Side Dishes

I’m sharing some of my favorite “it’s so easy even I’ll make it” side dish recipes.

Oven Roasted Vegetables Recipe

Easy Oven Roasted Vegetables Recipe
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Additional Time30 minutes
Total Time1 hour 20 minutes
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: oven roasted vegetables, roasted vegetables
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 143kcal
Author: Rachel

Ingredients

  • 1 Zucchini Chopped
  • 1 Medium Red Onion Chopped
  • 1 Jalapeno Pepper
  • 1 Red Pepper
  • 1 Yellow Pepper
  • 1 Green Pepper
  • 1/2 cup Carrots Chopped Small
  • 1 cup broccoli chopped small
  • 2 cups pineapple chunks
  • 3 Tbsp Pineapple Juic
  • 2 Tbsp Olive Oil
  • 1 tsp chopped ginger
  • 1/2 tsp minced garlic
  • 1 tbsp brown sugar
  • Salt and Pepper to Taste

Instructions

  • Chop all vegetables into small portions
  • Chop pineapple into small chunks reserving 3 tbsp pineapple juice
  • Place all vegetables and pineapple in large mixing bowl
  • Sprinkle with Salt and Pepper
  • In small mixing bowl add ginger, garlic, brown sugar, pineapple juice, and olive oil and mix well.
  • Pour over veggies and toss.
  • Cover mixing bowl and allow to set for 30 minutes to marinate.
  • Preheat Oven to 400 Degrees
  • Place Parchment Paper over large baking sheet.
  • Spread vegetable mixture evenly over the paper.
  • Bake for 30 minutes.

Notes

A variety of vegetable can be used in Roasted Vegetables Recipe.
Pineapple and pineapple juice can be eliminated by adding additional veggies and more olive oil.

This recipe is great with Black Bean Cakes. The flavors really enhance each other. Another great benefit of this recipe is that it keeps well in the refrigerator for at least a week.

Corn Relish

Makes a great side dish for Black Bean Cakes
Prep Time8 minutes
Cook Time4 minutes
Total Time12 minutes
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: corn relish
Servings: 6 people
Calories: 210kcal
Author: Rachel

Ingredients

  • 2 12 oz. Whole Kernel Corn
  • â…” Cup Diced Onion
  • â…” Cup Green Pepper
  • â…” Cup Pimento's
  • ½ Cup White Vinegar
  • 2 tbsp oil
  • ¼ Cup Sugar
  • 2 tsp Dry Mustard
  • ½ tsp Salt
  • ½ tsp Pepper

Instructions

  • Drain Corn saving ½ cup of juice
  • Combine Corn, Onion, Pepper & Pimento’s in a large mixing bowl.
  • Combine remaining ingredients including reserved corn juice in a sauce pan
  • Bring sauce pan mixture to a slight boil
  • Pour hot liquid over Corn mixture and stir.
  • Cover & Refrigrate over night, stirring occasionally.
  • Serve as a cold side dish.

See Recipe for Black Bean Cakes Here

This side dish is also a great appetizer. It works well with the Chicken Enchilada Recipe.

Avocados are considered a super health food and therefore are a great addition to your diet. The are cholesterol free, sodium free and low in saturated fats. To learn more about the health benefits of Avocado’s see this article.

Perfect Holiday Side Dish

A friend shared this dish with me many years ago and I make it every Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Cranberry & Apple Bake

Hard to Beat Those Beets

Hard to Beat these Beets Recipe

Yummy and Delicious
Prep Time2 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time32 minutes
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 88kcal
Author: Rachel

Ingredients

  • 3 large Fresh Beets
  • â…“ cup Goat Cheese Crumbled
  • ¼ cup Pecans Chopped

Instructions

  • Wash & Slice Beets
  • Cover with Water and boil for 30 minutes
  • Chop Beets into cubes
  • Sprinkle with Goat Cheese and Pecans
  • Serve Warm

Notes

You can substitute Pistachio Nuts or Walnuts for Pecans if you prefer.  They are all delicious.  
If you allow the dish to cool, it’s still good.  However, warm is best.  

Tangy Basil Pesto Recipe

Great to Freeze Recipe

This recipe side dish is great for dipping with fresh baked bread or tossed on pasta. You’ll love having small containers in your freezer to pull out at the last minute.

Basil Pesto Recipe

Tasty pesto great on pasta, bread, and great to use in soups.
Prep Time15 minutes
Total Time15 minutes
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: Italian
Servings: 10 people
Calories: 125kcal
Author: Rachel

Ingredients

  • 3 cups Basil Fresh
  • 1 Cup Olive Oil Extra Virgin
  • ¾ cup Parmesan cheese Shredded
  • â…› cup walnuts chopped
  • ½ cup Pine nuts
  • 2 tbsp garlic minced
  • â…› tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp pepper

Instructions

  • Wash Basil Well & pat dry
  • Blend all ingredients together in food processor or blender. Blend until almost smooth. Leaving the nuts slightly crunchy.

