23 Side Dish Recipes That Are Perfect For Your Next Fish Fry (2024)

This quintessential side goes with any main dish in Jamaican cuisine. Fluffy and moist, it has a savory creaminess that comes from the use of aromatics like garlic and onion, in addition to coconut milk. It's a perfect match for classic Jamaican dishes like curry chicken, fried seafood, or oxtail stew.

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You could buy tartar sauce from a store, but as with most things, homemade is infinitely better, both for flavor and adaptability. Though the origins of the sauce are a little murky, what is clear is that this creamy, tangy, acidic condiment is a MUST for serving with seafood, and goes surprisingly well with a myriad of other recipes too.

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Here we're using couscous as the base for a confetti of colored vegetables (cucumbers! bell peppers! red onion!), doused in a creamy lemon Dijon dressing. We’ve also added tangy feta and sun-dried tomatoes, crunchy toasted almonds, and nutty, earthy chickpeas to give it a little added oomph. It’s simple and light, but still special enough for a celebration.

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We know, deep-frying really sounds like a lot of work, but we have a genius tip to getting you the crispiest fries ever, without the double-frying. With our method, all of the fries go in at the same time, and once they're out, they're ready to eat! After seasoning the heck out of them with salt, of course.

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To make this a truly vegan-friendly slaw, there is neither mayonnaise nor honey in the mix. We use maple to bring out the veggies’ natural sweetness and Dijon mustard helps emulsify the oil and vinegar while adding a bit of a kick in the back of your throat.

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This easy salad comes together quickly and works as a side dish for fried fish, a great topping for tacos, or as a last-minute appetizer with tortilla chips. Think of this as a medley of the most exciting parts of a burrito bowl—unadulterated by rice—and hyped up by a little honey-lime action.

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You won't be able to keep hushed about these. Serve them with your favorite seafood or BBQ dishes.

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When it comes to year-round American cuisine, baked beans could quite possibly be looked at as one of the most classic side dishes. They’re sweet, tangy, savory, and the best part, surprisingly easy to make. Not to mention, they’re a one-pot wonder! Throw in the fact that one batch feeds a small crowd and that most of the cooking is done unattended in the oven, and you have a winning dish that’ll be a staple for all your family gatherings for years to come.

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As we all know, Chipotle has many toppings we love to load our bowl up with. If you can't get enough of the corn salsa (and find yourself asking for a second scoop), this is the copycat recipe for you. Loaded with sweet corn, red onion, cilantro, jalapeño and citrus juice, it’s delicious served completely on its own with some chips, or if you’re looking for the full bowl, make your own with all your favorite toppings.

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Here at Delish, our best-ever mac and cheese is perfect for any occasion, from family weeknight dinners to holiday spreads. In our book, the perfect macaroni and cheese recipe has to nail three things: be extra creamy, plenty cheesy, and paired with a golden, crunchy topping.

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Sweet potato fries can sometimes have a bad reputation—especially the oven-baked ones. They’re usually a floppy, bland pile of under-seasoned sadness, but it doesn’t have to be that way! We've got all the tips to guarantee crisp and savory sweet potato fries fresh out of the oven.

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This watermelon quinoa salad has everything you love about the traditional summer salad: mint, feta, red onion, cucumber, a balsamic glaze, and of course, juicy watermelon. Perfect for a more-filling BBQ side or a light and refreshing summer lunch, this creative take on a classic is the best way to shake up your summer.

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Short on time but want restaurant-quality black beans? Thanks to your Instant Pot, you get to cut down your cooking time from all day to 35 minutes max.

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Macaroni salad is one of our favorite things to pair with pulled pork or something crisp like a piece of fried fish, which is why it's such a disappointment when it's too dry or soggy. Not to fear—this recipe guarantees perfection ever time.

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Nothing says summertime like the smell of corn on the grill. It also happens to be the easiest side you’ll make all season. After getting some char on a hot grill, juicy ears of corn get brushed with an irresistible honey-lime butter that you can also slather on grilled sweet potatoes, cornbread, or even grilled skirt steak.

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Forget Jiffy! This cornbread comes together super-fast, and it's wayyy better than the boxed stuff and almost as easy. The debate over cornbread is lively and long, with camps that prefer sweet over sugarless or a drier cornbread to cake-like cornbread. This version falls somewhere in the middle so everyone can enjoy.

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Since this avocado salad is simple and straight forward, it basically goes with everything. Serve it along with some spicy fried fish, grilled chicken, or keep it all veg with a portobello burger.

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Refreshing and super easy, this Thai watermelon salad recipe walks the tightrope between sweet and spicy in just the right way. The combination of peak-summer watermelon and juicy peaches is coated in a Thai-inspired dressing that hits all the right flavor notes. There's umami-packed fish sauce, tangy lime juice, and a trifecta of heat from fresh chiles, fresh ginger, and sambal oelek.

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We kept it simple by adding a few crushed garlic cloves and fresh dill to our homemade pickles, but feel free to get creative. Add mustard seeds, whole black peppercorns, crushed red pepper flakes, or even fresh chiles for a kick!

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Like spinach, sautéed Jamaican callaloo is a versatile dish. Most often mixed with rehydrated salted cod fish and eaten for breakfast with boiled green bananas, boiled yams, dumplings, and of course, fried plantains, callaloo can be mixed with rice to make a delicious side dish for fried fish.

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