About Side Dish

Side dish, literally means, a dish that is eaten alongside the main dish or main course. The side dish is a component of the main course and usually accompanies the dishes that are served as part of the main course dishes. The portions served are usually small and these side dishes are generally served in small bowls or salad plate, depending on the side dish. Side dish recipes include foods such as salads, potato, bread, vegetables, and pasta. Lately, foods such as couscous and rice have also gained prominence as side dishes. If a main dish is made of meat, then it usually has vegetable as a side dish in any form, either as a salad, a bake, etc.

History of Side Dish

The first known use of side dish was in the year 1706. In fact, salads have been in use as side dishes since the ancient times, dating back to the Roman and Greek civilizations. Though initially salads were made from greens and other vegetables, with time, this side dish recipe has taken various forms and today there are many salad recipes that are served as side dish in most of the cuisines.

Some Popular Side Dish Recipes of various Cuisines:

Side dish is part of most of the cuisines and is usually made with locally available ingredients. Some common side dish recipes are –

American Baked Beans – This is a popular American side dish made from haricot beans. These beans are usually stewed, despite the name indicating that it is a baked side dish recipe. This is also a quick food that can be eaten directly from the can or sautéed with onions and green pepper. This main course accompaniment is usually made in a tomato sauce base. Some more popular American side dish recipes are Baked Potatoes, Coleslaw, Cheese Macaroni, Corn on the Cob, and different types of Casseroles.
German Fried Potatoes – Fried Potatoes is a popular German side dish recipe with potato being the main ingredient along with bacon. Diced potatoes are cooked along with bacon and certain spices to prepare this delicious side dish. Some more popular German main course accompaniments are Potato Dumplings, Noodles (made from flour and egg), Potato Noodles, and Schupfnudel.
Italian Pasta – Pasta is a popular side dish recipe of Italian origin. There are a number of variations to the pasta in both vegetarian and non-vegetarian. Pasta is available in different shapes and is called by different names such as spaghetti, linguini, wide maccheroni, shells, rotelle, etc. Different salads are also popular main course accompaniments of the Italian cuisine, which are of course popular all over the world and have been integrated into other cuisines as well.
French Ratatouille –This is a popular traditional French side dish recipe which is also known as poor man’s dish. This dish is made by stewing vegetables such as eggplant, tomatoes, and zucchini along with certain herbs and spices and served with rice. White wine adds a lot of flavor to this main course accompaniment. Some more popular French side dish courses are Scalloped Potatoes, Green Beans, Soups, Salads, French Fries, Cheesy Mashed Potatoes, Baked Zucchini, Brussel Sprouts, Celery Root Puree, and Chestnut Dressing.
Indian Spice Chick Peas – The main ingredient of this popular Indian side dish recipe is chick peas and the dish is popularly known as Chole or Chana Masala. The dish is made by boiling the peas and then simmering them in a lot of spices along with tomatoes and tamarind juice, which add taste and flavor to the dish. Some more popular Indian main course accompaniments are Lentils, Vegetables, Chutney, etc.
Japanese Suimono – This popular Japanese side dish recipe includes ingredients such as dried bonito and kelp that are simmered along with certain spices. Suimono is a Japanese appetizer that is also served as a side dish with the main course. Some more popular Japanese main course accompaniments are Tsukemono (salted and pickled dishes), Shirumono, and Yakimono (stir fried dishes)

There are certain side dishes that are served with drinks. These side dish recipes are usually snacks that can be easily made at home, such as raw banana chips, pumpkin mix, raw vegetable mix, mashed tapioca, tindora chips, etc.

Interesting Holiday Side Dish Recipes

Holidays are the time when people like to relax and enjoy. Moreover, holidays are the time when people can experiment with food, especially some interesting side dishes such as Cheesy Pineapple Casserole, Broccoli Onion & Cheese Casserole and Baked Cheese Grits, which can be taken along on a picnic or elsewhere.

Cheesy Pineapple Casserole – The main ingredients of this interesting holiday side dish recipe are pineapple chunks and cheddar cheese. These along with other ingredients such as Ritz crackers, flour and butter are baked in a casserole at 350 degrees F for about 30 minutes.
Broccoli Onion & Cheese Casserole – The main ingredients of this side dish recipe are broccoli, onions, mushroom soup and cheddar cheese. These are baked in a casserole for about 350 degrees F for 45 minutes.
Baked Cheesy Grits – The main ingredients of this side dish recipe are cooking grits, cheddar cheese, Jack Monterey cheese, milk and eggs. All the ingredients are mixed and baked for about an hour, until the grits are firm.

All these holiday side dish recipes are excellent main course accompaniments.

Side Dish: Trivia

Most of the side dishes are generally served with some kind of dressing, such as sauces, condiments, and salad dressing. Even these are considered as side dishes.