Beautiful golden brown and crisp on top with a medium-rare center, pan-fried salmon is easy to cook and offers elegant plate arrangement. It is most desirable cooking technique to prepare salmon for salad and salmon patties.
The mild salmon seasoned with olive oil, salt and pepper enhances the original flavor to pair wonderfully with any side dishes. Simply serve with your favorite sides and sauces for a complete meal.
Due to its versatility and flavorful taste, pan fried salmon is easy to pair with different cuisines and vegetable preparations.
What to serve with pan-fried salmon? Pan-fried salmon is universally accepted protein that can be served with many side dishes including rice, pasta, salad and wine.
For healthy options, prepare grilled, roasted, or mashed veggies on the side of the main entrée. The most common vegetables to serve with pan-fried salmon are green beans, broccolini, brussels sprouts, bok choy, asparagus, corn on the cob, snap peas, carrots, broccoli, and sweet potatoes.
Pan-fried salmon is easy to prepare and does not require fancy kitchen tools to cook. Simple home staple ingredients with a heavy sauce pan is all you need.
This article will help you identify the right foods to pair with pan-fried salmon. Answered below are frequently asked questions about what to serve with pan-fried salmon to make a nutritious and delicious meal to serve for either lunch or dinner.
Is salmon better baked or pan-fried?
Most people prefer the taste of pan-fried salmon over baked or poached. As a result, most fine dining restaurants serve salmon that has been panfried rather than using other cooking techniques.
Cooking salmon on the stovetop is an easy way of preparing it. Beware because salmon fried in a pan can easily get burnt or dried out without caution, and cooking the inside can be a bit more challenging if you like well done as opposed to medium rare.
If you don’t want to spend time heating the oven or spending too much time in front of the stove, then pan-frying is an easy method for cooking salmon.
For a subtle taste and increased health, roasting a salmon fillet in the oven is always the way to go. Additionally, you can toss vegetables on the side to cook at the same time.
If looking for a low-fat option, poaching salmon helps produce a very tender and clean-tasting fish.
What is pan-fried salmon usually served with?
Pan-fried salmon is usually served with grains, fruits, pasta, rice, or wine, and these ingredients and condiments determine the end result of the dish. Salmon is a versatile fish that pairs well with sweet, salty, and savory components.
- Fruits: golden delicious, granny smith, grapefruits, lemon, lime, mangoes, oranges, pineapple
- Nuts: pistachios
- Herbs: basil, bay leaf, cilantro, dill, mint, parsley, rosemary, thyme, tarragon
- Spices: cardamom, cayenne, cinnamon, cumin, nutmeg, saffron
- Legumes: fava, flageolets, white beans, lentils, peas
- Grains: polenta
- Eggs: hard-boiled, scrambled
- Condiments: mayonnaise, white miso, mirin, mustard, ponzu sauce, soy sauce, tabasco sauce, vinegar
- Oil: canola, corn, grapeseed, peanut, sesame, olive, truffle
- Rice: basmati, white rice
- Wine: champagne, dry white or red cabernet sauvignon, pinot noir
Best vegetables with pan-fried salmon
Roasted, boiled, sautéed, braised and grilled vegetables are good to serve with pan-fried salmon. A sprinkle of salt, pepper, and butter tossed together is all you need for these vegetables to make a healthy side dish options for pan-fried salmon.
Here are some of the best vegetables to serve with panfried salmon:
- artichoke hearts
- asparagus
- cabbage
- carrots
- celery
- fennel
- garlic
- ginger
- leeks
- potatoes
- shallots
- spinach
- watercress
Best sauce with pan-fried salmon
Choosing a sauce to serve with salmon is important for making a flavorful dish. The most classic sauce that is commonly served with pan-fried salmon is lemon butter sauce, ingredients include garlic, butter, lemon and broth of your choice.
Other chef’s go-to sauce for pan-fried salmon are:
- béarnaise
- beurre blanc
- brown butter hollandaise
- demi-glace
- gastrique
- gribiche
- pesto
- vinaigrette
Best salads to serve with pan-fried salmon
If looking for a new side dish to pair with panfried salmon, try healthier approaches like a fresh chopped salad. Depending on the greens and salad dressing, pan roasted salmon can taste sweet, salty, tangy, and savory.
Here are simple and easy salmon salads and dressing flavor combination for you to try:
- kale salad + caesar dressing
- arugula salad + lemon dijon vinaigrette dressing
- asian salad + honey sesame dressing
- spinach salad + balsamic vinegar dressing
- greek salad + lemon basil dressing
What flavors go well with pan-fried salmon?
Generally, herbs and spices like rosemary, bay leaves, thyme, cilantro, fennel, parsley, dill, basil, sage, or tarragon go well with pan-fried salmon. These flavors call for creativity on the side of the cook to make the dish more delicious and less fishy tasting.
Eat With Pan-Fried Salmon: Conclusion
Pan-fried salmon tastes mildly flavored when a fresh piece is cooked to perfection. It has a subtle and very refreshing taste.
The taste of salmon will vary depending on the way it is cooked and the type of salmon being served. Pan-frying salmon makes it more aromatic and a little bit oily, which significantly elevates the taste.
When the salmon is nicely pan-fried and has crispy edge with pinkish tender inside, it can be served with rice, pasta, salads, and wine.
For healthier options, a side of roasted vegetables such as green beans, broccolini, brussels sprouts, bok choy, asparagus, corn, snap peas, carrots, broccoli, and sweet potatoes works well.
There are many ways to combine flavors with salmon to execute sweet, tangy, citrusy, creamy, and savory dishes with variety of ingredients from fruits, nuts, herbs, spices, and many more.
When making pan-fried salmon, use this guide to select delicious sides, sauces, salads, and vegetables to make nutritious and incredibly delicious meal to enjoy with loved ones.