salmon!
Buttery Baby Potatoes
You can’t quite go wrong with a pile of buttery baby potatoes on the side of a salmon fillet.
Baby potatoes are quick and easy to cook thanks to their size, and when met with salted, melted butter and seasonings (salt and pepper, of course), they make for a simple yet delicious side with salmon.
Plus, baby potatoes are a good way to get carbohydrates into your diet without going overboard.
Cilantro And Lime Rice
Rice is probably one of the most disinteresting foods to have alongside salmon (Find out Can Salmon Be Eaten Raw?), but when you mix the rice with refreshing flavors like cilantro and lime, you’ve got yourself a delicious lunch or dinner.
Salmon goes beautifully with citrus flavors, such as lime and cilantro, making for a tasty and complimentary side dish alongside the salmon.
All you need to do is boil some basmati rice, and then fry it alongside a dash of olive oil, lime, and cilantro until fragrant.
Lemon Herb Couscous
In the same vein, lemon herb couscous is a fantastic side to serve alongside salmon. Couscous – particularly giant couscous – is often underrated as a side dish, but it’s a fantastically healthy and filling option that goes with virtually anything.
To make this, simply make the couscous of your choice and then combine it with a lemon vinaigrette. You can also mix the couscous with other foods, such as chopped cucumbers, tomatoes, raisins, and nuts.
Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes, as the name suggests, are naturally sweet complex carbohydrates that are as healthy as they are delicious.
Roasting sweet potatoes enhances the sweetness, and when roasted alongside seasoning (such as rosemary or smoked paprika), and you’ve got yourself a ridiculously tasty side dish.
Salmon works beautifully with roasted sweet potatoes, thanks to the savory flavors of the fish met with the complimentary sweetness of the potatoes.
Serve either in chunks or in wedges if you prefer homemade sweet potato fries (Here are some Delicious Fries Seasonings for you to check out).
Lemon Butter Broccolini
Broccolini is the cousin of average broccoli, and it’s absolutely underrated.
With longer stems and smaller florets, broccolini is a nice change from other green vegetables, and they pack the same amount of flavor as regular broccoli.
Simply boil the broccolini – or even par-boil and roast it for a crispy finish – and drizzle a mixture of salted butter and lemon juice over the vegetables.
Garlic Butter Green Beans
Salmon goes beautifully with butter and garlic, so why not bring all the flavors together with garlic butter green beans?
Green beans are a standard side vegetable for any type of fish or meat, but accompanying the beans with garlic butter helps to turn the average vegetable into something absolutely delicious.
Simply boil or steam the green beans and serve with a mixture of garlic, butter, and lemon zest if available. Serve alongside the salmon, and you’ve got a fancy-looking meal made with minimal effort!
Creamy Lemon Pasta
Nothing is quite as simple yet effective as creamy lemon pasta. Even if you’re vegan or avoiding dairy, lemon pasta alone is a simple yet highly flavorful dish that pairs beautifully with salmon.
Simply boil the pasta – preferably spaghetti noodles or linguine – until al dente, and combine with a mixture of cream, lemon juice, and white wine.
Season with salt and black pepper to your preference, and serve with a pan-fried salmon fillet placed on top.
Sautéed Garlic Mushrooms
You can turn even the most passionate haters of mushrooms into lovers of mushrooms with simple and effortlessly tasty sautéed garlic mushrooms.
When sautéed with garlic, butter, Italian seasoning, and a splash of soy sauce, you’re met with gorgeously caramelized mushrooms that carry that distinctive earthy flavor.
Serve alongside pan-fried salmon to compliment the earthy flavors, and if you want to be extra adventurous, add a squeeze of lemon for a sweet tangy taste.
Garlic And Herb Roasted Carrots
The best way to serve carrots is roasted, we don’t make the rules.
Roasting carrots brings out the sweetness of the vegetables, but when roasted alongside garlic and herbs, you’ve made complimentary flavors that anyone will enjoy.
So, if you’re looking for a way to get your kids to eat their vegetables, try roasting carrots with garlic, herbs, and olive oil.
When served alongside salmon, this is a tasty and nutritious combination of food.
Creamy Cucumber Salad
Nothing quite beats a pan-fried or grilled salmon fillet in summer. What better way to turn the salmon into a refreshing summer meal than pairing it with a creamy cucumber salad?
Simply slice your cucumber and combine the slices with red onions, sour cream, mayonnaise, and fresh dill.
Not only is this salad wonderfully refreshing and cooling in the heat of summer, but it works beautifully with the savory flavors of salmon. This salad is sure to be a favorite at a family grill, too!
Fried Asparagus
Asparagus is a popular green vegetable to pair with pan-fried or grilled salmon, thanks to the combination of naturally savory flavors.
One of the best ways to cook asparagus is by frying it – either in a frying pan or even in an air fryer. If you’re especially conscious about your health, then we recommend frying the asparagus in an air fryer.
Not only is it healthier, but air fried asparagus takes only 6 minutes to cook! Once crispy, toss with a mixture of olive oil, garlic, and seasonings for a tasty side dish to salmon.
Conclusion
So, there you have it! Turns out, there are multiple foods that can be paired with salmon, so you can afford to get creative.
The key is to find flavors that compliment the salmon, so focus on citrus and garlic as the main complimentary flavors.
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