I could totally handle being in charge of a veggie curry....

February 13, 2012 8:39 PM

We are cooking a Valentine's Day dinner of salmon together tomorrow. What are some good (vegetarian) sides to go with? Wine? Simple dessert? What else am I forgetting?

The salmon comes from the stock of frozen Copper River red fillets he caught this summer; we will likely broil or grill it unless we come up with a better idea. Taking ideas for blow-your-mind marinades, and for the aforementioned better ideas.

I eat fish very rarely and meat never, so I almost never do this kind of cooking (big hunk of protein + sides). My assignment is come up with tasty ideas and give him a shopping list so he can grocery shop and prep ahead of time. Since I get home pretty late, it would be nice if the cooking itself didn't take more than an hour.

Help?

posted by charmedimsure to Food & Drink (22 answers total)

I like spinach with salmon.
posted by brujita at 8:40 PM on February 13, 2012

Best answer: I like asparagus with salmon. The simpler and the less cooked, the better, so no recipe here.
posted by lollusc at 8:43 PM on February 13, 2012

I'm not sure how this will sound to you, but I like grilled salmon with mashed potatoes, pineapple salsa (or something else fruity/spicy) and maybe even a little bbq sauce.
posted by mandymanwasregistered at 8:45 PM on February 13, 2012 [1 favorite]

I'm usually pretty simple with my sides; especially since salmon is such a flavorful fish it's nice to tone down the sides. Steam some broccoli and top with cheese or coconut oil, or stir fry veggies (red pepper, carrots, onion, mushrooms, etc.) with rice.
posted by DoubleLune at 8:47 PM on February 13, 2012 [1 favorite]

I agree with lollusc, the simpler the better. Here is my foolproof dinner party recipe that people rave about. I cook the salmon in parchment, make sure the skin is off, cover the salmon with fresh herbs chopped up (I like mint, oregano, rosemary), layer some spinach on top, some red and orange bell peppers cut into strips and some green beans or asparagus. Make little pouches with the parchement, place on a baking sheet and cook at 350 for 25 minutes. I serve it with steamed rice cooked in vegetable broth and at the end mix a little butter and parmesan into the finish with some kind of lemon dessert.
posted by thelastgirl at 8:49 PM on February 13, 2012

My fav salmon from a restaurant I used to work at, sorry sauce recipe escapes me, but DAMN was this great!

Yukon Gold whipped potatoes, crspy fish, sauces with a Fig and Balsamic (or red wine, don't remember!) reduction sauce. Sautéed Spinach, too.

Mashed (or more elegant, whipped) mashed potatoes + salmon + fruit or other sweet sauce (teriyaki? hoisin?) FTW!



(Basically, what mandymanwastegistered said!)
posted by jbenben at 8:59 PM on February 13, 2012 [1 favorite]

I only eat vegetables but when I cook and serve salmon to my friends and family I serve it with this:

Potatoes cut into 1cm cubes
Carrots cut into 1cm cubes
Onions
Spinach
Fresh chopped tomatoes

1. Carrots and potatoes - microwave for 30 seconds or parboil so that they are still firm.
2. Caramelise the onions in a little oil. As they start to soften but before they caramelise add the potatoes and carrots.
3. As the potatoes and carrots begin to brown, scrape everything to one side of the frying pan and add the spinach on the other side.
4. As the spinach wilts add the tomatoes at the last minute.

I (the vegetarian) usually eat this with a splash of balsamic vinegar.

I sometimes make this dish using smoked trout and flaking it into another part of the same pan.

An added bonus is that there is only one frying pan to wash up.
posted by unliteral at 9:01 PM on February 13, 2012

Sorry for all the typo's! Just popping back in to say it might have been a Fig + Port reduction sauce, hint of thyme and garlic. It was very jammy, perfect with the fish and potatoes.

Sauteed Mustard Greens, Arugula, or Beet Greens would be awesome instead of boring old common spinach!
posted by jbenben at 9:13 PM on February 13, 2012

I stole it from Seattle Kitchen, but a cornbread pudding and mushroom relish are always hot movers at my parties for salmon.

