What to Serve with Pan Fried Salmon? 10 BEST Side Dishes

Pan-fried salmon. Who doesn’t love it?

Unless you’re a “carnitarian,” this globally known dish is relished and loved by the masses.

No doubt this dish tastes fantastic in itself, but an appropriate side dish will make it more enjoyable and enriching too.

Pan-fried salmon is a dry cooking method in which the outer flesh gets crispy, but the inside remains moist and tender.

Expect flavor variations in this dish as people infuse different ingredients into it.

Given this, choosing a side item to go with gets tricky.

So, if you’re wondering what to serve with pan-fried salmon, we have it covered.

Let’s dive in.

Why Consider Serving Side Dishes with Pan Fried Salmon?

A side dish helps balance the nutrients. In this case, salmon is a rich protein source but lacks fibers.

It’s a type of carbohydrate mostly present in plants.

Perhaps adding a vegetable-based dish as a side item would be excellent.

Including a side, the item isn’t mandatory and is entirely your choice.

However, it would be better to consider adding a side dish with pan-fried salmon if you want a healthy, nutritious meal.

You don’t have to make a fancy meal. A simple dish that complements the main dish would suffice.

What to Serve with Pan Fried Salmon? 10 BEST Side Dishes

Here is a list of the ten best side dishes to go with pan-fried salmon:

1 – Cucumber Dill Salad

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Cucumber dill salad with salmon will be perfect if you’re in the mood for a refreshing-light meal.

Moreover, this salad is easy to prepare and requires minimal ingredients.

The ingredients are cucumber, dill, and sour cream.

Surprisingly this salad is packed with flavor making it an excellent dish to go with pan-fried salmon.

Besides, it will only ten minutes to prepare this salad.

Take a chance with this pair and be amazed at how incredible they taste together.

This combo would be perfect to have on a summer evening.

2 – Cilantro Lime Rice

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Another refreshing side dish to go with pan-fried salmon is lime rice with cilantro.

Some may not find this dish exciting but trust us when we say it makes a fantastic pair with salmon.

Besides, the recipe is simple and takes less than thirty minutes to prepare.

Ingredients required to make this dish are rice, cilantro, fresh lemon juice, water, and salt.

We recommend basmati or jasmine rice, but other regular rice would also do.

Wash the rice first before you start cooking.

You may need a pot or pressure cooker to make this dish.

Add all the ingredients and then proceed with cooking.

3 – Coleslaw

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Coleslaw is a versatile dish and a favorite side item for many.

It blends with most of the main dishes because of its subtle yet refreshing flavor.

It’d be a crime not to add coleslaw to the list.

Moreover, this side item is perfect for those who are busy or prefer a simple dish.

The ingredients required are cabbage, mayonnaise or sour cream, and vinaigrette.

All you need is a mixing bowl to mix these ingredients.

You may add other vegetables like carrots and red cabbage too.

The entire preparation process will take less than ten minutes.

So, preparing this salad would be great if you’re in a hurry.

4 – Honey Glazed Carrots

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Carrots are a rich source of vitamin C and a versatile vegetable that go well with most ingredients.

Honey-glazed carrots are savory and sweet.

Despite the contrasting flavor, this side dish makes an excellent pair with pan-fried salmon.

It’s good to take risks sometimes, and we recommend giving this combo a chance.

This simple dish takes only twenty minutes to prepare and requires minimal ingredients.

All you need is orange juice, brown sugar, carrots, and honey.

These ingredients, when infused, deliver an incredible flavor.

Give it a shot if you haven’t tried it yet.

5 – Lemon Roasted Potatoes

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Roasted potatoes are a popular side dish that goes well with most dishes and is most loved by the masses, rightly so because it tastes incredible and quite filling as well.

We included this dish because it’s simple to prepare and takes less.

If you have a busy schedule yet want to have a side item to go with your salmon, this is a side item we recommend.

The ingredients required are potatoes, rosemary, lemon, and garlic.

The tangy flavor from the lemon gives a refreshing taste and enhances the meal overall.

It’s an effortless dish that even a beginner can prepare it.

6 – Sauteed Mushroom Salad

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A warm mushroom salad and pan-fried salmon make a divine pair.

Not only do they taste incredible together, but they are pretty nutritious too.

While salmon is rich in protein, a mushroom is rich in Vitamin D and other nutrients.

Even better for those who are on a balanced diet since it’s fat-free and low-calorie.

You may choose any mushroom type as there are variants of it.

Besides mushrooms, other ingredients include olive oil, spinach, sesame dressing, shallots, kale, and salt.

Sauté the ingredients in a large pan for seven to ten minutes.

Serve hot to get its enriching and warm flavor.

7 – Arugula Salad

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Arugula is a green leafy vegetable that is quite popular among health enthusiasts.

This cruciferous vegetable is nutrient-dense, providing multiple health benefits.

Unlike other greens, it has a peppery taste making it a popular ingredient in most dishes.

Pair arugula salad to go with pan-fried salmon, as they make an excellent pair.

Also, if you prefer a light-balanced meal, look no further.

We recommend using a baby arugula to make this salad.

These are the ingredients required for dressing: shallots, olive oil, fresh lemon juice, salt, and shaved parmesan cheese.

The entire process will take five to seven minutes.

How simple can it get?

8 – Grilled Asparagus

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Grilled asparagus and pan-fried salmon are like a standard pair.

Not mentioning this side dish would be a disservice from our end.

Asparagus, when grilled especially with olive oil and garlic, gives an enriching flavor, even better when you top it off with Hollandaise sauce.

This simple dish is rich in flavor because of the sauce.

Give a new twist to your regular grilled asparagus by adding this sauce and having it with salmon.

Expect a burst of flavors in your mouth.

If you have a guest for dinner, let them experience this pair with a twist.

9 – Caprese Salad

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This summer, make your day exciting by preparing Caprese salad to go with pan-fried salmon.

This salad should be on your list if you’re from a warm region.

It’s refreshing and requires only six ingredients.

These are the items you need: fresh basil leaves, olive oil, mozzarella cheese, black pepper, and basil leaves.

The prep time to make this salad is ten minutes.

The refreshing flavor with an aromatic smell from basil leaves enhances the taste of the salmon.

10 – Vegetable Stir Fry

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Check your pantry and take out all the vegetables to make this classic dish.

Stir-fried vegetables and pan-fried salmon are a match made in heaven.

The best part is that this dish can be on your table in less than 30 minutes.

Some vegetables that suit well are carrots, mushrooms, red or yellow bell peppers, broccoli, and sugar snap peas.

Take a non-stick pan to stir-fry these vegetables.

Use olive oil, preferably to give a rich flavor, and add soy sauce at the end.

Conclusion

We hope this post was helpful for you in choosing a side dish to have with pan-fried salmon.

The side items mentioned are versatile and easy to prepare.

Besides salmon, you may have other main dishes as well.

Pan-fried salmon is an incredible dish but having it alone seems rather dull.

Preparing side dishes might be a hassle, but we recommend including one if you have time to prepare.

You may refer to the list of side items we have mentioned or improvise it.