Category Archives: Side Dishes

Not Your Typical Carrot Salad

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How many times have you eaten carrot salad and thought to yourself, “Ehh, nothing special” or “Yup, tastes like plain carrots to me?” Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing bad about plain carrots. They are naturally sweet and extremely high in nutrition. Every now and then, however, I think we could all use a carrot salad make-over. This recipe is the perfect solution! Not only is it quick and easy to make (15 minutes), it’s also packed with amazing flavors. The cumin, fresh lemon juice and parsley add the perfect balance of smoky, citrusy and fresh flavors. What’s also great about this salad is you could make it ahead of time since it could be served cold or at room temperature.

Because the carrot salad is flavor intense, I would recommend pairing it with a simple main dish such as steak or chicken. The flavors in your main and side dishes should not compete against each other, but rather complement each other. I served this salad with a simple grilled steak and it was absolutely delicious! Continue reading →

Tomato, Cucumber, and Onion Salad

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This fresh and light summer salad is dedicated to my friend, Peggy. Thanks to her CSA (community-shared-agriculture), I had about five cucumbers and six large tomatoes sitting in my refrigerator last week! Making a boring green salad would’ve been such a waste given the freshness of the cucumbers and tomatoes. Then I remembered watching an episode of 30 Minute Meals where Rachael Ray made this yummy looking salad. It was so quick and easy to make. I already had all the ingredients, but added a few spices to kick things up a bit. Even if you don’t like raw onions, please don’t omit them from the recipe. They lend such a nice flavor to the dish that it would be very bland and boring without them! Red onions are milder than yellow onions, and get even milder because of the vinegar in the salad. You can reduce the quantity of onions in the recipe if you’re still skeptical ;). Continue reading →

Sauteed Swiss Chard

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Getting tired of the same leafy greens for dinner night after night? Spice up your side dish with a little swiss chard! Not only are they pretty to look at with their vibrant red, orange, and yellow stems, but they’re SO delicious as well. They are so quick and easy to cook up any night for dinner. I love to make sauteed swiss chard because it’s a nice change to spinach, but has similar health benefits. Swiss chard is full of iron, calcium, fiber, and vitamins A and C.

I’ve tailored this recipe so it’s healthy, quick, and simple yet still flavorful; however, you can tweak it any which way to fit your own preferences. For example, omit or add more red pepper flakes to control the level of spiciness, add sliced bacon for a smoky, buttery flavor, or add a splash of vinegar to make your greens a bit on the tart side. Oh, the places you’ll go with these greens! Continue reading →

Stewed Okra and Tomatoes

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I think okra is something you either love or hate. I am definitely an okra lover; however, it is a bit of a pain to prepare. Since fresh okra gets extremely slimy when cut into, I typically prefer to use frozen chopped okra instead. Nonetheless, I received a bag of fresh okra last week from my friend, Peggy’s, CSA (community-shared-agriculture). Even though Michael wanted me to fry them up, I opted for a healthier and less messy option – stewed okra and tomatoes. I grew up in the south, and this dish practically screams south :)! I love serving this side dish with fish or meat. It’s such a great accompaniment to almost any meal.

Okra, also known as “lady finger,” has many health benefits too. It’s very low in calories and has zero cholesterol. It is also an excellent source of fiber, calcium, iron, and vitamins A and D. So go ahead and pick up a pound of okra the next time you see them at the farmer’s market or grocery store! These pods not only taste good, but they’re good for you too! Continue reading →

Tomato and Basil Salad

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I don’t think I need to mention again how much I LOVE tomatoes. I made this salad last night to serve with steak because I needed to use my Italian basil. We were away for vacation and the basil grew out of control! I whipped this salad together with just a few ingredients I already had in my kitchen. When tomatoes are this sweet in the summer, you don’t really need to add much to them. I used pearl tomatoes on the vine, but you could use any sweet tomato that is available in your store. Grape or heirloom tomatoes would be delicious as well. This salad could be served as an appetizer or side dish. It is so fresh and light – perfect for any summer meal! Continue reading →

Grilled Summer Vegetables

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One of my favorite side dishes to serve in the summer is grilled peppers and zucchini. They are so fresh and sweet during the summer months, and I love how they get that nice smoky charred taste from the grill. I make these veggies almost every week in the summer and we can’t seem to get enough of them! The best part about this dish is that it’s SO easy to make. You could use any type of summer squash you like – zucchini, yellow straightneck squash, or yellow crookneck squash. And the different kinds of peppers available in the summer are endless! I prefer to use red, orange, and yellow bell peppers, and poblano peppers. Poblano peppers have a deep, yet still mild, flavor and are best in the summer.

So make sure to add these grilled vegetables to your next summer barbecue! No outdoor space or grill? No worries! You could also cook them over a stove top grill pan 😉 Continue reading →

Sauteed Snow Peas

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During the week, I like to keep my side dishes simple and healthy. I try to rotate different veggies so we don’t get bored, but it does get a little difficult at times. With Michael’s intense dislike for broccoli :roll:, I have to constantly be creative. (I think this dislike is due to only having plain boiled broccoli in the past!) These sauteed snow peas are the perfect accompaniment to any meat or seafood dish, especially seared scallops. You’ll be amazed by how much flavor comes with every bite! Continue reading →

Roasted Asparagus

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One of my favorite side dishes to make is roasted asparagus. It’s simple, elegant, delicious, and so quick to make! It’s also a great side dish to make if you’re already using the oven to cook your entree. Roasted asparagus goes nicely with almost any meat or fish. I make this dish every week and we never seem to get tired of it! What I love most about these little spears, however, is that they have so many health benefits. Asparagus spears are low in calories and sugar, have virtually zero fat and cholesterol, but are loaded with vitamins and fiber. FIBER. Need I say more? Continue reading →

Quinoa with Raisins and Pine Nuts

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If I could have it my way, I would eat nothing but rice, pasta, and noodles for every meal, every day. But let’s face it, my body has changed since I entered my 30s and it does not accept carbs the way it used to. So my philosophy nowadays is to eat healthy, carb-less dinners (packed with flavor, of course) during the week so that I can eat all the carbs my heart desires on the weekends! :)

Nonetheless, there are weeknights where I get a little weak and give in to carbs. (Don’t judge, I’m only human.) For those “exceptions,” I try to at least eat healthy carbs.  That’s why quinoa, pronounced “kee-nwa,” is my new best friend! While people often mistake quinoa for a whole grain, it is actually a seed; however, it can be prepared like most whole grains. Not only does quinoa taste delicious, it’s super healthy for you as well!  This seed is packed with protein and amino acids, which means you stay full longer! It’s also gluten and cholesterol free. Continue reading →