Easy trout side dish and serving ideas. From lemon-sautéed green beans to beer-battered Cajun fries, and Caesar salad to vegetable rice pilaf, discover what to serve with trout today.
Trout is a beautiful freshwater fish with a mild flavor and delicate texture. While often compared to salmon, it is much lighter and can be enhanced with marinades or seasonings much more easily. This unique fish is the perfect summer seafood dish and can be baked, pan-fried, or smoked easily at home.
But what to serve with trout to best complement its unique flavor profile?
From Greek potato salad to lemon parmesan asparagus, these trout side dish ideas will round off your on-the-go meal perfectly.
Double Beer Battered Cajun Fries
There are ways to take your trout dish further than adding fries to the plate. By double-battering fries using beer to create an even lighter batter and adding in cajun seasoning, you’ll have a french fry that’s excellent on its own or with dip. Trout is a great starting point, but this versatile side goes well with just about anything.
Try serving these crunchy and savory Cajun fries with any seafood dish, such as catfish, lobster, scallops, or even a burger. For a crispier fry, cut your potatoes into French fry-sized sticks and soak them in cold water for at least four hours before frying.
Try This Recipe: These double beer battered Cajun fries use spices like onion powder, paprika, garlic salt, and Cajun spice. Customize them to your taste.
Vegetable Rice Pilaf
The great thing about rice is it can be customized and flavored to suit a variety of main dishes, and it’s quick. This vegetable rice pilaf comes together in only 20 minutes and can be as straightforward or as extravagant as you want with just one skillet or pot.
Start by sauteeing the onions with spices and chicken broth, bring to a boil, and then add white or jasmine rice. It’s a simple foundation recipe you can make your own by adding frozen carrots, peas, corn, broccoli, or other vegetables you have in the refrigerator. Serve with trout, chicken, pork, or beef.
Try This Recipe: This vegetable rice pilaf is the perfect dish when you need a fuss-free, quick and healthy side dish.
Caesar Salad
Like many of the recipes in this list, caesar salad can be as simple or complex as you want, but no matter how you make it, it’s a great classic salad to pair with your trout dinner. With the addition of cheese and creamy dressing, kids may even forget they’re eating greens.
The base of the salad is traditionally Romaine lettuce, with crispy croutons and parmesan cheese for texture and flavor. A homemade or store-bought Caesar salad dressing dresses the lettuce. Use a vegetarian parmesan for a completely veggie salad.
Try This Recipe: Try making the Caesar salad with homemade croutons from a stale baguette and your own Caesar salad dressing.
Air Fryer Baby Potatoes
Baby potatoes are a great addition to a trout supper. These are made crispy on the outside and buttery soft on the inside, all without turning on an oven. Try the recipe’s suggestion of crushed red pepper flakes, chopped parsley, or a premade seasoning mix.
Instead of cooking in the oven or deep fryer, these potatoes cook in an air fryer. Cooking with hot air is healthier and leaves a golden brown color, similar to roasting without much oil.
Try This Recipe: Try these simple air fryer baby potatoes, which use just three ingredients: baby potatoes, seasoning, and extra-virgin olive oil.
Tomato Cucumber Salad
A meal of fresh trout and an easy salad is the perfect summertime meal, easy enough for every day but tasty enough to feel special. Tomato cucumber salad uses the best of summer produce and provides a fresh balance to trout.
Try This Recipe: This tomato cucumber salad is no-fuss and topped with delicious herbs. Toss in olive oil and red wine vinegar dressing for a punch of fresh flavor.
Greek Potato Salad
Need a summer side dish but tired of coleslaw? Consider the Greek Potato Salad that amps up an average mayonnaise-based potato salad by adding sun-dried tomatoes, olives, and Greek dressing instead of mayo. The Greek Potato Salad’s oil and lemon dressing is bold and compliments a wonderfully flaky trout dish.
The side dish takes a little more time to make, but the Greek dressing can be made the night before, and boiled and cooled potatoes still make a great salad.
Try This Recipe: Try your hand at this Greek potato salad and enjoy the incredible flavors!
Scalloped Potatoes
Perfect scalloped potatoes are a crowd-pleasing favorite that still gives trout enough room to shine.
Thinly slice the potatoes and onions before adding butter, garlic, and milk. Top with fresh thyme, and you can add other vegetables like baby spinach or kale.
Try This Recipe: Follow this scalloped potatoes recipe to create a savory, garlicky potato dish.
Brown Rice
If you are eating trout because you want to eat healthier, then preparing brown rice is an excellent side dish. Brown rice or whole grain rice contains more fiber, protein, and minerals than hulled white rice.
Most rice bags or packages come with preparation instructions. Rinse the rice, add twice as much water, bring the water to a boil, then simmer until the liquid absorbs.
Try This Recipe: With the perfect brown rice recipe, you’ll have healthy and delicious brown without burning or sticking.
10-Minute Garlic & Herb Mushroom Quinoa
Quinoa provides a great earthy base for trout, and the addition of garlic and mushrooms adds even punchier flavor. Plus, quinoa is packed with fiber and antioxidants, so it’s great if you are trying to eat healthier.
Start the dish by preparing your quinoa according to the package instructions. Then, sauté sliced mushrooms with garlic and herbs such as thyme. Once the mushrooms are cooked, stir in the quinoa until warm and combined.
Try This Recipe: Quinoa may become your new favorite grain when you try making this garlic and herb mushroom quinoa.
Lemon-Sautéed Green Beans
The acid in lemon amplifies the mild taste of trout and makes for a great companion when it’s added to crispy green beans sauteed in olive oil with salt and pepper.
Remember not to overcook the green beans, so they keep their bright green color and snappy texture. If green beans aren’t on the menu, substitute them with asparagus, broccoli, or carrots.
Try This Recipe: Try these lemon-sautéed green beans with green beans from the garden or bought from a store.
Lemon Parmesan Asparagus
Lemon Parmesan roasted asparagus is a great dish when you want your table to taste like spring, any time of the year. Plus, the acidity and savory tastes of this dish balance out mild, slightly sweet trout.
The main ingredients are asparagus, lemon, butter, and Parmesan plus basic seasonings. Season the asparagus, cover with sliced lemon, roast in the oven, then top with grated cheese.
Try This Recipe: Only a few simple ingredients are needed to make this lemon parmesan asparagus for dinner tonight.
