Low Carb Side Dishes For Fish – 13 Healthy and Delicious Recipes

Can’t seem to find the best low carb side dishes for fish? From side dish ideas to pairing suggestions, this article has you covered!

Fact: Red meats are the more popular fat sources than keto, but fish is a more nutritious meat alternative because it’s lower in calories and higher in healthy fats. (*)

Okay, we know what you’re thinking: There’s no way you’ll swap red meat with fish because they taste bland.

Team steak all the way, right?

We totally get where you’re coming from.

In fact, we used to hate eating fish, too, but we’ve been converted!

Do you want to know how? We tried it with the right side dishes.  

Based on our experience, serving suitable low-carb side dishes for fish can make all the difference because they can:

• Enhance and not overpower the fish’s delicate taste,
• Add crunchy/ creamy/ crispy texture, which makes the meal more enjoyable,
• Fill you up and keep you full.
• Transform a humble fish into an elevated dining experience.
• Keeps your taste buds happy and satisfied while maintaining ketosis.

Now, do we have your attention?

Good, because we’re sharing our best-kept side dishes for fish in this article.

And as if that’s not enough, we even provided specific side dish recommendations for some of the best fish varieties you can have on keto. (*)  

If you’re ready to take your fish dish to a new level, let’s dive right in!

Table of Nutritional Information for Low-Carb Side Dishes

Side Dish	Calories	Fats (g)	Protein (g)	Net Carbs (g)
Roasted Pumpkin Fries	64	4	1	7
Cheesy Baked Asparagus	148.4	10.4	9.5	3.4
Pickled Cucumber	3	0.1	0	0
Keto Bruschetta	113	8	5	5
Cauliflower Mash	69	3.4	3.4	5.2
Oven-Roasted Vegetables	89	5	3	7
Avocado Mango Salsa	100	8	1	5
Garlic Herby Cauliflower Rice	94	2.3	3.4	5.1
Broccoli Salad	160	14	3	5
Simple Spinach Salad	154	15	4	2
Crispy Zucchini Fries	191	17	7	3
Vinegar Slaw	62	4	1	5
Lemon Garlic Butter Sauce	56	6	1	0

13 Best Low carb Side Dishes for Fish on Keto Diet

Here’s the list of our best low-carb side dishes for fish, along with serving and pairing recommendations:

Table 2: Recommended Fish Pairings

Side Dish	Recommended Fish Varieties
Roasted Pumpkin Fries	Grilled Salmon, Trout
Cheesy Baked Asparagus	Salmon, Sea Bass
Pickled Cucumber	Mackerel
Keto Bruschetta	Sardines, Mackerel
Cauliflower Mash	Trout
Oven-Roasted Vegetables	Canned Tuna
Avocado Mango Salsa	Tuna Steak
Garlic Herby Cauliflower Rice	Sea Bass
Broccoli Salad	Sea Bass, Salmon
Simple Spinach Salad	Fish Cakes
Crispy Zucchini Fries	Fish Sticks
Vinegar Slaw	Fish Tacos
Lemon Garlic Butter Sauce	Any Fish, Especially for a Rich Flavor

1. Roasted Pumpkin Fries – Perfect Match for Grilled Salmon

Roasted potatoes deliver a crisp texture that goes perfectly well with the flaky nature of grilled salmon. But since potatoes are a no-no for a low-carb diet, we usually serve it with the next best thing—pumpkin.

Since it’s also crisp on the outside and tender on the inside when roasted, pumpkin is a great alternative to potatoes. But while it delivers the same texture, it has much lower sugar and starch content than potatoes and sweet potatoes. Hence, it suits the keto diet when consumed in moderation. (*)

Per serving: 64 calories, 4g fats, 1g protein, and 7g net carbs.

Pro Tip: Soak the pumpkin slices in cold water to remove the extra starch and further lower its carb count.  

Editor’s Tip: Add cheese, nuts, or pumpkin seeds to add a creamy or crunchy texture and boost the dish’s fat content.

Get Recipe:  https://www.lowcarb-nocarb.com/pumpkin-fries/

2. Cheesy Baked Asparagus– Easy and Cheesy Salmon Side

Google “what to serve with salmon,” and you can find asparagus in almost every result. Well, this side dish deserves those spots for lots of good reasons.

For one, it’s a simple yet fancy side that can elevate your salmon dish as easily as possible.

Also, the combination of cheese and asparagus delivers a good dose of fiber and fats that will keep you full, energized, and satisfied all day long.

Lastly, the side dish provides an excellent crisp bite from the asparagus and a creamy and velvety feel from the cheese, which adds a nice contrasting texture against the fish’s tender flakes.

Per serving: 148.4 calories, 10.4g fats, 9.5g protein, and 3.4g net carbs.

