18 Vegetable Side Dishes (that aren’t boring!)

Vegetables Side Dishes | Vegetable Sides | Vegetable Side Dishes Healthy | Vegetable Side Dishes Healthy Low Carb | Check the Six Clever Sisters blog for the best vegetable side dishes that aren't boring!18 Vegetable Side Dishes (that aren’t boring!)

If you’re like me and eat lots of vegetables, you’re probably always on the lookout for new vegetable side dishes to add to your menu.

I make at least one vegetable side dish for dinner, and steamed broccoli or plain green beans is a little boring for me.

I do steam vegetables now and then, but I much prefer roasting my broccoli with a little olive oil and sea salt over steaming it. My “normal” simple green bean dish is boiling them for 4-5 minutes and then finishing them off in a hot skillet with a bit of olive oil and a dash of seasoned salt. 

Yummmmmm

(By the way, my sister posted all about veggies that are great for roasting and there are a bunch of great recipes to try!)

It’s so much easier to eat vegetables when they’re deliciously prepared!

How do you prepare delicious vegetable side dishes?

The main things to remember when preparing vegetable side dishes are these:

  1. Be sure to adequately season your vegetables, including salt, which can bring out a lot of flavor in your dish. Fresh herbs and spices do wonders for vegetable dishes! Experiment with spice combinations and be prepared to fall in love with how good veggies can actually be! 
  2. Don’t overcook your vegetables. When they become mushy, they are not very enjoyable! Crispy, roasted vegetables can be much tastier than soft ones. If a vegetable is naturally soft, try to crisp it up instead of intensifying how soft it is.
  3. Lastly, sometimes a bit of tomato sauce or a sprinkle of cheese is *just* what a vegetable dish needs to give it its finishing touch. Don’t be afraid to do some sprinkling after your dish comes out of the oven! 🙂 

What can I pair with these vegetable side dishes?

I *highly* recommend starting your dinner menu with these Yogurt-Marinated Chicken Kabobs + this Spinach Yogurt Sauce – these, plus a couple of vegetable side dishes, and you have a GREAT dinner plan!

A copycat Nando’s grilled chicken or a simple flat-roasted whole chicken are delicious meals that would pair well with many of these vegetable side dishes.

Having a barbecue? Try this teriyaki grilled chicken or our copycat Chick-Fil-A Grilled Chicken Smokehouse BBQ Bacon Sandwiches!

A couple of my personal favorites are my easy Greek-style meatballs or our Perfect Pulled Pork!

Here are some beautiful vegetable side dishes that are far from boring!

18 Vegetable Side Dishes (that aren't boring!)

 

Vegetables Side Dishes | Vegetable Sides | Vegetable Side Dishes Healthy | Vegetable Side Dishes Healthy Low Carb | Check the Six Clever Sisters blog for the best vegetable side dishes that aren't boring!

How can I make my vegetables taste good and healthy? 

Making vegetables taste good and still be good for you at the same time is easy!

Start by adding plenty of seasoning – spices, fresh herbs take vegetables up a notch!

Don’t serve “mushy” vegetables. Roasting vegetables (drizzle with olive oil and use high heat in the oven) makes them crispy and brings out natural caramelization that will make your veggies taste delicious!

When it works, add tomato sauce or a sprinkle of cheese to your vegetable side dishes to ramp up the flavor even more!

What is the healthiest way to cook vegetables?

The University of Central Florida says that steaming vegetables, not letting them touch the water and lose their nutrients into the water, is a healthy way. Just don’t overcook them!

They also say that cooking them stir-fry style over high heat locks in nutrients. Be sure to use a healthy variety of oil in a small quantity.

The other healthy way that UCF says is actually *microwaving* them. It’s simple and quick and needs no added fat to cook them. I always thought that microwaving destroyed the nutrients! 

:: PIN FOR LATER ::

What other vegetable side dishes are your favorites? I always love to try a new one! 😀

Vegetables Side Dishes | Vegetable Sides | Vegetable Side Dishes Healthy | Vegetable Side Dishes Healthy Low Carb | Check the Six Clever Sisters blog for the best vegetable side dishes that aren't boring!

 

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3 Comments

  1. Pingback: Stovetop Gouda Mac and Cheese - Six Clever Sisters

  2. Yall knocked it out the park with all these delicious looking recipes! Thank you so much!

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