What To Serve With Salmon – Oma's Top German Side Dishes for Salmon

➤ by Lydia Fulson

Enjoy these lecker side dishes to serve with salmon. Salmon deserves something delicious to accompany its great taste. These sides are full of potential. You're certain to find the perfect one for YOU.

As you scroll through these mouth-watering side dishes, you're guaranteed to find one that's to your liking. My Oma got me hooked on them, and now I'm here to get you hooked on them too.

Maybe you recognize some of these yummy German sides from growing up with your Mutti. Now, you can make them and relive all of those memories as you enjoy them with your favorite fish, salmon!

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Not knowing what to serve, whether you're expecting company or have to make sudden dinner plans, can certainly be overwhelming. Well, my Oma and her irresistible recipes are here to help!

But for starters, if you're looking for 'sides to serve with salmon', first, you need a good salmon recipe for your main course ... of course!

That salmon you see in the picture above is my salmon fillets recipe. Adding parmesan cheese into your breadcrumbs is a great add-in! It just takes a few simple ingredients, and 20 minutes of your time! Don't forget to drizzle lemon juice on top! 

If you're looking for something a little more comforting and filling, try this salmon casserole with spinach. A great weeknight dinner recipe and all it needs is a cozy side to complete the meal.

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Going down the list, we'll start with salads, then carb/ potato sides, and we'll finish it off with LOTS of bold and delicious veggies! Alright, let's kick off our top sides to serve with salmon by starting with...

Salad Sides

Everyone loves a classic German salad. These salad sides are often served right along with the dinner, rather than as a course before dinner, although they could be served before dinner if one wished.

1. Northern German Cucumber Salad

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Prepare to hear lots of "oos' and "aahs" with this great side choice, traditional German Cucumber Salad, aka Gurkensalat. The Northern version, made with cream.

This one is my Oma's favorite! Since her Mutti is from Northern Germany, this is the salad she grew up knowing and still loving to this day. It's always a staple at our summertime family get-togethers.

Using sour cream, mayo and yogurt are very common in Northern german heritage. They are used in lots of foods and cooking, ESPECIALLY in salads. Try this salad with an easy salmon recipe from above for a wunderbar dinner.

2. Tomato Salad

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Oma's tomato salad recipe, aka Tomatensalat, is such a refreshing treat. It looks like summer in a bowl. It's such an easy side dish, and the best part is it's one of those salads that pair greatly with just about anything, especially salmon. 

I love eating this salad as a salsa by scooping it onto tortilla nacho chips. It's such a versatile recipe. The kick of flavor from the balsamic vinegar and the fresh juiciness from the tomatoes is unbeatable. Can you see it already- This refreshing salad sitting on the plate beside your beautifully cooked salmon fillets? What a picture-perfect plate!

Next, let's check out some potato-y sides. 

Potato Sides

There's nothing like having potatoes as a German side. Potatoes are served with almost everything in Germany. There are just so many delicious ways to have them. So, let's check out a couple!

3. Hasselback Potatoes

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 Hasselback potatoes, aka Fächerkartoffeln! Hasselbacks are a great way to WOW your guests at family get-togethers. Don't they look so perfectly presentable?

This healthy side is easy to make, easy to dress, and can go with pretty much anything! Chopping the potatoes to look this way may seem like a hassle ... (Get it?) ;) But it's actually super simple. Hasselbacks are a great way to still get that comforting feeling from the classic potatoes, but make it look classy and fun!

4. Fried Potatoes

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If you're looking for something super quick to serve with salmon, German fried potatoes, aka, Bratkartoffeln, are the way to go. The best side dishes can be done quickly, and this one can be on your plate in 15 minutes!

I've used this recipe several times and its versatility makes it better and better every time. Fried potatoes have been my family's go-to camping dish for years. Quick and easy, over the fire. Season and serve with sour cream for a real treat.

If you want to turn these Bratkartoffeln into a light dinner, you can pour beaten eggs over the potatoes, gently toss and cook for a few minutes until eggs are set. Now you have something very similar to Hoppel Poppel! My Dad does this with shredded cheese on top!

The next recipe is an air fryer favorite! But first, Let's talk ... air fryers! Since it seems they've hit their prime time! SO, what exactly is an air fryer, and why is it so popular?

Air Fryers?

Well, the air fryer is basically a mini oven, but it circulates hot air quicker, making them work almost twice as fast as the normal oven. They make for a healthy alternative as well, because they use much less, to almost no oil compared to deep fryers. Less oil, less grease, less time, and less mess! 

Many fryers will also come with an air fryer rotisserie basket, for rotating things like french fries, and even a small chicken! Speaking of chicken, be sure to check out my very own rotisserie chicken made in the air fryer!

