When it comes to the holiday season, there’s plenty of discussion around what food should be made. Do you stick with your traditional fare of mashed potatoes and cooked green beans? Or do you branch out to new flavors like red cabbage, beets, and pickled vegetables? No matter what your choice is this holiday dinner, find a garden vegetable side dish that’ll make your stomach happy and your guests smile with glee.
Garden Vegetable Sides for Your Next Holiday Meal
Pickled Veggie Salad with Mustard Dressing
Are you a lover or a hater of pickled veggie salads? The earthy, sweet-yet-tart zing of pickled beets and other cold-weather vegetables like cauliflower is loved by many, though admittedly not all. If you’re on the love-it side of this fence, pick up some pickled beets and stone-ground mustard and plate up a healthy, beautifully flavorful winter salad.
Jackie’s Green Bean Casserole
Love it or hate it, it seems you cannot have a true holiday dinner without Green Bean Casserole. This recipe by Chef Jackie Page infuses freshly-grown green beans with mushrooms, a savory sauce, and bacon. Everything gets even better when you add bacon to it.
Carrot and Beet Latkes
Try a new type of side this holiday season with homemade latkes. The sweetness of Carrot and Beet Latkes beautifully complements the salty goodness of smoked salmon as a topping. You’ll wonder why potato latkes still reign almost exclusively! Plus, everyone is free to try the garnish combination of their choice.
Roasted Sheet Pan Veggies with Spicy Glaze
Roasty, toasty Sheet Pan Veggies are not only crunchy and delectable but also includes something everyone will love. For this recipe you’ll use zucchini, yellow squash, okra, cherry tomatoes, and corn. Then, these veggies get covered in a spicy glaze that has a hint of sweetness to it thanks to the addition of honey. The end product is so good you’ll want a whole plate of this side dish.
Sweet and Sour Red Cabbage
Red cabbage features a vibrant, deep purple color and is marked by a slightly sweet flavor. It is often used in salads, coleslaws, and pickled dishes. This delicious red cabbage recipe is simple to make but packed with flavor and will become one of your dependable go-to options for special occasions.
Honey and Ghee Roasted Carrots
The simple deliciousness of roasted carrots is one that is often overlooked. Combine this garden vegetable with honey and ghee for a healthy side dish that’s also tasty. You can even get creative by selecting different types of carrots such as purple or yellow.
Easy Bake Beans and Potatoes
This is one of the easiest side dishes to make if you’re in a pinch for holiday dinners. Our Bake Beans and Potatoes recipe uses only one pan, which makes for quick setup and cleanup. Use fresh ingredients like green beans, peas, and potatoes to pack in flavor that satisfies.
Lentil-Asparagus-Corn Salad
Lentils have many uses but here it’s the star of the dish. Orange lentils make for a witty pairing with corn and asparagus in this vivid salad that also flirts with edible flowers and snippets of torn mint. Impress your guests with a visually appetizing salad that’ll have stomachs rumbling.
Brussels Sprouts in Orange and Apricot Sauce
Healthy, plant-based side dishes can lighten a meat-centered meal, especially when it comes to the holidays. Take cold-weather classic Brussels sprouts and blend them with a light, sweet sauce for a dish of varying tastes. This quick and easy recipe uses only a few basic ingredients but turns out super delicious.
Sticky Eggplant with Pickled Garlic Blossoms
Glossy and gorgeous Japanese eggplant will easily captivate your taste buds with a quick sauté in a sweet-and-spicy gravy of Indonesian sambal, Thai chili sauce, hoisin sauce, soy, red pepper, and honey. The flavor profile here is like a quick trip to Southeast Asia and will be a wonderful break from your usual winter fare.
Brussels Sprouts with Pomegranate Seeds and Venison Jerky
We’re making this often avoided garden vegetable one you’ll want to immediately add to your plate. Venison jerky, a bit of sherry vinegar, and pomegranate seeds complete these brussels sprouts with an unexpected but delightful flavor. It’s a little sweet and a little smokey.
Story by Kylie Thomas
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