Recipes for Sides

November 15, 2023Lynley Jones

It’s all about the sides!

The main course tries to take all the glory, but we know the real deal. The sides bring the personality, the spice, the flavor. So here are lots of ideas for you to have something spicy going on - on the side.

Recipes for Side Dishes

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Gochugaru Quick-Pickled Scallions

Scallions in a quick pickling sauce infused with garlic and ginger and spiked with gochugaru. A nice accompaniment to steak, veggies, burgers, rice bowls or anything on the grill.

Spicy Sichuan Green Beans

Green beans in a spicy-tingling ma-la Sichuan peppercorn sauce.

Seared Portobello Mushroom Steaks with Leek-and-Juniper Wine Sauce

Portobello mushroom steaks seared and braised with a white wine leek sauce infused with juniper berries.

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Funky Lemon Eggplant Hash

Caramelized eggplant, sauteed with preserved lemon, leeks and herbs. Funky, spunky and addictive.

Ethiopian Spiced Collard Greens

Collards simmered with butter, olive oil, garlic, ginger and spices, then finished with a bright squeeze of lemon juice. Addictively good, and guaranteed to make a collards-lover out of anyone.

Savory Chard and Parmesan Bread Pudding

A savory bread pudding created to use up that stale baguette you have laying around, soaked in parmesan custard with Swiss chard.

Spicy Sumac Chard

Swiss chard sauteed with onions and garlic, a pinch of Aleppo pepper flakes and sumac.

Refried Beans (Frijoles Refritos)

Classic Mexican side, dip for chips, or ingredient for tostadas or burritos. (And please don't call it junk food.)

Simple Roasted Broccoli

The simplest way to prepare broccoli in the oven (with a huge flavor bang for your convenience buck).

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Aleppo-Maple Glazed Brussels Sprouts

Caramelized Brussels sprouts in a maple glaze spiked with a hint of Aleppo peppers.

Stuffed Roasted Baby Squashes

Baby winter squashes stuffed with herby quinoa, toasted almonds and ricotta salata cheese.

Roasted Red-Skinned Potatoes

Simple, go-to recipe for oven-roasted, crispy, golden potatoes.

Kohlrabi Salsa Cruda

Simple, crunchy raw topping for tacos. Perfect with Grilled Summer Veggie Tacos, or any fish or steak tacos.

Charred Cauliflower With Brown Butter Scape Sauce

Cauliflower grilled crispy and brown, then dressed in a rich garlicky-buttery sauce.

Stovetop Macaroni and Cheese

Creamy, cheesy, pasta-y and really doesn't take much longer than the boxed version.

Creamy Kale Pasta Bowl

Pasta with ricotta cheese, sauteed Tuscan kale, cherry tomatoes and lots of love. Quick, satisfying weeknight dinner or side.

Tomato and Grilled Corn Salad

Juicy tomatoes, grilled corn kernels, red onions and cilantro, with a squeeze of lime and just a hint of mild pepper. Simple to make and full of flavor (plan to lick the bowl).

Simplest Grilled Corn on the Cob

Quick and easy way to cook corn on the grill.

Lemon-Kale Chiffonade Salad with Summer Fruit

Cutting the kale into thin chiffonade helps it to mingle with all the other flavors and textures of this delicious salad.

Squash Blossom Quesadilla

Quesadilla stuffed with squash blossoms, mushrooms, tomatoes, serrano chile and cilantro.

Lemony Broccoli Leaves and Blossoms with Parmesan-Pepper Vinaigrette

The leaves of the broccoli plant, dressed with a peppery parmesan vinaigrette, tossed with sweet cherry tomatoes and topped with a scattering of broccoli blossoms.

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Paprika-Spiced Roasted Pumpkin Wedges with Crunchy Pumpkin Seeds

Roasted pumpkin wedges drizzled with a super flavorful paprika oil, then topped with herbs, parm and crunchy paprika-spiked pumpkin seeds. See notes for suggestions to prep ahead for a party, and/or to make this vegan.

Berbere-Roasted Butternut Squash

Cubed butternut squash tossed with Ethiopian Berbere Seasoning for a slightly spicy and super flavorful side.

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Creamy Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Buttery and creamy, with just the right amount of braised garlic. The best traditional mashed potatoes you will ever eat.

French Green Beans with Toasted Breadcrumbs

French-style green beans topped with buttery toasted breadcrumbs.

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Roasted Turmeric-Spiced Cauliflower

Roasty-toasty cauliflower with turmeric and other warming spices, tossed with parsley and basil.

Herby Asparagus with Spring Onions and Preserved Lemon-Bacon Vinaigrette

Roasted asparagus with lightly sauteed spring onions in a warm champagne vinaigrette with bacon and preserved lemons, topped with herb leaves and toasted pine nuts.

Spicy Beet Curry with Beet Greens and Spiced Yogurt

A spicy Indian-style curry that uses the whole beet plant from root to leaf. Caramelized beet cubes sauteed along with their stems and leaves in a mixture of onions, garlic, ginger, chiles and Indian spices, and served over spiced yogurt.

Jeera Fried Rice

Classic Indian-style rice with cumin seeds and peas. Perfect with any Indian meal.

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South Indian Vegetable Curry

A South Indian approach combining thinly-sliced green beans with coconut, Indian spices and a hint of chile.

Sauteed Swiss Chard

Swiss chard sauteed in olive oil with onions and garlic, and a pinch of crushed red pepper for good measure.

Cremini Beet Greens

Gorgeous greens combine with earthy cremini mushrooms and the zing of red pepper flakes. Delicious on their own, with scrambled or fried eggs, on a tomato or steak sandwich, or scattered on top of Grilled Pizza.

Fried Zucchini with Marinara Dipping Sauce

Golden-fried zucchini spears served with a savory marinara dipping sauce.

Buttery Green Beans with Sauteed Onions and Garlic

Simple green beans, sauteed with onions and garlic.

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Recipes for Sides

November 15, 2023Lynley Jones

It’s all about the sides!

Recipes for Side Dishes

And some more good ideas…