What to Serve with Fish Sandwiches? 10 BEST Side Dishes

If sandwiches are your go-to snack options, you’ve likely tried a fish sandwich and experienced how addicting they can be.

Even though fish sandwiches are only regular sandwiches with baked or fried fish fillet, they make a stark difference.

So, it is only natural to customize your sides to better fit the change in flavor.

This article will provide you with ten options regarding what to serve with fish sandwiches; serve them on weekly rotations, and you’ll never have a boring meal.

Why Consider Serving Side Dishes for Fish Sandwiches?

Fish sandwiches are essentially fish and a few ingredients sandwiched in bread slices, so they can be pretty dry on your palate.

And the only way to prevent a bland meal is to include side dishes that balance your meal’s flavor and nutrients.

Fish sandwiches can have anything from savory sauces to tangy mayo and crunchy veggies.

So, you want your side dishes to comprise contrasting and complementing flavors.

You also want to align the nutrition of the sides to your sandwich.

What to Serve with Fish Sandwiches? 10 BEST Side Dishes

There aren’t many ways to mess up a fish sandwich meal prep.

But here are ten sides that will make your meals incredibly better.

1 – Vegetable Tofu Soup

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A comforting soup is a must-have when you’re serving something as compact as a fish sandwich.

The sandwich has fish, veggies, and bread, so a hearty tofu soup will make your meal more diverse yet combine the ingredients in a delectable harmony.

Colorful and crunchy veggies will add more dimension to your soup and make it more nutritionally balanced.

If you don’t like your tofu tasting bland while the other veggies overflow with a savory richness, consider marinating it for an hour before adding it to the broth.

You can use a mixture of basil, rosemary, oregano, and olive oil to get the most flavorful marinade.

2 – Summer Rolls

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Vermicelli noodles, vibrant veggies, and umami seafood wrapped in translucent rice paper are an excellent way to make your meals quicker and more exciting on warm, lazy days.

These summer rolls are effortless and come together in under 20 minutes; you don’t have to sweat to prepare a side dish.

To keep the meal prep to a minimum, use fresh veggies that taste best when raw.

You can never go wrong with zucchini, peppers, and lettuce.

You can replace seafood with any animal protein of your choice.

This side dish is light and fresh and is nutrient-dense despite its appearance.

It’ll keep your guests entertained any day.

3 – Guava Compote

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Cooking guava in sweet syrup/juice makes a pleasant side dish you can enjoy as a dessert or a garnish.

It also works as a palate cleanser, especially when your meal has something as flavorful as a fish sandwich.

Fresh, dried, or canned guava works well for this dish, depending on what’s available to you.

Remember to include some guava chunks because that makes a compote more exciting to eat.

You can serve the compote immediately after preparation or chill them for a few minutes for a more refreshing meal.

4 – Pickled Watermelon Rind

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A watermelon’s sweetness goes beyond its red flesh. Yes, you read that right.

The watermelon rind that likely ends up in the trash or compost pile can be as sweet and refreshing as you want it to be.

This pickle makes delicious appetizers or snacks and has a texture that holds enough pickling juices to make it as juicy as watermelon flesh.

As regards flavor, you can consider it a well-rounded pickle.

White vinegar introduces an astringent taste, while granulated sugar brings subtle sweetness.

Besides, if your pickle has cinnamon sticks and peppercorns, they’ll give warm and spicy accents that make the rinds irresistible.

5 – Olive Dip

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Green olives, scallions, sour cream, and cream cheese are the star ingredients of this deliciously salty and refreshing dip.

It’s perfect to pair alongside sweet and crunchy fish; it’s also suitable as an additional layer in the sandwich filling.

The cream and cheese have a big role in this dish; they will help balance the bitterness of olives to make the dip suitable for every palate.

This side dish tastes best when chilled, so you might want to make it ahead.

Also, it can last up to 4 days in the fridge, so you don’t have to worry about having leftovers.

6 – Eggplant Parmesan

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Having a baked eggplant dish that melts in your mouth is a delightful experience.

But palatal satisfaction isn’t all there is to an eggplant parmesan; its cheesy texture contrasts and complements the dry and crunchy fish sandwich.

The cheese, herbs, and tomato sauce in this side dish will introduce aromatic elements to your meal.

Gruyere and mozzarella are cheeses that melt beautifully and leave a lasting aroma from start to finish.

To add more texture to the dish, bread the eggplant in panko before baking them.

Once the exterior is golden and ready for the next bake, you want to add enough seasonings between each layer.

7 – Lemon Pie

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Having pies on a dinner table always make a meal feel complete.

They can be light or dense and have the most diverse flavors that pair well with all food.

And a lemon pie is just the perfect option for fish sandwiches on a hot summer day.

This pie is tender and flaky with a mild tanginess that refreshes your palate.

It tastes even better when you serve it chilled.

Besides, refrigeration also prevents the meringue from getting soggy.

Best of all, this fancy pie can take anywhere from 40 minutes to several hours, depending on the recipe you choose.

So you have complete flexibility over the recipe.

8 – Cabbage Soup

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Slurping on a warm bowl of cabbage soup is the definition of comfort food.

The broth, texture, and aroma of this soup are enough to make any picky eater switch sides and choose veggies over meat.

A cabbage soup balances the dryness of a fish sandwich and introduces complementing flavors that make your meal more rounded.

And it’s a must-have side dish considering the few ingredients it needs.

While cabbage is the star ingredient of the soup, you can also add chunks of meat or meatballs to add more variety.

This soup is a rich source of fiber and vitamins K and C, so it is hearty and nutritious.

9 – Hummus Wraps

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Dipping sandwiches in hummus for an extra flavor is never a bad combination.

But don’t stop there; create a new dish using hummus, veggies, and tortillas.

Store-bought or homemade makes no difference in this dish because you’ll eventually mix them with veggies.

This side dish introduces crunchy textures and refreshing flavors to complement the tender sandwiches.

It is a rich plant protein and fiber source and will keep you satiated for long hours.

You can replace the tortillas with pita bread or dosa if you want a slightly tangy flavor in your wraps.

Or, if you want to go all-veg, consider replacing the tortillas with lettuce.

10 – Chili Stew

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This cold-weather stew uses ground beef, tomatoes, black beans, and loads of chili flakes and peppers to create a spicy and savory flavor on your palate.

Its addicting heat makes it a delightful addition to the sandwich’s tender fish and dry bread.

There are many seasonings and aromatics that go into creating the complex flavor profile of a beef chili stew.

But the best part is that they’re not rare ingredients; you’ll likely find all of them in your kitchen.

This stew tastes best when it’s right off the stove, so remember to reheat it if it has gotten even a tad warm.

Conclusion

Fish sandwiches are compact and contain almost all categories of food.

So, you want your side dishes to reflect a more diverse flavor profile while providing complementary nutrients.

You can achieve a suitable combo with a hearty broth or a savory stew, enjoy filling wraps, or relish the lightness of summer rolls and pies- the options are endless.

Whatever sides you choose, it always helps to align your food with the meal ambiance you want to achieve.