An alternative way that I have prepped salmon is in fillo dough with a spread of mayonnaise and herbs. The mayo keeps the fish moist. The fillo provides a lovely crunch.
posted by jadepearl at 9:33 PM on February 13, 2012

I would suggest against marinading the fish at all. You've got actual wild salmon here - it would be terrible to cover it up with goop. Grill or broil simply, with a little salt and pepper, perhaps a squirt of lemon.
For sides, you should go light, since the fish is so rich. Sautee fresh mixed veggies in olive oil, and pair it with some steamed rice or a rice pilaf.
posted by Gilbert at 9:36 PM on February 13, 2012 [2 favorites]

I agree with Gilbert; with wild salmon, simple is best. Sprinkle the fillet with lemon pepper, dill and paprika and it will be delicious grilled or broiled. Have a happy Valentine's Day feast!
posted by carmicha at 9:45 PM on February 13, 2012

Sweet potatoes and broccoli! We have this for dinner about once a week.
posted by rabbitrabbit at 9:50 PM on February 13, 2012

If you marinade the salmon flesh-side down in tamari (or soy, if you prefer) sauce, a half-tsp of sugar, lemongrass strips and ginger for 45 minutes, you can bake the fillets for the remaining ~15 minutes and use the baking time to reduce the marinade to a sauce. Serve on a bed of rice with veggies of choice.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 10:01 PM on February 13, 2012

Either mashed or chipped sweet potato, baby spinach gently wilted with a touch of butter, roast cauliflower and a lemon and dill sauce. Yummo!
posted by latch24 at 10:26 PM on February 13, 2012 [1 favorite]

This is my all-time favorite salmon-rub recipe. It's just... it's so good. I usually eat it with wilted spinach or roasted asparagus and either rice or potatoes.
posted by rabbitbookworm at 10:46 PM on February 13, 2012

Carmelized brussel sprouts and mashed red potatoes. I suggest it because I'm doing the exact same thing tomorrow (thought not with Copper River salmon, sadly). Martha Stewart has a great brussel sprout recipe. Easy and delicious.
posted by MsMartian at 11:12 PM on February 13, 2012

Best answer: Asparagus, cooked in a non-stick skillet with the merest spray of oil, over a medium heat until it's slightly charred, takes about 8 minutes, make sure you toss it to cook it evenly. Sprinkle with a little salt and pepper. Baby potatoes cooked in their skins, crushed (but not mashed) with butter and seasoning and a little chopped dill.

For dessert, the heart-shaped fruit of love - strawberries - served in meringue nests (which you can buy anywhere, but try and get them from a good bakery), whipped cream, marscapone or ice cream and a drizzle of chocolate sauce.
posted by essexjan at 3:05 AM on February 14, 2012

A simple lentil salad goes nicely with salmon in my experience.

While I've linked a full recipe for this, I generally just cook the lentils in broth and then add some mustard-shallot vinaigrette. And I use a blender for the dressing which eliminates chopping the shallots and fussing about making it all emulsify.
posted by sciencegeek at 4:50 AM on February 14, 2012

Best answer: We like grilled asparagus with our salmon. Toss them in a bit of olive oil, salt and pepper. Grill. simple and tasty.
posted by Thorzdad at 5:49 AM on February 14, 2012

Best answer: I agree with those recommending garlic-sauteed greens--spinach, arugula, mustard greens--plus mashed or whipped potatoes. Simple is good.
My favorite salmon recipe is a rub of one-third each fennel seeds, cumin seeds and coriander seeds, toasted in a skillet then whirled in a coffee grinder, and mixed with a bit of lemon pepper. Pat it on the fillets, with or without skin. (I've learned to love the crisp skin!) Sautee fast and hot in half olive oil and half butter. Man, it's good.
Serve with a Washington or Oregon pinot noir, the world's best salmon-matching wine.
I'm choked with envy of your repast.
posted by fivesavagepalms at 7:04 AM on February 14, 2012

Copper River is the best salmon on the planet! This meal cannot go wrong, whatever you serve with it! Don't forget a nice squeeze of lemon over it with any other recommended above.
I'm fortunate to live near the Copper River, in Cordova, so I'm luck to have such access to this great fish!

Enjoy!
posted by BVB at 11:30 AM on February 14, 2012

Response by poster: Grilled salmon with very light lemon-dill marinade, smashed garlicky red potatoes with their skins on, roasted asparagus, pinot noir and a small bit of vanilla ice cream with homemade raspberry sauce. It all took about half an hour to put together; we're never going out on Valentine's Day again. Thanks for the help!
posted by charmedimsure at 11:43 PM on February 14, 2012