What to Serve with Trout: 13 Sides for This Perfect Fish

Throughout the world, steams are abundant with delicious trout swimmers, and fishing for them is a perfect day spent in nature.

Most likely, you or someone you love will reel in a big old trout!

What’s better than a fresh catch for dinner? A fresh catch that’s accompanied by a delicious recipe that highlights all the flavor.

If you’re like us:

You may be wondering what to serve with trout so that you can put together a full meal that will please every taste.

We mean, what’s a fish without a side dish?

Luckily, we’re full of ideas to highlight and complement your fresh catch.

Like swordfish to tuna fish steaks, trout is healthy and delicious, and you’ll want whatever is on the plate to go along with the theme.

In this article:

We’ll go over thirteen delicious and nutritious recipes that will impress the whole family or any dinner guests.

What to Serve with Trout

Trout is similar to a salmon, or char, and is delicious in flavor. Some of these live in the ocean; others live out their lives in freshwater.

There’s a mild fishy taste, and it can be served hot or cold. When it comes to fish, our favorite is a fillet of trout. This mild fish is rich in protein and is super low-carb.

Trout also has one of the wealthiest omega-3s contents of all fish. These are essential fatty acids that our bodies cannot produce.

Omega-3s provide calories that have many crucial functions in our heart, brain, lungs, blood vessels, and immune systems.

Not only are the health benefits abundant, but rainbow trout also tastes delicious and is straightforward to prepare. So let’s explore what goes good with trout in more detail.

1. Roasted Root Vegetables

If you want a simple and delicious meal, baked rainbow trout with vegetables is the way to go.

You can cook the fish and the root veggies on the same baking dish, then all you have to do is pop it in the oven and wait.

Fewer dishes and cooking time?

We’re always in.

Even though this meal is remarkably simple, it looks stunning on the table.

The root veggies are delicious, and the flavors mesh together as this dish bakes. It’s one of the most simple side dishes for trout imaginable, and is good for your health, too.

2. Garlic Mushroom Quinoa

Trout is healthy, quinoa is a superfood, and mushrooms work magic. With this blend on your plate, you’ll be feeling super fit.

Believe it or not:

Just one serving of quinoa can fill you up with iron, B-vitamins, magnesium, phosphorus, fiber, and potassium.

The mushrooms and quinoa are two of our favorite things smushed together in one delicious concoction.

This is the best dish for busy days.

It’s simple, healthy, and full of flavor that combines well with trout prepared anyway.

3. Easy Zucchini Fritters

Whether it’s pure, made into spaghetti, or fried into fritters, zucchini is one of our favorite vegetables.

There’s always a surplus of this green squash-like produce, especially in the summer.

With these pancakes, all you need to do is mix some grated zucchini, scallions, flowers, and lastly, eggs.

You’ll mash these into patties and pan-fry them in two tablespoons of olive oil.

Don’t forget some tasty sauces!

We’re obsessed with these 5-ingredient fritters from Kelly at Just a Taste.

4. Sweet Slaw

Maybe it’s our southern roots, but there’s nothing better than some filleted fish served with a side of sweet slaw.

I mean, this mixture just screams summer barbeque. It’s the champion of our barbeque side.

The sweet and tangy flavor alongside the mildly fishy trout is complementary. The zest is exciting and a perfect accompaniment.

The best thing?

You can whip up this side with only five ingredients in just five minutes.

5. Caesar Salad

Our favorite salad can pretty much be paired with any meal.

Not only is it delicious, but it’s packed with ingredients that give you energy.

You can throw this salad together in minutes with prepared ingredients, or you can make it yourself for a gourmet side.

Making a homemade dressing for this classic salad isn’t as straightforward as it may seem, but this recipe from the Chunky Chef makes it look easy.

6. Brown Rice

Brown rice is nutty, earthy, and has just the amount of flavor that we’re looking for on the side of some delicious trout.

When you’re eating fish, you want to add some more fiber to your diet for a well-rounded meal.

This healthy side is ideal for anyone who’s trying to bulk up on muscle and slim down on fat.

It’s simple and adds the perfect balance to your plate.

7. Spaghetti Cacio e Pepe

Cacio e Pepe is an Italian dish built for spring.

The pasta is simple and one of the most delicious when it comes to cooking sides for trout.

The best part is, you’re only four ingredients and 25 minutes away from indulging in this creamy side.

Mmm:

Cheese, butter, pasta, and pepper.

What could be better?

8. Pickled Mango

It’s zesty and simple, with a juicy and soft texture that goes well with fish.

All you need is some fruit, vinegar, sugar, water, and salt.

Keep these in a jar and serve them with whatever you like, even after the trout is gone.

Simple and tasty are two words to describe Kathryn’s recipe from Cardamom and Tea.

9. Caprese Salad

Serve it on the side, or eat it after the meal to soothe your digestion.

The fresh basil, mozzarella, and tomato come together in perfect harmony.

Is there anything that this side doesn’t pair well with?

We don’t think so.

