Side Dish Recipes

A quick, low-calorie salad with diced ham, fresh corn, tomato and crunchy croutons tossed in a creamy smoked paprika and sour cream dressing. Ready in 15 minutes, no cooking required.

Braised escarole with caramelized apples, shallots, and toasted pecans in a cider vinegar pan sauce. A bitter-sweet fall side dish that pairs beautifully with pork, duck, or roast chicken.

Couscous salad with almonds and currants: steamed vegetables tossed with fluffy couscous in an orange-lemon-cinnamon marinade. North African-inspired vegetarian side that travels well.

Asian-style oat pilaf with egg-coated rolled oats toasted until separated, then simmered in soy sauce and chicken broth with mushrooms, green onions, and snow peas. A unique side dish.

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.

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.

Savoury mushroom sauce is a rich vegan gravy made from dried porcini extract, tamari, maple syrup, and arrowroot. A gluten-free, dairy-free topping for rice, potatoes, or pasta.

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.

Home-made hot wings tossed in a two-ingredient buffalo sauce of melted butter and hot pepper sauce. Deep-fry for crispy or oven-bake for easy cleanup. Just 3 ingredients total.

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French fruit fritters with a light, airy batter made from separated eggs and lemon juice. Dip any fruit in the batter and deep fry until golden. Dust with powdered sugar.

Southwestern black-eyed peas simmered with diced carrots, onion, bell pepper, celery, garlic, and hot sauce. A simple, flavorful side dish ready in 30 minutes.

Crisp-tender broccoli stir-fried in butter with fresh lime juice and toasted pine nuts. A 20-minute side dish that's bright, nutty, and diabetic-friendly.

Make-ahead barley polenta cooked in milk and honey, chilled overnight, then cut into squares, coated in wheat germ, and pan-fried in butter until crispy. A wholesome, nutty breakfast or side dish.

Brazilian-style grilled chicken salpicão with charred red onion, carrots, parsley, and a Spanish paprika mayo dressing. Finished with crunchy potato straws on top. Ready in 30 minutes for a bright weeknight chicken salad.

If you don't want to spend too long time to cook, and want to a vegetable side dish to accompany a meat dish, try this one.