What to Serve with Fish Cakes: 10 Easy Options

Fish cakes are incredibly tasty deep-fried treats made from your favorite white fish. Whether it’s cod, walleye, perch, haddock, or trout, fish cakes have an amazing crisp on the outside, tender, flaky, and moist on the inside quality that even non-fish fans will enjoy.

These scrumptious patties are so easy to make and are affordable to boot. Since they’re budget-friendly, you can serve them with a bunch of sides to round out the meal. 

You’ll want to pick sides that complement the flavor and texture of your fish cakes. Don’t fret, though, because we’re here to help you make the right choices. Here are 10 of the best side dishes to serve with fish cakes.

1. Tartar Sauce

We’ll start with the most obvious yet most perfect partnership. Fish cakes won’t be nearly as good without a dipping sauce – and tartar sauce is the best of them all. You can’t go wrong with this good old-fashioned classic – it goes well not just with fish cakes, but with other deep-fried dishes, too. Plus, it’s so easy to whip up: just combine mayonnaise, sour cream, dill pickles, Dijon mustard, garlic, parsley, capers, onion powder, pepper, and lemon juice.

2. Salad

Fish cakes, especially if fried, might not be the healthiest dish, so you may want to pair them with something more light and nutritious. When it comes to nutritious sides, your best candidate is a fresh salad. What I love about it is the versatility. You can use your choice of veggies, nuts, protein, and dressing, and whether it’s topped with a creamy Caesar dressing or a refreshing balsamic vinaigrette, it will taste wonderful with fish cakes.

3. Rice 

Fish cakes are already loaded with carbs, but if you’re feeding a group of hungry guests, serve the patties with rice! 

Rice can seem so basic, but the simplicity is what makes it so perfect. Fish cakes are on the rich side, so it’s nice to have something a little more plain to balance out the strong flavor.

A bowl of lemon garlic herb rice pairs especially well with the fish. Creating a wonderful meal your family won’t soon forget!

4. Sweet Potato Fries

Fish cakes are rich and savory, so you’ll want something sweet to complement those flavors. When it comes to sweet sides, I can’t think of anything better than sweet potato fries.

These crispy treats are both incredibly yummy and easy to make. You don’t even need to fry them – just pop them in the oven and they’re good to go!

5. Asparagus and Hollandaise Sauce

Aside from a salad, asparagus is also a great, guilt-free way to round out your meal. This crunchy veggie works great with the tender fish cakes, and its vibrant green hue gives a beautiful contrast to the golden brown patties. 

If you feel that some steamed asparagus stalks are a little too boring you can make things more exciting by making a hollandaise sauce to put on top.

Not only will the sauce taste great with the asparagus, but you could also use it to season the fish cakes for even more delicious flavor.

6. Baked Beans

Baked beans are incredibly delicious and filling. It’s the perfect side to serve when you need to feed a large crowd.

You don’t need a lot of ingredients to make baked beans super yummy – just cook them with brown sugar and top them with caramelized bacon and they’re good to go!

7. Corn Pudding

Give your meal a nice southern flair by serving it up with some sweet and savory corn pudding. Corn pudding has such beautiful rustic flavors that go well with both meat and fish. With it’s custard-like creaminess, this dish is so addictive, you’ll definitely need to whip up a large batch!  

8. Broccoli Salad

Want a quick and easy salad to go with your fish cakes? Instead of the usual leafy greens, use broccoli instead!

Broccoli salad includes the wonderful flavors and textures of broccoli, raisins, bacon, and cheese. And the dressing isn’t so bad either – the combination of mayo, vinegar, and sugar ties all the ingredients up into one heavenly dish.

9. Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Roasted Brussels sprouts are delicious – they’re nutty, savory, and super nutritious. Perfectly caramelized Brussels sprouts are crisp on the outside and tender on the inside – much like fish cakes! That’s why they go great together.

To avoid ending up with bitter Brussels sprouts, be sure to coat them generously with olive oil and don’t overcook them.

Overcooking Brussels sprouts causes them to release sulfur, leading to the funky smell and taste. A good 20-30 minutes in the oven will result in perfectly yummy sprouts!

10. Cucumber Salad

Fish cakes pair perfectly with a refreshing cucumber salad. Be sure to cut your cucumbers thinly. Mix in some red wine vinegar, sugar, and kosher salt and you’ve got a delightful side salad.

This crisp, refreshing side is a delightful combo with the savory fish cakes. Creating a beautiful harmony of textures and contrasting flavors.