I’ll be honest, there are days where just putting a healthy main dish on the table is a struggle. And there is definitely mom guilt when I put some good ol’ Mac ‘n Cheese on the table that I need to get my girls something other than carbs. Enter these delicious and healthy side dish recipes! They will add some color, vitamins, and fiber to whatever main dish you happen to put on the table. Plus, if you’ve got a vertical garden, or want to plant one, this is a great way to use those veggies! So, here are some awesome healthy side dish recipes:
Oven Roasted Garlic Cabbage: I’ll admit, I am not a huge cabbage fan unless it’s St. Patrick’s Day and my dad is making corned beef and cabbage. But this is different. The crunchiness and the garlic make this an awesome paleo version of garlic bread.
Spicy Maple Roasted Carrots: These are a game changer. You will not be missing the side dish of fries with these on your table. They are firm, sweet, and just enough spicy to give it a kick.
Roasted Radishes with Rosemary: I’ll be honest, before trying this I had never really given radishes much thought. But these are flavorful and delicious and also pack a nutritional punch. Definitely a compliment to almost any side dish.
Cilantro-Lime Roasted Cauliflower: These is an awesome twist on a classic. The best part of cauliflower is just how versatile it is, and this is a great example. These come out soft and crunchy and a bit tangy.
Roasted Broccoli with Soy Sauce and Sesame Seeds: Ilove Chinese food. Love it. This side dish is my new non-guilty go to because it’s quick, healthy, and so packed full of flavor.
Ginger Beets with Orange Zest: My dad loves beets. I’m pretty sure you have to grow up with them to love them. At least until I tried this salad. It’s so tangy and full of flavor!
Steamed Cauliflower with Curry Butter and Toasted Almonds: This is another way to get that vitamin K in from the cauliflower without eating it raw. It has a great well rounded flavor from the curry butter, and a nice crunch from the toasted almonds. I ate if for dinner, forget the Mac ‘n Cheese man, this was perfect.
Shredded Brussel Sprouts with Pistachios, Cranberries, and Parmesan: This is another “side dish” that was so easy and yet so delicious that it took up 80% of my plate. Seriously. Crunchy, savory, sweet, it had it all.
Asian-style Stir Fried Green Beans: This is another way that asian sauces make veggies a million times better. These pair beautifully with any Asian-style main dish, but also, I would eat them plain. 🙂
Ratatouille-Inspired Summer Dish: I’ve mentioned that I love to garden. And if you’re looking for some awesome veggies, I’d suggest checking out: DirectGardening. But I digress. You can definitely modify this dish to fit what you’ve got in your kitchen, but it is a perfect summer dish to compliment any main dish you make!
Mushroom Stir-Fry with Green Beans: I’ll admit it-I’m in an Asian phase. I love the way the flavors melt together. This easy side dish is no exception! It comes together quickly and is healthy to boot! I mean, just look at that picture! Can I say get in my belly fast enough?
Artichokes and Fava Beans: Okay, so side note here. We had a gal from Italy live with us for a few years, and man, can I say I’m pretty sure that the Italians have discovered the secret to eternal youth? Because their diet consists mostly of pasta and veggies. And they may or may not all look like models. No joke. Side note over, this recipe is delicious! The fava beans have a soft and creamy texture while the artichokes provide a delicious bite.
And there you have it! Twelve delicious side dishes that will jazz up any boring week night and make putting dinner on the table a little more fun. Want more recipes? Check out: Greatist for more additional recipes!
Oven Roasted Garlic Cabbage via PaleoLeap
Spicy Maple Roasted Carrots via BunsinmyOven
Roasted Radishes with Rosemary via OliveandHerb
Cilantro-Lime Roasted Cauliflower via SkinnyTaste
Roasted Broccoli with Soy Sauce and Sesame Seeds via KalynsKitchen
Ginger Beets with Orange Zest via TheHealingFeast
Steamed Cauliflower with Curry Butter and Toasted Almonds via PinchMySalt
Shredded Brussel Sprouts with Pistachios, Cranberries, and Parmesan via CookinCanuk
Asian-style Stir Fried Green Beans via JustPutzing
Ratatouille-Inspired Summer Dish via OhSheGlows
Mushroom Stir-Fry with Green Beans via SimplyRecipes
Artichokes and Fava Beans via ItalianFoodForever
