Side Dish Recipes

A quick, spicy hot sauce for falafel: tomato paste simmered with vegetable stock, chili paste, cumin, lemon and fresh herbs into a bright, fiery sauce in about five minutes. Drizzle it over falafel, shawarma or grilled veg.

Hunter's buns made with pastry dough kneaded with currants and brushed with milk before baking. A simple British-style tea bun that can be filled with jam for a sweeter treat.

Kashmiri stir-fry with eggplant and broccoli seasoned with asafetida, cayenne, and paprika. A simple, vegan Indian wok dish that uses just a handful of spices to bring bold Kashmiri flavor to everyday vegetables.

Khichadi cooks basmati rice and moong dal with cinnamon, cloves, mustard seed, and asafetida, then folds in toasted nuts, coconut, currants, and garam masala. Ayurvedic Indian comfort one-pot.

Koimo Nori-Ae: Japanese taro potatoes simmered in dashi broth and rolled in flame-toasted crumbled nori seaweed. A traditional side dish served at room temperature.

Marinated asparagus steams fresh spears, then chills them in a bright orange and lemon vinaigrette with cayenne. A make-ahead spring side dish with citrusy tang and a hint of warmth.

Sugar-free marinated cucumber salad with vinegar, garlic, and black pepper. Salt-brined thin slices release their water, then soak up a tangy dressing for a crisp, diabetic-friendly side dish.

Mediterranean mushrooms simmered in a garlicky tomato and olive oil broth with lemon juice, bay leaf, and fresh parsley. A low-calorie vegetarian side dish or appetizer bursting with bright, clean flavors.

This quick and easy to make salad is tasty and flavorful, the roasted bell peppers, white beans, and feta cheese go very well with the mixed greens, tossed with a very light vinaigrette, which gives the salad a refreshing taste.

Basmati rice simmered in chicken broth with sliced mushrooms and a bay leaf. A simple, fragrant 4-ingredient side dish ready in 35 minutes.

Mushroom salad tosses crisp iceberg and Boston lettuce with cucumbers, green beans, and raw sliced mushrooms in French dressing. Light, vegetarian, diabetic-friendly side.

Nasu karashi sumiso-ae, a Japanese eggplant dish with boiled eggplant cubes tossed in a tangy white miso, soy sauce, and hot mustard dressing. A simple, savory side served at room temperature.

Indian-inspired curried rice cooked in chicken broth and orange juice with raisins and slivered almonds. A fragrant, sweet-savory side dish in one skillet.

Steamed Brussels sprouts tossed with toasted hazelnuts, extra-virgin olive oil, and ground cardamom. A simple 20-minute side dish with just four ingredients.

Orange-pecan couscous cooked in orange juice with cinnamon sticks, cloves, turmeric, and raisins. A fragrant, Moroccan-inspired side dish ready in under 30 minutes.

Osas are classic South Indian dosas: thin, crisp rice-and-lentil crepes made from a naturally fermented batter of rice and urad dal. Vegan, gluten-free, and golden with lacy, reddish-brown edges.