Superfast Side Dishes

Updated December 15, 2008

Serve a quick and easy side dish to complement your main dish. These delicious dishes take mere minutes to prepare.

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Charred Okra with Tomatoes

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Lindsey Lower

Charred Okra with Tomatoes Recipe

A serrated peeler works like magic to peel plum tomatoes, sparing you the hassle of blanching and shocking in ice water to get the skins off.

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Esquites (Creamy Corn Salad)

Credit: Christopher Testani; Styling: Paige Hicks

Esquites (Creamy Corn Salad) Recipe

Esquites is a cousin to elote--that street food favorite of creamy cheese-coated corn cobs. You can also find this off-the-cob version with Mexican street food vendors. It's great on its own or served as a side dish with grilled meats.

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Mediterranean Green Beans

Mediterranean Green Beans Recipe

Boiled green beans get a jolt of Mediterranean flavor in this easy flavorful make-ahead side. While the green beans boil, stir together a delicious blend of flavors then drizzle on, chill, and you have a side ready to serve when dinner comes around.

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Quick Farro Salad

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen

Quick Farro Salad Recipe

This simple salad is versatile and pairs wonderfully with meat and fish.

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Pearl Couscous and Currants

Credit: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Linda Hirst

Pearl Couscous and Currants Recipe

Pearl Couscous and Currants is a perfect side for your favorite skewer recipe. It only takes a quick boil, simmer, and a couple flavor boosters and you have a simple side served in no time.

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Garlic-Mint Peas

Credit: Susie Cushner

Garlic-Mint Peas Recipe

Ready in less than ten minutes, this easy side dish brings green peas back to the table, dressed-up with the flavor of fresh mint and a hint of sugar.

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Citrusy Carrots with Parsley

Credit: Randy Mayor; Styling: Lindsey Lower

Citrusy Carrots with Parsley Recipe

We took a simple approach to cooking carrots for dinner. Ready in less than 10 minutes, this side gets its sweet from a tablespoon of honey.

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Smashed Yukon Gold Potatoes with Gorgonzola and Sage

Credit: Randy Mayor; Styling: Lindsey Lower

Smashed Yukon Gold Potatoes with Gorgonzola and Sage Recipe

This simple side dish is perfect to start while you are whipping up a side salad, or putting the finishing touches on your main course. After 20 minutes, the potatoes are tender and ready to be mashed for a quick and delicious side.

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Charred-Corn Succotash

Credit: Charles Maraia

Charred-Corn Succotash Recipe

Pair a colorful side dish with any main-dish staple on your family's favorites list. This is a great recipe for kids learning to use pincher fingers and the names of colors. Ask them to show you a red veggie, then applaud as they dig into this lightly-seasoned dish.

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Charred Okra with Tomatillos

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Lindsey Lower

Charred Okra with Tomatillos Recipe

This healthy side dish is a fantastic way to get your daily serving of veggies.

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Broccoli With Orange Sauce

Broccoli With Orange Sauce Recipe

Move broccoli off your kids' "enemies" list by pairing them with a childhood favorite: orange segments. Low-fat lemon yogurt and a touch of ginger add flavor that the whole family will enjoy.

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Roasted Asparagus

Credit: Leigh Beisch; Styling: Merilee Bordin

Roasted Asparagus Recipe

Toss asparagus with olive oil, salt, pepper, parmesan cheese, and lemon juice, then bake for ten minutes. This fresh dish is delicious hot out of the oven or when slightly warm, so it's forgiving if your meatloaf needs a few more minutes to brown. Get the smaller appetites at the table eating this green veggie by treating them as finger foods.

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Israeli Couscous with Fresh Peas and Mint

Credit: Thomas J. Story

Israeli Couscous with Fresh Peas and Mint Recipe

Instead of serving instant rice again, make a quick batch of Israeli couscous dressed up with peas and mint. The recipe takes only fifteen minutes and adds fiber and a green veggie to the dinner plate.

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Lemony Green Beans

Credit: Karry Hosford

Lemony Green Beans Recipe

Dress up any favorite green vegetable with this light, lemon-and-olive-oil sauce. It brightens everything from asparagus to broccoli, but pairs perfectly with green beans.

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Toasty Tomatoes

Credit: Randy Mayor; Styling: Lindsey Lower

Toasty Tomatoes Recipe

These Toasty Tomatoes are broiled with a panko-parmesan mixture sprinkled on top for a warm, flavorful, staff-favorite side that’s ready in less than five minutes.

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Wilted Kale with Toasted Shallots

Credit: Randy Mayor; Styling: Lindsey Lower

Wilted Kale with Toasted Shallots Recipe

Eating healthy doesn't have to take long. This nutritious side is simple, easy, and ready in just a few short minutes.

