Side Dish Recipes

Seven layer salad with crisp iceberg, water chestnuts, peas, and a sweet parmesan-mayo dressing, finished with bacon and hard-boiled egg. A make-ahead potluck classic that chills overnight.

Israeli salad with diced cucumber, tomatoes, radishes, green pepper, carrots, and lettuce in a fresh lemon juice dressing. A crisp, vegetarian chopped salad ready in 10 minutes.

Sauteed spinach with garlic and a little fresh tomato, cooked down in olive oil into a quick, savory side dish. A simple, healthy way to turn a pound of greens into a flavor-packed plate in minutes.

Vidalia onion risotto with crumbled feta and Parmesan cheese. Sweet onions and tangy feta give this creamy arborio rice dish a Greek-Italian twist.

Steamed zucchini and yellow squash rounds with garlic, oregano, and extra-virgin olive oil. A fast, diabetic-friendly side dish with only 29 calories per serving.

Cumin and garlic pinto beans simmered low and slow with onion, a single slice of bacon, and whole cumin seeds. The classic Tex-Mex side, sturdier and tastier than canned. Quick-soak method skips the overnight wait.

Lemon coleslaw with a creamy Dijon-horseradish dressing, colorful bell pepper matchsticks, red onion, carrot, and fresh lemon zest. Bright, tangy, and crunchy.

Sautéed broccoli with lemon and anchovies quickly blanches broccoli, then tosses it with garlic, melted anchovies, cayenne, and fresh lemon juice. A salty, briny Southern Italian side in 15 minutes.

Lemony leek and mushroom soup: a bright vegan vegetable soup with turnips, tomatoes, dill, and a finishing squeeze of lemon. A Passover-friendly first course with deep, herbal flavor.

Chunky potato soup with diced potatoes, golden sauteed onions, grated carrot, and a hint of dill, thickened with potato flakes for an instant creamy finish. The simple cold-weather one-pot soup.

Red beans and greens salad tosses kidney beans with chopped escarole, red onion, and chunky salsa. Five minutes, five ingredients, zero cooking.

Lemony lentil salad with salmon combines flaked salmon, canned lentils, red bell pepper, cucumber, and fresh dill in a zippy Dijon-lemon vinaigrette. A high-protein, no-cook lunch ready in 20 minutes.

Red-skinned potatoes tossed in a bright parsley-cucumber sauce with dill, lemon, and scallions. A fresh, dairy-free Jewish side dish topped with poppy seeds.

Baked acorn squash halves stuffed with crushed pineapple and cinnamon. A diabetic-friendly side dish steamed in a water bath until fork-tender and naturally sweet.

Thai coconut rice made with jasmine rice simmered in coconut milk and coconut cream with a touch of sugar and salt. Fragrant, slightly sweet, and rich, the classic side dish for Thai curries.

Tabbouli salad with bulgur soaked in hot vegetable stock, fresh parsley, mint, tomato, and a punchy lemon-garlic dressing. A bright, low-fat vegan Middle Eastern side.