23 Side Dishes for Salmon That Pair Perfectly With This Favorite Fish From crunchy salads and colorful vegetables to simple rice dishes, these are the sides that complement rich, tender salmon. Close Credit: Brie Goldman Trying to figure out how to create a fabulous dinner around salmon but don’t know where to start? When looking for side dishes for salmon, think about contrast. To complement salmon’s tenderness, look for sides that are crunchy, crisp, fresh, and light—think bright, juicy, and vibrant flavors. Of course, the occasion matters too—formal versus casual, buffet versus plated. Choose by ingredient: Green peas, asparagus, cucumber, avocado, fresh herbs, and other leaves look lovely next to salmon on a plate—and they taste even better. Other, deeper colors are glorious, too—such as the red and golden hues found in beets, radicchio, orange, grapefruit, red onions, carrots, and radishes. These ingredients will bring out the best in salmon and are healthy, too. It’s fun to play with colors to make a gorgeous plate of food. We’ve got recipes that will check all the boxes for a beautiful salmon dinner any time of year. How to Cook Salmon 11 Ways, From Baking to Air Frying 01 of 23 Roasted Asparagus With Lemony Breadcrumbs When it comes to pairing with salmon, this dish has it all: color, citrus, and crunch. It’s also very straightforward—just pop a tray of asparagus into a hot oven and sizzle breadcrumbs in a skillet with butter. View Recipe 02 of 23 Minted Peas Catching the right moment in early summer for both wild salmon and fresh peas is a lesson in seasonality at its best. At any other time of year, frozen peas work wonders when tossed with mint. View Recipe 03 of 23 Roasted Potatoes With Preserved Lemon, Garlic and Chiles Credit: Johnny Miller A platter of crisp potatoes with the briny and acidic note of preserved lemons is a potent match for salmon. Showered with fresh mint and parsley leaves, it cleanses as well as pleases your palate. View Recipe 04 of 23 Tomato, Corn, and Avocado Salad A bright and juicy cherry tomato salad is perfect for grilled salmon at any time of year, especially in summer. Adding creamy avocado and crunchy corn kernels makes it the ultimate hot-weather side dish and a perfect partner for flavorful salmon. View Recipe 05 of 23 Simple Braised Leeks Credit: Jake Sternquist Tender and mild, elegant and sweet, the leek is often underappreciated. With this classic, Martha gives us a lesson in how to give it its due. View Recipe 06 of 23 Ginger Rice Credit: Earl Carter Ginger loves salmon, and salmon loves ginger. And here is a brilliantly simple method for flavoring your rice: simmer ginger in the water you’re about to cook the rice in for a secret surprise. View Recipe 07 of 23 Warm Spinach Salad With Shiitake Mushrooms and Red Onion Tender spinach tossed with shiitake mushrooms and finished with toasted sesame seeds has an elegant Japanese accent. Quickly pickled onions add a jolt of acidity that is the perfect foil for salmon, no matter how you cook it. View Recipe 08 of 23 Roasted Beet With Orange and Thyme The color of roasted beets adds intensity to a plate of salmon, while fresh orange zest and juice give both the salmon and beets a lift. Follow our simple instructions for tender, roasted beets. View Recipe 09 of 23 Steamed Spinach With Lemon Credit: Jake Sternquist How could we forget a trusty friend like steamed spinach? It is so simple, light, and quick you barely need a recipe. View Recipe 10 of 23 Potato and Green Bean Salad Credit: Brie Goldman The simple title of this recipe is misleading—here is a potato salad that can transport you to a French picnic. A dash of whole-grain mustard and the crunch of green beans are just what a salmon fillet calls for. View Recipe 11 of 23 Roasted Carrots With Oat Dukkah Credit: Sidney Bensimon Roasted carrots are beautiful on a platter next to roasted or poached salmon and make a great buffet dish. Aromatic coriander, fennel, and cumin scent the crunchy pistachio and oat topping sprinkled over them. View Recipe 12 of 23 Grapefruit, Salmon, and Avocado Salad Credit: Romulo Yanes Avocado is one of salmon’s favorite partners; think sushi and salad bowls. This recipe includes the salmon within the bowl in the form of large pieces. Or, make a salad with the same ingredients and serve it with a portion of poached wild salmon. View Recipe 13 of 23 Pea and Asparagus Salad Credit: Armando Rafael A side dish for the late spring, when fresh asparagus is tender enough to eat raw. Freshly shelled peas are very special in this salad, but don’t shy away from making this side dish when frozen peas are your only option. View Recipe 14 of 23 Herb and Scallion Rice A rice dish tinted green with herb and scallion purée will look amazing served alongside salmon. The blended flavors of cilantro, mint, and scallions ensure it will taste vibrant too. View Recipe 15 of 23 Sweet Peas With Shallots and Gem Lettuce Credit: Anson Smart Softly cooked shallots make a sweet base for peas and lettuce. A quick toss in the pan warms tiny heads of little gem lettuce—if you can’t find them at your local market, try using the pale inner leaves of escarole or hearts of romaine instead. View Recipe 16 of 23 Asparagus With Lemon Butter A blanched or steamed vegetable is often the perfect light accompaniment for fish, and this really holds true when planning a side dish for salmon. Lemon zest as well as fresh juice help the asparagus flavor pop. View Recipe 17 of 23 Quick-Pickled Cucumber Salad Sometimes, a side is as light as this bowl of sliced cucumbers with onions. You could say it’s a tart, juicy pickle—almost a relish. Serve it with a grain or potato salad and you've got a meal to remember. View Recipe 18 of 23 Green Couscous Abundantly green and loaded with pistachios and herbs, this is a fantastic side dish for any salmon meal. Couscous prepared this way is best served at room temperature, so it makes a great buffet dish or summer side. View Recipe 19 of 23 Roasted Potatoes With Oregano and Lemon Credit: Con Poulos Simple is best when you've got great ingredients. As part of a salmon dinner, roasted fingerling potatoes are the grounding element; they're crisp on the outside and creamy on the inside. Add a salad, and you’re all set. View Recipe 20 of 23 Quinoa and Green Bean Salad Credit: Krause, Johansen Fool-proof quinoa and green beans combine to make a side dish that adds crunch and heft to salmon and can hold up on a buffet or a picnic. Super-easy, two-step sides like this give you more time to focus on cooking the rest of the meal. View Recipe 21 of 23 Watercress, Radicchio, and Radish Salad Credit: John Dolan This is a salad for the fall and winter months when color and crunch are in short supply. The sharpness of the radish and the lemony mustard vinaigrette are fabulous foils for salmon. View Recipe 22 of 23 Sauteed Beet Greens Credit: Linda Pugliese The deep sweetness of the greens from a fresh bunch of beets makes a wonderful side dish. You can also use the stems, cooking them in the pan before you add the greens, and then cook them together until tender. View Recipe 23 of 23 Smashed Root Vegetables and Caramelized Leeks Credit: Anna Williams While you might think you should steer away from creamy, rich dishes when serving salmon, a soothing mash is always a good idea. And in this case, leeks, parsnips, and turnips are the perfect partners for the fish. View Recipe Explore more: Food & Cooking Recipes Dinner Recipes Dinner Side Dishes