Pro Tip: Roast the asparagus spears on the same sheet as your grilled salmon to give it a deeper and more complex flavor.

Editor’s Tip: Top it off with roasted garlic chips for an extra crunch.

Get Recipe:  https://www.ditchthecarbs.com/keto-cheesy-baked-asparagus-video/

3. Pickled Cucumber– A Winning Choice for Mackerel

When thinking about low-carb side dishes for fish, a pickled dish would be the last thing on our minds. But ever since we tried eating mackerel with pickled cucumber, we haven’t gone back.

That’s because the vinegar’s acidity and cucumber’s refreshing taste cut through the oily nature of the fish. Not only that, but the sour taste of this side dish can brighten up mackerel’s mild flavors.

Another feature we love is it contains bright green cucumbers and sliced red chili that gives the meal a pop of color.

But wait, there’s more. This recipe doesn’t require canning or cooking and contains only 5 ingredients.

Per serving: 3 calories, 0.1g protein, and 0g net carbs.

Get Recipe: https://www.tasteslovely.com/whole30-keto-homemade-pickles/

4. Keto Bruschetta– Your Best Bet for Grilled Sardines

We rarely serve sardines, but it’s always with bruschetta when we do. 

This pairing works fantastically because the tangy tomatoes cut through the sardine’s salty taste and oily nature. On the other hand, the crusty sourdough bread gives the dish a crunchy texture.

Unfortunately, we can’t have the traditional bruschetta on keto, so this keto variation is a great alternative. 

We highly recommend it for two good reasons:

• It uses thin eggplant or portobello mushroom slices, which are low-carb and more nutritious than sourdough bread slices. (*)(*)
• It contains avocadoes for a creamier, more refreshing taste and higher fat content.  

Per serving: 113 calories, 8g fats, 5g protein, and 5g net carbs.

Pro Tip: Use mushrooms for minimal carbohydrate intake. (*)

Get Recipe:  https://makehealthyrecipes.com/bruschetta-with-avocado/

5. Cauliflower Mash– A Worthy Option for Trout

Mashed potato is more than just a classic steak side dish—it works well with trout, too! That’s because its garlicky, buttery taste is strong enough to enhance the fish’s mild flavor and yet subtle enough that it doesn’t overpower it.

Having only 5.2 g net carbs per serving, this cauliflower mash recipe will allow you to enjoy the side dish’s sought-after taste and texture without damaging your keto diet.

We also love this recipe because of its versatility. You can prepare it in 4 ways– steam, microwave, oven, and stove–, so you can choose the cooking method that best fits your schedule and lifestyle.

Per serving: 69 calories, 3.4g fats, 3.4g protein, and 5.2g net carbs.

Editor’s Tip: Add various toppings to customize the dish’s flavors. For trout, our best recommendations are more garlic, sundried tomatoes, and pesto.

Get Recipe:  https://sugarfreelondoner.com/creamy-keto-mashed-cauliflower/

6. Oven-Roasted Vegetables– Easy and Quick Canned Tuna Side Dish

We always go for canned tuna whenever we want something quick and healthy. It’s low-calorie and contains zero carbs, which is suitable for keto.

However, it doesn’t give us that full and satisfied feeling when we eat it on its own, so we serve it with a low-carb yet fiber-rich side dish like oven-roasted vegetables. (*) 

The highlight of this recipe is its wide range of vegetables. It contains carrots, broccoli, bell pepper, mushrooms, and cauliflower– all rich in fiber yet low in carbs.

Beyond their nutritional value, these vegetables also bring a pop of color to your plate, transforming the humble canned tuna into a highly appealing and nutritious meal.

Per serving: 89 calories, 5g fats, 3g protein, and 7g net carbs.

Pro Tip: Skip the carrots and bell peppers to reduce their carbohydrate content further. (*)

Get Recipe: https://diethood.com/easy-oven-roasted-vegetables/

7. Avocado Mango Salsa– A Fruity Touch to Tuna Steak

Tuna steak is our go-to choice when we want a lighter meat alternative for our summer barbecue parties, and we often serve it with this low-carb avocado mango salsa.

We especially love this side dish because it infuses our grilled tuna steaks with sweet summer flavors. The combination of avocado, mango, and tomatoes delivers a creamy texture and refreshing taste in every bite, transforming a bland fish meal into a mouthwatering dish.  

Not only that, but it also brightens up the meal when served on top or alongside the fish.

Per serving: 100 calories, 8g fats, 1g protein, and 5g net carbs.

Pro Tip: Use lemon juice if you don’t have lime juice.

Editor’s Tip: Use more avocadoes for lower carb content or more mangoes for a sweeter taste.

