The Fish and Food Co. | 4 days ago

What’s the Best Fish for Entertaining?

When you're cooking for family or friends, you want something that feels special without spending the entire evening in the kitchen.

That's why a whole Norwegian salmon side is one of our favourite choices for entertaining.

It makes an impressive centrepiece, serves several guests and requires surprisingly little preparation.


Why choose a whole salmon side?

Unlike cooking individual portions, a whole salmon side can be seasoned and cooked in one go.

Keep it simple with olive oil, lemon, salt, black pepper and fresh herbs, then bake until the salmon is just cooked and flakes easily.

Bring it to the table whole and let everyone help themselves.

It's relaxed entertaining — but still looks worthy of a special occasion.

How much salmon do you need per person?

As a general guide, allow approximately 180–200g of salmon per adult when fish is the main course.

If you're serving plenty of substantial sides, starters or other dishes, you may find you need a little less per person.

A whole side therefore makes planning for a larger table much easier than preparing individual pieces of fish.


What should you serve with it?

Salmon works particularly well for entertaining because the sides can change with the season.

Keep things simple with:

roasted baby potatoes;

grilled asparagus or green beans;

a crisp seasonal salad;

fresh bread;

lemon wedges; and

a simple herb or lemon-butter sauce.

Most of these can be prepared ahead, leaving you with very little to do once your guests arrive.


Winter Entertaining

For a cosy winter table, serve your salmon with crispy roasted baby potatoes and grilled asparagus, with warm bread alongside.

It's generous, comforting and still elegant enough for a dinner with friends.


Fish & Food Expert Tip

Don't hide a beautiful whole salmon side in the kitchen.

Serve it whole on a large platter with lemon and fresh herbs and bring it straight to the table. It becomes the centrepiece of the meal — with almost no extra effort.

The Salmon Specialists

The Fish and Food Co.

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