Side Dish Recipes

Fresh mixed greens layered with buttery avocado, salty feta, Spanish olives, and crisp vegetables for a fast Mediterranean-style bowl.

Octopus and celery salad, a light Venetian classic of tender boiled octopus tossed with crisp raw celery, fruity olive oil, and bright lemon. A clean, low-fat seafood salad to serve with fresh bread.

Chilled green pea soup blends sweet frozen peas with thyme, onion, and minute tapioca for a velvety low-fat, low-calorie soup that works hot or cold. The tapioca thickens without flour or cream. Five minutes of standing time, twenty minutes total cook.

Light mixed bean salad with green beans, broad beans, kidney beans, and firm tofu tossed in lemon juice and served with a fresh herb fromage frais dressing. A low-fat vegetarian side dish ready in 15 minutes.

Yogurt cucumber salad with dill, dry mustard, and white vinegar. A cool, creamy, low-fat vegetarian side dish that comes together in 10 minutes flat.

Corn with bacon and mushrooms sautees sweet summer kernels in smoky bacon fat with shallots and a mix of wild mushrooms, then showers crisp bacon over the top. A savory side that celebrates late-summer corn.

Mom's hot and sour soup combines silken tofu, bamboo shoots, shredded pork, white vinegar heat, and a swirled egg ribbon in a sesame-finished Chinese broth. Ready in 30 minutes start to finish.

Indian carrot salad with cumin, cinnamon, lime juice, and garlic, served chilled and garnished with wheat sprouts. A light, spiced vegetarian side dish.

Fresh spinach salad tosses tender baby spinach with a Caesar dressing thinned by cottage cheese for a creamy, lightened-up dressing. Three-ingredient salad ready in minutes.

Salad with warm goat cheese: crumb-coated Montrachet rounds fried to a golden crust over tender greens in a champagne-cider vinaigrette. A French bistro classic worth every step.

Popcorn tossed with melted butter, grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, and Pecorino Romano. A savory movie-night upgrade with salty, nutty cheese clinging to every kernel.

Roasted asparagus with hollandaise pairs hot-roasted spears with blender-made hollandaise sauce. The French bistro classic done with no double boiler required.

Rustic Italian chicken and vegetable soup with zucchini, carrots, and diced tomatoes simmered in light chicken broth. One Dutch oven, under an hour, with a handful of grated Parmesan on top for a nutty finish.

Fresh spinach and walnut salad with green onions in a simple lemon-olive oil dressing. A crisp, vegan side salad with a salt-wilting technique for tender leaves.

Cold gazpacho pasta salad with rotelle, cucumber, bell pepper, jalapeño, tomato juice and fresh lime. Spanish-inspired summer pasta salad with a spicy kick.

Baked garlic cheese grits with sharp cheddar, fresh garlic, and a kiss of cayenne. A classic Southern brunch or side dish casserole that bakes up creamy inside with a golden burnished crust on top.