Looking for tasty side dish ideas to serve with fish? You’re in the right place! Whether you’re making baked salmon, cod fillets, or fish en papillote, there’s so much more you can serve than just plain white rice. I’m sharing my 20 favorite sides here to help you mix things up and make your fish dinner truly shine!
On my blog, I share lots of simple, colorful and often seasonal recipes, and of course, I love cooking fish! You’ll find, for example:
And because a good fish dish deserves a side dish to match, I’ve put together a selection of my favorite ideas here: crispy potatoes, roasted vegetables, fresh salads, homemade purées… There’s something for everyone!
Carbs
They’re often my first choice when preparing fish. Potatoes can be steamed, roasted, mashed… and everyone loves them!
1. Spicy Air Fryer Roasted Potatoes
Crisp on the outside, melt-in-the-mouth on the inside, they’re ready in 25 minutes and much healthier than traditional fries.
2. Crispy Rosemary Potatoes
It’s quick and easy, and with a little fresh rosemary, the smell coming out of the oven is just irresistible! They’re crispy on the outside, melt-in-the-mouth on the inside, and go equally well with roast fish or a light sauce.
3. Crispy Smashed potatoes
Crunchy, melt-in-the-mouth and ultra-simple to prepare, these crispy mashed potatoes go superbly well with roasted or grilled fish.
4. Crispy Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries
A more original alternative to classic French fries! I love serving them with breaded or grilled fish, as they add a nice sweet-savory touch.
5. Creamy Parmesan Polenta
When I serve fish in sauce, I often turn to this polenta. It’s ultra-melting, quick to make, and the Parmesan gives it a comforting touch that I love.
6. Creamy Lemon and Parmesan Risotto
A simple but very tasty risotto. The lemon adds a touch of freshness that goes very well with the fish, and the Parmesan makes it creamy without being heavy.
7. Alsatian Potato Salad
When I’m in the mood for a simple but flavorful side dish, I make this Alsatian potato salad. It’s tasty, slightly spicy, and works very well with cold or grilled fish.
8. Rice
And when I’m short on time or want to keep things simple, I often prepare rice or quinoa with my fish. These are easy-to-prepare bases, which can be flavored with a little lemon, fresh herbs or a light sauce to add flavor without too much effort.
Vegetables
When I’m in the mood for a healthy, quick and tasty side dish, I opt for oven-roasted or pan-fried vegetables. It immediately adds texture to the plate.
9. Roasted Zucchini with Healthy Aioli Dip and Mint
A fresh, tasty recipe that I like to make in summer. It works wonderfully with grilled fish.
10. White Bean and Tomato Stew with Spinach
A richly flavored vegetable protein side dish. Ideal for grilled fish!
11. Broccoli Chickpea Salad with Tahini Vinaigrette
A salad full of pep! I love the tahini sauce, which adds an original, creamy touch. It goes wonderfully with baked salmon or a papillote of white fish.
12. Provencal Tomatoes
A great classic that I often make in summer. It’s simple, fragrant, and the herbs add an immediate Mediterranean touch to the plate. Ideal with grilled fish, sardines or baked cod.
13. Vegetarian Stuffed Zucchini with Polenta
I love serving these stuffed zucchinis with baked fish. They’re light, flavorful and easy to prepare in advance – perfect for a simple, complete meal.
14. Vegetable Tian
One of my favorite summer side dishes! This melt-in-your-mouth, colorful tian goes perfectly with almost any fish!
15. Ratatouille, traditional recipe
A great Mediterranean classic that I make as soon as the summer vegetables arrive. With grilled or pan-fried fish, it’s simple, healthy and full of sunshine.+
16. Rainbow Carrots with Thyme and Honey
These roasted carrots are one of my favorite accompaniments to fish. The honey and thyme make them melt-in-your-mouth fragrant, with just the right amount of sweetness.
17. Oven-Roasted Winter Vegetables
When the weather’s cold, I love to prepare a plate of roasted winter vegetables. It’s simple, colorful and the perfect accompaniment to baked or pan-fried fish.
Salads
I like to add a salad to fish, especially when I’m in the mood for a light side dish. It adds freshness, a little crunch and often a little acidity that makes all the difference on the plate.
18. Cucumber salad with Sour Cream
This is one of the salads I make most often when the weather is hot and I’m serving fish. It’s ultra-fresh and brings just the right amount of lightness to the plate. The dill goes particularly well with the salmon!
19. Zesty Quinoa Salad Lime Vinaigrette
When I’m in the mood for something fresh and a little original with fish, I make this salad. The lime and mint add a lot of pizzazz, and it’s perfect with grilled or marinated fish.
20. Tomato and Cucumber Salad
This is the ultra-basic salad I make all summer long. Ripe tomatoes, fresh cucumbers… it goes with everything, especially grilled or en papillote fish.