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Top 10 Side Dishes for Salmon

Salmon is one of the best fish out there to eat for dinner. Not only does it have many health benefits, but it is delicious, easy to cook, and there are so many different ways to prepare it.

Now, we already know you are a salmon lover because you are here looking for the best side dishes for salmon, so let me tell you what those best sides are.

What is salmon

Salmon is a fish that is not only great tasting and great for you, but it is refreshing with a subtle fish taste. If you are a person that does not like fish because of its fishy taste, I highly recommend that you give salmon a try.

Salmon does not usually have a strong fishy flavor. It has more of a meaty, rich taste to it almost like red meat. It actually pairs quite well with red wines much like red meats do.

Depending on where your salmon comes from will depend on the flavor of your fish. You can get Pacific, Atlantic, or farm-raised salmon.

Pacific salmon is usually richer than Atlantic salmon and some say that farm-raised is just as tasty as wild-caught salmon but I beg to differ.

One of the great things about Salmon is that there are so many different ways to prepare it. You can bake, poach, grill, pan-seared, pan-fried it… and the list goes on! It’s such a great protein to get away from the usual red meats and chicken.

If you are not sure if your salmon is okay to eat or not you can find out by reading my post about how to tell if salmon has gone bad.

10 best sides to go with salmon

There are so many choices when it comes to what to serve with salmon. I am going to cover some of the best sides that pair well with salmon.

1. Buttered Garlic broccoli

buttered broccoli

Broccoli is a great side no matter how you are preparing your salmon. I like to add in some fresh chopped garlic and butter to give it that extra delicious flavor.

It’s easy to make and nice light addition to go with the rich taste of salmon. You can’t really go wrong with broccoli no matter how you choose to cook your salmon.

2. Brussel Sprouts

Brussel sprouts

Oven-roasted Brussels sprouts are so good served as a side with salmon. When you cook them correctly you will get a crisp on the outer leaves that will add a great flavor to the sweet and savory side.

I like to add some freshly chopped garlic and chopped-up pancetta when I am roasting them to add a smoky garlic taste to them.

Learn how to cut brussel sprouts.

3. Sauteed carrots

sauteed carrots

The sweet taste of these sautéed carrots with a little balsamic reduction pair well with salmon that is cooked just about any way that you want.

They are soft yet have a firm crunch to them when you first bite into them and are so easy and fast to make. This is a great side for salmon in a pinch.

4. Rice Pilaf

rice pilaf

A little starch side is always great with salmon. Rice pilaf and salmon make for a great meal. The saltiness of the rice with the rich taste of the salmon makes them a great pair.

Salmon is filling as the main spotlight of the dish but with rice as its side, you will be sure to walk away from the table full and satisfied.

5. Green beans

sautéed green beans

Super easy, and healthy! Green beans are a great light accompaniment to go with salmon and quick and easy to prepare. You will be sure to impress with this side.

Throw them in a Sautee pan with some olive oil, garlic, and salt and you have got yourself a crowd-pleasing side dish for your salmon.

6. Mushroom risotto

mushroom risotto

A creamy rich risotto goes well with salmon. It sounds like it might be tough to make but I can assure you that it is just as easy as any other side.

Mushrooms in the risotto add that savory rich taste that compliments salmon in a great way. I enjoy this as a side in the colder months as it is a little heavier than a vegetable side dish.

7. Sauteed Cremini mushrooms

cremini mushrooms

These melt-in-your-melt cremini mushrooms are simply delicious! Both the mushrooms and the salmon offer a rich buttery flavor that marries them together so well.

This recipe also adds some balsamic vinegar to add in a little zing to the mushrooms. It is great with pan-seared salmon as the smoky flavor and the mushrooms pair nicely.

8. Mashed potatoes

mashed potatoes

Creamy mashed potatoes are great as a side dish with salmon. If you haven’t noticed, I love garlic, so I also add it to my potatoes as well which compliments the rich salmon.

As I said with the risotto I like to serve mashed potatoes with salmon during the colder months because it can be quite heavy.

9. Roasted Sweet Potatoes

roasted sweet potatoes

Oven-roasted sweet potatoes are a great side dish for so many meals and salmon is no exception. The sweetness from the sweet potatoes and the savory from the salmon go together like peanut butter and jelly.

Keep the sweet potatoes in until they are crispy so that you get that crisp outside and soft and sweet inside.

10. Garden Salad

There is nothing more refreshing than salmon in the side of a good garden salad, in the summer months.

The crispy greens, sweet carrots, juicy tomatoes, and cucumbers with the great taste of salmon are a great lite option.

I have a great garden salad recipe that you most likely enjoy.

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