20 Best Side Dishes for Salmon

couscous primavera in white dish
Photo: Allrecipes Magazine

Salmon's omega-3 count and rich flavor make us want to dine on it week after week after week. You may be thinking, umm, that's a little much. And that's fair. But — this is important — switching up your side dishes will keep salmon as exciting as ever. And once you find your favorite salmon sides, well, you'll have even more of a reason to include this basically-perfect protein in your meal lineup. Here are 20 of our favorite side dishes for salmon.

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Simple Broccolini

Simple Broccolini
naples34102

Broccolini's mild flavor (accented with garlic and lemon juice in this recipe) makes it the perfect side to pair with a show-stealing main, like Alaska Salmon Bake with Pecan Crunch Coating.

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Roasted Parmesan Rosemary Potatoes

Roasted Parmesan Rosemary Potatoes
naples34102

Sprinkled with Parmesan and rosemary, crispy new potatoes would complement Baked Dijon Salmon.

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Buttery Garlic Green Beans

Buttery Garlic Green Beans in a white bowl
Ellyx3

Fresh, lemon pepper-seasoned green beans would go well with Lemon Rosemary Salmon and other recipes with subtle citrus notes.

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Kale, Quinoa, and Avocado Salad with Lemon Dijon Vinaigrette

Kale, Quinoa, and Avocado Salad with Lemon Dijon Vinaigrette
Happyschmoopies

"Excellent! I didn't have quinoa but did have a brown rice, rye, quinoa mix. Served the kale, rice, avocado, and red peppers with the dressing over baked salmon," Fit RD says.

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Easy Bok Choy

Easy Bok Choy
lutzflcat

"Excellent. Perfect complement to grilled salmon with wasabi/soy sauce," Joel Lipin writes. Try this with Honey-Ginger Grilled Salmon.

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Sriracha Honey Brussels Sprouts

Sriracha Honey Brussels Sprouts
lutzflcat

Sriracha brings the heat to these Brussels sprouts. Try them with Simple Salmon with Balsamic Sauce.

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Lime Cilantro Rice

Lime Cilantro Rice
lutzflcat

Home cooks rave that this aromatic rice dish brings zing even to well-seasoned salmon, including Margarita Salmon and Firecracker Grilled Alaska Salmon.

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Asian Cucumber and Peanut Salad

Asian Cucumber and Peanut Salad
lutzflcat

With ingredients like chili-garlic sauce, white vinegar, fish sauce, sugar, and chopped peanuts, this salad could transform even the most basic salmon into a memorable meal. But forget basic — pair this salad with Chef John's flavor-packed, five-minute Fast Salmon with a Ginger Glaze.

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Couscous Primavera

Couscous Primavera
Allrecipes Magazine

"I served it with salmon, and it was a hit with my husband. It was easy to make and was a quick side dish to serve," Kathleen Doupnik says. Serve it with lemony Sheet Pan Salmon for an extra dose of veggies.

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Citrus-Ginger Roasted Beets and Carrots

Citrus-Ginger Roasted Beets and Carrots
Linda T

Dressed in a citrus-ginger vinaigrette, earthy-sweet beets and carrots would taste AND look wonderful next to Cedar Planked Salmon.

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Easy Garlic Kale

Easy Garlic Kale
Melissa Goff

Super Simple Salmon + Easy Garlic Kale = one of the easiest, healthiest dinners out there.

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Light Lemon Pesto Pasta

light lemon pesto pasta
Light Lemon Pesto Pasta. Baking Nana

You don't have to stick with spaghetti (home cooks have tried it with farfalle and fettuccine), but you *do* have to serve this dish with salmon. Baked Salmon II, perhaps?

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Cauliflower Tabbouleh

Cauliflower Tabbouleh
Soup Loving Nicole

This crunchy raw salad would cut through rich entrees like Salmon with Garlic-Butter Sauce thanks to parsley, mint, and lemon juice.

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Oven-Roasted Asparagus

side view of a square white platter of roasted asparagus, focusing on the tips
Kim's Cooking Now

"Our favorite way to make asparagus! Served it with grilled salmon — excellent," VWS writes.

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Asian Coleslaw

Asian Coleslaw
Sylvia Robertson

Thanks to peanut butter — ahem, a savory secret ingredient — this slaw would be irresistible with Sweet Glazed Salmon.

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Gourmet Mushroom Risotto

risotto with mushrooms and parmesan cheese
Tina Foley

This creamy, Italian-style risotto is worth the wait. It's an excellent complement to salmon's mild flavor. Recipe creator Myleen Sagrado Sjodin suggests testing the rice to make sure it's al dente: "or resist slightly to the tooth but not be hard in the center."

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Mediterranean Farro Salad

A colorful farro salad on a white plate
SunnyDaysNora

Farro is a favorite ancient grain around here — it's high in fiber and protein, and has a mild, nutty flavor that plays well with others. Here it's tossed in a Greek vinaigrette along with peppers, sun-dried tomatoes, red onion, parsley, and feta.

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Sarah's Rice Pilaf

rice pilaf with scallions on plate
abapplez

In this take on classic rice pilaf, orzo pasta, onion, garlic, rice, and chicken broth are combined until light and fluffy. Don't be fooled by the simple ingredient list, reviewers say this pilaf does not disappoint: "This dish was incredibly good...something that I would definitely make again!" raves reviewer larkspur.

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Adrienne's Cucumber Salad

cucumber salad in white bowl with dill garnish
lutzflcat

This cool and refreshing cucumber salad is the perfect pairing for rich, oily salmon. Reviewer Lauren Sarges suggests you salt the cucumbers first to draw out excess water.

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Instant Pot Linguine with Pesto and Peas

pasta with peas and pesto
fabeveryday

Similar to pasta primavera, this creamy pasta side dish makes for a hearty meal when paired with salmon. The addition of prepared pesto sauce brings herbaceous flavor.

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Related:

Four Lime-Marinated Baked Salmon Filets sitting on a wooden cutting board with fresh lime wedges.
Pictured: Lime-Marinated Grilled Salmon. Allrecipes Magazine
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