What to Serve with Salmon
Six side dishes—one for each of the half-dozen most popular ways to make this versatile, healthy fish. For more great meal ideas,
try our new recipe finder.
By Lynn Andriani
Top photo: Thinkstock; bottom photo: Melanie Acevedo
For Miso-Glazed Salmon...
Serve an Asian salad. The carrot-ginger dressing ubiquitous at Japanese restaurants is delicious, but there are so many more ways to combine classic Asian flavors in a nutritious side. Here's one: a tumble of celery and parsley leaves; radish, alfalfa or bean sprouts; scallions; and Asian pear coated in a light lemon–rice wine vinaigrette.
Get the recipes: Miso Salmon and
Asian Pear Salad
Top photo: Luca Trovato; bottom: Dig Inn Seasonal Markets
For Poached Salmon...
Serve Dijon potato salad. Just as you can serve poached salmon warm or cold, boiled Yukon Golds and peppery watercress tossed in a grainy Dijon mustard dressing are great no matter what temperature. If you have leftover dill from the salmon, finely chop some and add it to the salad as a garnish.
Get the recipes: Poached Salmon with Dill Sour Cream and
Potato and Watercress Salad with Mustard Dressing
For Citrus Salmon...
Serve plantains. These members of the banana family are common in Caribbean and Latin cooking and taste savory and sweet when baked with milk, butter and brown sugar. The fruit caramelizes slightly and nicely complements fish that has a tangy kick from lemon or lime.
Get the recipes: Spicy Salmon with Spicy Salsa
and
Baked Sweet Plantains
Top photo: Thinkstock; bottom photo: Hannah Whitaker
For Salmon Burgers...
Serve veggie fries. There's no reason you can't enjoy the burger's traditional partner—a mess of crunchy, sizzling fries—at home, even if you don't have a deep fryer. You can bake a variety of vegetables, from sweet potatoes to green beans, in the oven. Coating the veggies in seasoned breadings, like chipotle-spiked cornmeal or grated Parmesan, prior to baking ensures they'll be flavorful and crispy.
Get the recipes: Jalapeño Salmon Burgers
and
veggie fries
Top photo: Leigh Beisch; bottom photo: Melanie Acevedo
For Salmon on a Wood Plank...
Serve grilled asparagus. Lightly charred vegetables have a bold enough flavor that they can stand up to the salmon's woody, earthy taste. Just brush the stalks with olive oil, season with sea salt and pepper, and lay over the grates until they're tender when pierced with a knife. Or incorporate the grilled asparagus into this salad, whose other ingredients include hard-boiled eggs and Jack cheese.
Get the recipes: Planked Salmon with Soy-Honey Glaze
and
Asparagus with Farm-Fresh Eggs and Dry Jack Cheese
Top photo: Thinkstock; bottom photo: Oxmoor House
For Smoked Salmon...
Serve roasted potatoes. Whether you've bought smoked salmon or made your own, the salty fish is perfect with crispy foods (think: toasted bagels or potato latkes). For an easy, dinner-appropriate side, try this dish, which has you roast quartered red potatoes in a sizzling hot cast-iron skillet with onion, olive oil, rosemary, salt and pepper. They come out of the oven with crusty edges and soft insides.
Get the recipe: Cast Iron-Roasted Potatoes with Rosemary and Onion
Keep reading: More side dish recipes that are anything but boring
Published 05/02/2012