5. Air Fryer Sweet Potato

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My sweet potatoes in the air fryer, aka, Luftfritteuse Süßkartoffeln is the perfect pairing to any salmon dish. Such rich-tasting fish needs a side with rich flavor, and this easy recipe is just the one.

I made this side with some simple seasoning and a light brush of a little olive oil, in the Instant Vortex Plus Air Fryer Oven. It's become one of my very best air fryer recipes to make and is my favorite way of cooking them as well. However, if you don't have an air fryer, these can be done in the oven too!

While sweet potatoes aren't traditionally German, they are still a great honorable mention! 

YUM! Alright, now let's get onto our multitude of vegetable sides! 

Vegetable Sides 

Vegetable sides are a must. If you're like Oma, you may like to serve more than one with meals. Oma always has two sides for our dinner parties, one being red cabbage of course!

But when it comes to sides that go great with salmon, we're going to start with some greens.

6. Creamy Brussels Sprouts

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Looking for something bold and brave to pair with your salmon? Well, these Brussel sprouts, aka Rosenkohl, with a creamy sauce would be a lecker choice.

Brussel sprouts are Oma's favorite to serve along with her red cabbage. I never used to enjoy Brussel sprouts growing up until I had Oma's. (Although, I don't think many kids take a liking to them right away.) ;)

Oma loves to add extra flavor by mixing cream and butter in with the sprouts. That extra creaminess kind of mutes the boldness of the veggie itself and gives it a lovely flavor. This is a great way to get the kids used to them.

Want to know which recipes are Oma's favorites? Grab your copy of her very favorite recipes in Favorite German Recipes eCookbook.

Take a peek at all Oma's eCookbooks. They make sharing your German heritage a delicious adventure!

7. Roasted Brussels with Balsamic Vinegar

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These roasted Brussels sprouts with balsamic vinegar and maple syrup, aka Rosenkohl mit Balsamico-Essig und Ahornsirup, are so quick and easy to prepare, yet so delicious! This recipe was made by my lovely Aunt Sylvie, who has a great taste for fun flavor. 

These sprouts are oil-free and oh-so-good for you. Use fresh or frozen brussels sprouts, or whichever is on hand for a yummy and healthy side choice. These brussels are sure to make it into your recipe book as a new go-to!

8. Oma's Asparagus

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Learn how to cook asparagus the German way. Asparagus recipes are HUGE in Germany, typically anything using white asparagus. Although, finding white asparagus here can be a tricky task, unless you can find it jarred. But not all hope is lost, as green gets the job done too!

It may taste just as good on its own, but when you top it with that homemade Hollandaise sauce, you're really getting the full German experience.

You may be thinking that Hollandaise sauce is just something fancy you only get in restaurant because it's too hard to make. Well ... in this recipe, Oma tells you how to make your own using simple ingredients! Now you can enjoy your own 'fancy' sauce from home.

9. Green Beans

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Green beans, aka Grüne Bohnen, are such a classic and delicious side dish. Tenderly cooked, and made with a traditional creamy white sauce. This was my Uroma's (great-grandmother's) favorite veggie recipe!

 If you're not sure what herbs to use when cooking green beans, try Bohnenkraut ... It's literally called the bean herb! 

All thanks to Oma serving her amazing green bean soup to us all the time growing up, beans have become one of my favorite veggies as well. 

10. Baked Tomatoes

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Another beautiful tomato side. Oma's roasted cherry tomatoes, aka, Geröstete Kirschtomaten. This is without a doubt a healthy side choice and it's vegan! This is a great option if you're looking for something yummy to make from those homegrown tomatoes. 

During the summer season, my Dad and I always love snacking on our homegrown cherry tomatoes from our little cherry tomato tree we keep on the deck. (The closer to us, the better ... for snacking purposes.) ;)

These tasty roasted tomatoes present so beautifully with their bold colors and flavors. Try seasoning with things like rosemary, basil, and thyme. For more seasoning ideas visit the link above!

11. Pan-Roasted Carrots

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Last but not least, Oma's pan-cooked carrot recipe, aka Karotten. This is another super quick side, taking just 20 minutes of your time! 

Pan-frying the carrots is one of the simplest ways of cooking them quickly. It was also how my Oma's Mutti made them. They taste just as good as being done in the oven! Top with fresh herbs such as parsley, or dill, and you have the perfect side dish for your salmon dinner.

Don't those all look so incredibly lecker? Now that we've made it to the end of our top favorite sides to serve with salmon, it's time to get cooking and creating!

Just follow the links, get your favorite apron out and enjoy some kitchen time.

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More about me >

Hi, I'm Oma Gerhild! As a food writer and cookbook author, I'm always looking to find ways to pass on my German heritage using local ingredients. Quick and easy. That's my goal. Wunderbar food. That's the result.