Salads especially help offset things if you fry your trout in your favorite batter. You can further check out our list of sides for fried fish if you go that route.

10. Sweet and Spicy Green Beans

What pairs well with trout?

Asian flavored green beans. Or any kind of season green beans – see here for more ideas that go well with trout!

This sweet and spicy side adds some extra flavor to the mild filet of trout.

Green beans are crisp and delicious and incorporate soy sauce, garlic, as well as crushed red pepper.

These are super quick to throw together.

You’ll want to blanch the beans and then preheat a saucepan with olive oil. You’ll toss these with the sauce and then sprinkle with crushed red pepper.

11. Creamy Au Gratin Potatoes

Au Gratin Potatoes is a side dish sent from the gods.

Not only is it the ideal side for meats of all kinds, but it has a special place on our plates next to trout.

The flakiness of the fish pairs perfectly with the creamy texture and robust flavor profile of the cheesy potatoes.

12. Broccoli and Tortellini Salad

The lemon, broccoli, and tortellini salad is magic, and even the pickiest eaters can clean their plate.

Roast the broccoli to bring out the best flavor.

Once the lemon soaked veg is cooked, it will get tossed into a buttery, garlicky, cheesy tortellini.

It’s a real dinner winner, and it’s excellent in the warmer months during spring and summer.

13. Oven Roasted Asparagus

Like the first idea we mentioned, oven-roasted asparagus and trout can be cooked right on the same pan.

Roasted trout and asparagus are some of the best healthy dinners you could serve.

Roast the fish and vegetables and clean just one pan.

This recipe is the definition of hassle-free.

Not only does asparagus add a lot of vitamins and minerals to the dish, but the nutty asparagus has a mild flavor that pairs perfectly with the richness of the trout.

If you want to add more richness to the meal, you can add some asparagus sauce to compliment the trout.

What To Serve With Trout: Apps, Drinks, and Desserts

Your side dishes may be delicious, but you’ll need to consider a trout appetizer, a beverage, and a sweet to top off the meal.

Apps

When you’re serving a fresh catch, you’ll want it to be the highlight, but you’ll also want to put out some apps and snacks to keep your guests entertained as you cook.

Dips will keep mouths full and will train up the taste buds for the star of the show, your trout.

Mango salsa with a size of pita or tortilla chips will keep all of the noshers happy but not overly full.

If you want to stick with a seafood theme, consider putting out some freshly shucked oysters or some delicious Maryland crab-dip seasoned with some classic Old Bay.

Wine To Make You Feel Fine

Trout is a light and clean dish, and it calls for a similar wine.

Foods with fins call for a subtle white, which will bring out all the delicious flavors.

If you’re a red lover, go with something light since any substantial tannins will overbear and not pair well with fish.

Our three favorite choices include Blancos like Champagne, Sauvignon Blanc, or a Gruner Veltliner.

The light and fresh notes of the wine like braising citrus is more than welcome after a bite of trout.

If you’re not a fan of any of those choices, consider a delicate William Hill Chardonnay, or even a dry Reisling.

Beer In The Clear

While most people default to wine, you can also pair trout with any delicious craft beer.

An aquatic mate is more than welcome for any ale. Surprisingly enough, a trout pairs amazingly with a sour beer.

Sours are all the rage among craft brewers. This type of beer is not a favorite among all drinkers, but they may reconsider once they take a sip after taking a bite of freshly grilled or pan sauteed trout.

Our favorite choice is SeaQuench Ale from Dogfish Head Brewery.

If you’re not into a sour, since it is an acquired taste, go with a wheat ale of some sort.

You may consider a Belgian Tripel or another delicious beer with a golden color.

Bear goes especially well with trout fish tacos, so if you’re in the mood for south of the border cuisine be sure to enjoy a cerveza with your trout!

Dessert Ideas

Trout has a delicate, light flavor. As we mentioned earlier, the taste of most mild fish can be accompanied by citrus fruits or sweet exotic flavors like mango.

Serve some fruit salad as a dessert, or incorporate some sweet and tangy flavors directly into the main course.

A key lime pie or a lemon meringue pie would be a delicious compliment to any fish menu.

Neither one of these pies is hefty, which is nice.

If you’re not a huge pie fan, no worries, there are plenty of dessert options for you.

Consider something with a similar flavor profile, like a light an airy passion fruit mousse, or maybe some sort of fruit tart.

Whatever it is, you’ll be sure to be feeling indulgent at the end of this dinner.

In Summary…

Trout is a healthy, delicious, and perfectly flavored fish. You’ll want the same in a side dish.

No matter which of these sides you go for, you’re trout is sure to be the highlight of the meal.

Trust us:

This fish may not be as popular as it was in the past, but it’s worth getting back onto your dinner plate.

It’s healthy and delicious.

Now you know what to serve with trout to make this meal a masterpiece, give it a try.

Don’t miss out on the wonderful flavor and texture of this classic dish, and be sure to follow our suggestions to make this meal a winner for you and your dinner guests.