Side Dish Recipes

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.

Spanakorizo is a classic Greek spinach and rice dish simmered with tomato, onion, fresh mint, parsley, and a whisper of nutmeg. Vegetarian, comforting, finished with hard-cooked eggs and lemon.

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.

Greek-style green beans and potatoes braised slow in tomato until meltingly tender, finished with a fresh hit of mint. A vegan side or light main that's even better the longer it simmers.

Herbed lentils and brown rice baked in broth with white wine, basil, oregano, and thyme, topped with melted Swiss cheese. A one-casserole vegetarian main or hearty side dish.

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

Asian vegetable fried rice with broccoli, red pepper, bamboo shoots, and straw mushrooms stir-fried in sesame oil with soy sauce. A low-fat, five-ingredient side dish or light main using frozen mixed vegetables.

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

Garlic-roasted potatoes tossed with peppery watercress, white wine vinegar, and fresh chives. Crispy, golden potatoes meet fresh greens in a warm salad-style side dish.

Stuffed baked mushrooms filled with sausage meat, whole wheat breadcrumbs, fried onions, and fresh sage. A savory side dish or starter that bakes in just 20 minutes.

Potato and sweet potato torte: thin-sliced Yukon gold and sweet potatoes layered with buttery thyme-scented leeks, baked into a tender, stacked round cake you flip out and slice at the table. A stunning vegetable side.

Sweet poppy seed noodles toss buttered egg noodles with prepared poppy seed filling, raisins, lemon zest, and vanilla. Eastern European-style sweet pasta side or dessert that comes together in 20 minutes.

Wild rice casserole with earthy mushrooms, onion, and garlic baked slowly in vegetable broth. A five-ingredient, hands-off side dish or vegetarian main with deep nutty flavor.

Oasis carrot salad boils carrots tender then marinates them in garlic-onion-vinegar dressing, finished with fresh cilantro and parsley. A bright, make-ahead North African-style side.

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.