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Zucchini Ribbons with Lemon and Pecorino

Credit: Randy Mayor; Styling: Lindsey Lower

Zucchini Ribbons with Lemon and Pecorino Recipe

Just a squeeze of lemon, dash of salt and pepper, and sprinkle of shaved Romano cheese is all you need to dress up this light and refreshing side of zucchini ribbons.

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Corn with Chile-Cheese Mayo

Credit: Randy Mayor; Styling: Lindsey Lower

Corn with Chile-Cheese Mayo Recipe

Give your average corn on the cob a flavorful kick with fresh cilantro, grated Parmesan cheese, and a touch of chili powder.

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Warm-Spiced Okra

Credit: Randy Mayor; Styling: Lindsey Lower

Warm-Spiced Okra Recipe

This okra gets its kick from curry powder and crushed red pepper. It's hard to believe something so yummy could only take five minutes to prepare.

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Lemon-Spinach Chickpeas

Credit: Antonis Achilleos

Lemon-Spinach Chickpeas Recipe

Introduce spinach into the side dish rotation with this lively recipe, flavored with lemon juice and a little kosher salt. Pair with pitas for the younger diners to scoop up the greens while mom and dad forge into the flavorful dish with a fork.

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Blasted Brussels Sprouts with Teriyaki Glaze

Credit: Randy Mayor; Styling: Lindsey Lower

Blasted Brussels Sprouts with Teriyaki Glaze Recipe

The sweet blend of soy sauce, sake, sugar, and ginger in teriyaki sauce gives your Brussels sprouts a crisp tang. Bake this three-ingredient dish for 12 to 15 minutes, and you're ready to eat.

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Charred Eggplant with Miso Dressing

Credit: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Charred Eggplant with Miso Dressing Recipe

Grilling vegetables gives them just the right amount of heat and char for a delightful side ready in no time. Here, the flavor from the Miso, a Japanese staple, gives this quick side a slightly salty, pungent flavor.

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Cucumber, Black Olive, and Mint Salad

Credit: Randy Mayor; Styling: Lindsey Lower

Cucumber, Black Olive, and Mint Salad Recipe

Ripe cucumbers and fresh mint create a light and easy side. This portable dish also packs well for a picnic.

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Broiled Artichoke Hearts with Lemon Crumbs

Credit: Randy Mayor; Styling: Lindsey Lower

Broiled Artichoke Hearts with Lemon Crumbs Recipe

You're only 15 minutes away from this show-stopping side dish that gets added flavor from lemon rind, Parmesan cheese, and panko.

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Chipotle-Orange Potato Planks

Credit: Stephen Devries; Styling: Lynn Nesmith

Chipotle-Orange Potato Planks Recipe

Microwaving potatoes ahead of time makes the grill time much faster. With only five ingredients and three short steps, you’ll have grilled potatoes ready and served in a flash.

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Black Bean and Corn Salsa

Credit: Quentin Bacon

Black Bean and Corn Salsa Recipe

With an ingredient list of only three ingredients that are all pantry items, this mix-and-serve, no-cook side dish is ready to eat whenever you are. Serve with quesadillas on a Mexican night, with burgers for a flavorful and warm dinner year-round, or as a fresh side to a fish filet. Dress it up with a drizzle of lime juice if you like.

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Corn with Mustard Seeds

Credit: Susie Cushner

Corn with Mustard Seeds Recipe

Serve a spicy and fresh side perfect for enhancing a simple chicken or fish dinner. Ready in about 10 minutes, it's guaranteed to please every palate at your dinner table.

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Arugula with Warm Bacon Vinaigrette

Credit: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Arugula with Warm Bacon Vinaigrette Recipe

This simple salad gets a smoky drizzle of warm bacon dressing that only takes 10 minutes to prepare. Served as a delicious starter or alongside of dinner, this superfast side will be a crowd pleaser at the dinner table.

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Asparagus-Parmesan Couscous

Credit: Romulo Yanes; Styling: Claire Spollen

Asparagus-Parmesan Couscous Recipe

This couscous side is a snap to whip up and makes a great side for your favorite dish.

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Asparagus with Garlic-Parsley Butter

Asparagus with Garlic-Parsley Butter Recipe

Asparagus gets a zing of lemon zest and a buttery-garlic finish with this superfast, super simple side. In only 10 minutes, this spring vegetable delivers bold flavors and a delicious crunch to the dinner table.

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Grilled Cauliflower

Credit: Stephen Devries; Styling: Lynn Nesmith

Grilled Cauliflower Recipe

Briny capers and sweet red peppers give a punch of flavor to grilled cauliflower. With only a couple short steps, this recipe is ready and served in less than 20 minutes.

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Sugar Snap Pea and Mushroom Sauté

Sugar Snap Pea and Mushroom Sauté Recipe

No need to stress about making a side dish with this easy 6-ingredient recipe. It has a subtle Asian flavor, making it perfect to pair with an Asian-inspired main course.

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