Get Recipe:  https://stemandspoon.com/low-carb-avocado-mango-salsa/

8. Garlic Herby Cauliflower Rice – A Filling Side for Seabass

Seabass is known as a delicate fish, so it needs a side dish that will complement and not overpower its flavor– just like this garlic herby cauliflower rice which contains fresh, herby notes that highlight the fish’s slightly sweet flavor.

In addition to its subtle garlicky, slightly citrusy, and rich buttery and herby taste, we love this recipe because the cauliflower is rich in fiber and highly filling. (*)

That’s not all. This rice alternative is also easy to make as you can prepare and cook it in just 20 minutes. 

Per serving: 94 calories, 2.3g fats, 3.4g protein, and 5.1g net carbs.

Get Recipe: https://www.inspiredtaste.net/40958/herb-cauliflower-rice/

9. Broccoli Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette– A Citrusy Twist for Seabass

Citrus is another flavor profile that will highlight the seabass’ slight sweetness, and that’s what you’ll get from the vinaigrette that comes with this salad recipe.

The dressing is made from a blend of tangy and sour ingredients like tangerine, wine vinegar, and ginger, which brings out the seabass’ mild flavor.

In addition to its complementary flavors, we consider this one of the best low-carb side dishes for fish because it has broccoli as its main ingredient. This cruciferous vegetable is not just low-carb but also rich in essential vitamins and minerals like potassium, fiber, vitamin C, and vitamin K and offers plenty of health benefits. (*)

Per serving:  160 calories, 14g fats, 3g protein, and 5g net carbs.

Pro Tip: Add bacon bits for a savory and crunchy twist.

Get Recipe:  https://www.ibreatheimhungry.com/keto-broccoli-salad-low-carb-gluten-free/

10.  Simple Spinach Salad– A Light and Refreshing Side for Fish Cakes  

We were so happy to learn how to incorporate our favorite fish cakes into our keto diet, but we were exhilarated when we found this simple spinach salad recipe. (*)

It’s the perfect side dish for fish cakes for many reasons.

First, the spinach delivers a crunchy bite, contrasting the fish cakes’ flakiness and softness.

Additionally, it contains parmesan, which adds a cheesy twist and elevates the fish cake’s flavor.

Not only that, but it also contains fiber and other essential nutrients that make its nutritional content well-balanced. 

Per serving: 154 calories, 15g fats, 4g protein, and 2g net carbs.

Get Recipe:  https://theschmidtywife.com/simple-spinach-salad/

11.  Crispy Zucchini Fries– Good for Fish Sticks

Keto fish sticks are another amazing keto discovery, and we often go for these if we want something light yet crispy. (*) 

We always pair it with crispy zucchini fries because it has a soft interior and crispy exterior that perfectly complements fried breaded fish.

In addition to its fantastic texture, the zucchini also injects refreshing, cheesy, and a bit spicy flavor, which matches the fish’s sweetness quite well.

But wait, there’s more. This recipe contains only 4 ingredients that you already have in your pantry, so you can easily whip it up anytime, all the time.

Per serving: 191 calories, 17g fats, 7g protein, and 3g net carbs.

Get Recipe:  https://cleanketolifestyle.com/keto-crispy-zucchini-fries/

12.  Vinegar Slaw– Perfect Topping for Fish Tacos  

After discovering a zero-carb tortilla recipe, we added fish tacos to our go-to fish recipes and we always top it off with a refreshing coleslaw. (*) But instead of a creamy mayo-based one, we went for this vinegar slaw, which is light, tangy, and perfectly complements fish tacos.

On the other hand, the combination of onions, carrots, and green cabbage delivers that added crunch, so you get the perfect combination of crunch and tenderness in every bite.  

Per serving: 62 calories, 4g fats, 1g protein, and 5g net carbs.

Pro Tip: Swap the honey with your choice of keto sweetener. We often use the Splenda stevia liquid sweetener for this. (*) 

Get Recipe:  https://downshiftology.com/recipes/vinegar-coleslaw-no-mayo/

13.  Lemon Garlic Butter Sauce– The Ultimate Fish Sauce

Here’s the low-carb side dish for fish that we prepare if we want to transform a simple dish into a restaurant-quality meal.

The sauce is the perfect topping for any fish because it has a citrusy and garlicky taste, which tames the fish’s fatty flavor. Additionally, it has a rich butter taste that soaks the fish flakes, leaving it more flavorful than ever.

The best part is you enjoy all these fantastic flavors without consuming carbs!

Per serving: 56 calories, 6g fats, 1g protein, and 0g net carbs.

Get Recipe:  https://www.lowcarbspark.com/10-minute-lemon-garlic-butter-sauce/

FAQS:

Up Next: Low carb Side Dishes for Steak: 12 Restaurant-Quality Recipes