Notes

Cost estimate is based on growing your on basil plant
Pine nuts can be substituted with Almonds
Salt and Pepper can be adjusted to taste. 
Keep Pesto in an air tight container in refrigerator for up to a week. 
Freezes well

Potato Side Dish

Wasabi Mashed Potatoes

This dish is perfect with the Ahi Tuna Recipe

Wasabi Mashed Potatoes

Mashed Potatoes with a twist. A touch of Wasabi makes these a perfect side dish for Ahi Tuna.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time25 minutes
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Japanese
Keyword: Potatoes
Servings: 2 people
Author: Rachel

Ingredients

  • 4-6 Red Potatoes Small to Medium in size
  • 4 tbsp Butter
  • ½ tbsp Wasabi Paste
  • 1 tbsp Sour Cream
  • Salt To taste
  • Pepper To taste

Notes

Wash and Cut Potatoes into small chunks leaving the peal on.
Cover with water and boil until soft.
Drain water and return potatoes to hot pot
Add butter, sour cream & wasabi 
Roughly mash potato mixture to desired smoothness.
Add Salt and Pepper to taste.
Serve immediately.  
Recipe is easily doubled or tripled.  

Easy Asian Slaw

Easy Asian Slaw

Easy to make slaw with an Asian flair.
Prep Time10 minutes
Total Time10 minutes
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Japanese
Servings: 6 People
Calories: 178kcal
Author: Rachel

Ingredients

  • 1 bag cabbage slaw mixture Or Small Head of Cabbage Chopped
  • 3 tbsp olive oil extra virgin
  • 1 tbsp toasted sesame oil
  • 1/4 cup rice vinegar
  • 3 tbsp raw honey
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 garlic clove
  • 1 tsp ginger powder
  • ½ tbsp salt
  • ¼ cup toasted sesame seeds Optional

Notes

Mix all ingredients (except toasted sesame seeds)
Cover and refrigerate for a minimum of 2 hours 
Add optional toasted sesame seeds just before serving.  
Excellent served with Sear Ahi Tuna and Wasabi Mashed Potatoes

Sweet Corn Bread Muffins

This easy to make corn bread muffins recipes is a twist on traditional cornbread with the addition of sweet cream corn. It's a southern tradition that I know you will love.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Cuisine: American
Keyword: cornbread muffins
Servings: 12 – 24
Calories: 110kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 – Box Jiffy Muffin Mix
  • 1 – large egg beaten
  • 1/2 – large can of cream style corn
  • 1/2 – cup sour cream
  • 1/4 – cup melted butter

Instructions

  • Preheat Oven 350 degrees
  • Add all ingredients in a large mixing bowl
  • Stir until batter is slightly lumpy
  • Grease muffin tins
  • Pour batter into muffin tins approx. two thirds full
  • Bake for 15 – 25 minutes until tops are golden brown
  • Double check – If making 12 large muffins, slide a toothpick into a center muffin until it comes out clean.

Notes

You can use either one large muffin tin or two small muffin tins.
You can a jalapeno pepper to the top of each muffin if desired.

I made this for Cinco de Mayo and it was a so delicious. This is a great vegetarian dish that can be served as a main dish. You can see more recipes that are great for Cinco de Mayo here.

Cilantro Lime Black Beans & Rice

Black Bean Cakes

Easy Recipe and Freezes well.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time25 minutes
Cuisine: American
Keyword: blackbean
Servings: 6 people
Calories: 233kcal
Author: Rachel

Ingredients

  • 2 15 oz. Black Beans
  • ½ cup Green Onions Finely chopped
  • 2 med. Jalapeno Peppers Finely Chopped
  • 3 tsp Minced Garlic
  • 1 tsp Cumin
  • 2 tbsp B B Que Sauce
  • ½ cup Dried Bread Crumbs
  • ¼ cup Fresh Cilantro Chopped
  • dash Red Pepper Flakes

Instructions

  • Drain & Rinse Black Beans
  • Mash Beans
  • Add all ingredients except bread crumbs
  • Mix well and separate into 6 patty size rolls
  • Spread Bread Crumbs on wax paper and roll patties over bread crumbs pressing crumbs into the patties.
  • Press into patties
  • Cook in skillet over med. heat until hot.

Notes

Note:  If patties appear to wet, add bread crumbs to the mixture to thicken the consistency.  
This is a great recipe to freeze.  Leave black bean patties in a ball to freeze.  
Delicious when served with any of the following sides/condiments.
Sour Cream
Salsa
Corn Relish

Easy Zucchini Bake

Easy Zucchini Bake

This is a great recipe to use any vegetables that you prefer to mix together
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time1 hour
Total Time1 hour 10 minutes
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Zucchini
Servings: 4 People
Calories: 131kcal
Author: Rachel

Ingredients

  • 2-3 Zucchini's depending on size
  • 1 Jalapeno Pepper chopped
  • 1 tomato chopped
  • 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese shredded
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1/4 tsp celery salt
  • 1/4 tsp ground pepper

Instructions

  • Pre-heat oven to 350°
  • Wash & Chop all vegetables
  • Toss with olive oil & seasonings
  • Place in baking dish
  • Sprinkle cheese over top
  • Bake for 1 hour at 350°

Notes

This is an easy recipe to double or triple.  You can add any number of vegetables to the mixture.  Broccoli, mushrooms, onion, squash, sweet pepper’s, etc.  These all work great with these same techniques. Â