Side Dish Recipes

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.

Oven-baked potato disks tossed in chili-infused olive oil with paprika and garlic powder. Festive red and green chili peppers flavor the oil overnight for subtle heat.

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.

Quick vegetable curry simmers potato and frozen mixed vegetables in a spiced tomato sauce built from bloomed curry powder and tomato paste. A budget-friendly, vegan weeknight dinner in about 35 minutes.

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.

Quinoa with shiitake gravy: dried shiitakes simmered with their soaking liquid and shoyu, thickened with kudzu into a clear, silky glaze. Vegan, 84 calories per serving, ready in an hour.

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

Quick vegetable medley with corn, black beans, yellow pepper, and tomatoes sauteed in sesame oil and finished with umeboshi vinegar. Vegan and versatile.

Vegan garlic soup with pearl barley, wild rice, potatoes, carrots, and celery. Built on a base of 25 mashed garlic cloves simmered in water. Hearty, restorative, and gluten-free with tamari.

Grilled vegetable and ravioli salad with cheese-stuffed pasta, smoky grilled vegetables, and a red wine vinegar vinaigrette. An 8-minute summer dinner that turns leftover grilled vegetables into a full-meal salad.

Carciofi dorati e fritti, golden fried artichokes dredged in flour, dipped in beaten egg yolks, and pan-fried crispy. A classic Italian Jewish preparation with just lemon and salt.

Sem Pullao with green beans, basmati rice, mustard seeds, cumin, and turmeric cooked in one pot. A fragrant Indian vegetarian side dish ready in 40 minutes.

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.

Pasta salad with asparagus, baby corn, sun-dried tomatoes, and fresh herbs. A fast, pantry-friendly cold salad that comes together in 15 minutes with Italian or Caesar dressing.

Sweet potatoes with a hint of orange: cooked sweet potatoes baked with cinnamon, dried apricots, and fresh orange slices. A lighter, fruit-sweetened holiday side with no marshmallows or piles of sugar.

Tuna tapenade with oil-packed tuna, black olives, capers, garlic, lemon juice, and a splash of dark rum blended smooth with olive oil. A Mediterranean spread for crudites or crackers.