Side Dish Recipes

Gnocchi with chickpeas, butternut squash, and greens pan-sears pillowy gnocchi, then tosses them into a skillet of sage-scented squash, currants, garlic, and wilted spinach. A hearty vegetarian one-pan meal.

A light, brothy borscht of cabbage and beets simmered with carrot, celery, and tomato juice into a ruby-red, sweet-and-sour soup. Vegan, low in calories, and even better the next day.

Pan-seared lamb loin chops pressed with a garlic-parsley rub, served over a Greek-style couscous salad with tomato, cucumber, feta, and fresh dill. A bright Mediterranean dinner ready in 25 minutes.

Zucchini and tomatoes simmered with garlic, basil and a savory onion soup mix into a quick stovetop side. A vegan way to use up summer squash, ready in about 30 minutes and microwaveable too.

Baked plantain loaf from Ivory Coast made with mashed ripe plantains, rice flour, chilli sambal, and turmeric. A gluten-free West African side dish served with salted peanuts.

Quinoa and leek casserole with tofu, sesame oil, and grated cheese baked under a crispy breadcrumb topping. A protein-rich vegetarian main or side dish.

Grilled sausage foil packet with red potatoes, green beans, and onion sealed up and cooked right on the grill. Smoky sausage and tender vegetables in one no-cleanup hobo dinner for camping or the backyard.

Cheese tortellini tossed with crisp-tender asparagus in a lemon-thyme cream sauce finished with Parmesan. An elegant 18-minute dinner that tastes like spring on a plate.

Sautéed pancetta with balsamic beans simmers crispy pancetta, garlic, crushed tomatoes, and white beans in a sweet-tart honey-balsamic glaze. A rustic Italian side or weeknight main.

Green peas and sauteed mushrooms with green onions tossed in reduced-sodium soy sauce. A quick, low-fat, diabetic-friendly vegetable side dish ready in 15 minutes.

Hot Dutch potato salad: warm cubed potatoes tossed with a tangy bacon-vinegar dressing, hard-boiled eggs, and crisp bell pepper. The Pennsylvania Dutch classic served warm, never cold.

Grilled marinated tofu with a Mediterranean chopped salad of tomato, cucumber, kalamata olives and parsley. Bright vegetarian main with Greek flavors.

Grilled lobster tails with a fresh nectarine-avocado salad, scallions, and lime. A summer dinner with sweet stone fruit, creamy avocado, and charred lobster meat in 30 minutes.

Deep-fried cucumber slices double-coated in cracker crumbs and egg for a crispy, golden side dish. An unexpected way to cook cucumbers that's ready in 20 minutes.

A hearty vegetarian barley stew simmered in sweet carrot juice with shiitake mushrooms, kale, and a hit of ginger. Toasted barley cooks risotto-style into a cozy, warming, fiber-rich bowl.

Broccoli with lemon sauce using just three ingredients and no added fat. A simple, diabetic-friendly side dish ready in 20 minutes with bright citrus flavor.