10+ New Side Dish Recipes to Make This Spring

a recipe photo of the Parmesan-Crusted Cabbage Steaks — Photo:
Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster

Bursting with seasonal flavors and vibrant colors, these new side dishes are sure to add a fresh twist to your dinner table. From easy crisp salads to quick sauteed veggies, these tasty dishes are sure to become instant favorites. Recipes like our Parmesan-Crusted Cabbage Steaks and our Scalloped Potatoes with Sun-Dried Tomato Cream Sauce are bound to please everyone around the table.

01 of 14

Baked Feta & Tomato Portobellos Are “Super Easy and Flavorful”

a recipe photo of the Baked Feta & Tomato Portobellos — Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Julia Levy, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

These easy feta-and-tomato-stuffed portobellos make for a delicious side. Baking the mushrooms stem-side down first allows any excess liquid to release from the mushrooms so it won’t muddy the flavors of your dish. If you don’t have Calabrian chiles, substitute 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper depending on your spice preference.

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02 of 14

Parmesan-Crusted Cabbage Steaks Are the Tastiest Way to Eat Cabbage

These tender cabbage steaks are brushed with balsamic vinegar and oil on both sides to help with caramelization while also adding sweetness to every bite. If you have any leftover cabbage after cutting the steaks, chop it up and save it for a salad, or use it for roasting the following day.

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03 of 14

Asparagus with Balsamic & Parmesan Is “So Easy and Quick”

a recipe photo of the Quick & Easy Asparagus with Balsamic and Parmesan — Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster

Elevate your main course with these tender-crisp asparagus spears drizzled with a glossy balsamic glaze and topped with Parmesan cheese. Try to find asparagus spears that are a medium thickness—slightly larger around than a pencil. Although thinner or thicker asparagus will work, be mindful that the cooking time may differ.

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04 of 14

Scalloped Potatoes with Sun-Dried Tomato Cream Sauce

These creamy, cheesy scalloped potatoes get a zesty kick from sun-dried tomatoes and thyme. While you can slice the potatoes by hand, a mandoline can speed up the process and give you perfect, even slices. For a different twist, swap out the Parmesan cheese for Gruyère or white Cheddar.

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05 of 14

The Only Carrot Salad Recipe You’ll Ever Need

a recipe photo of the Carrot Salad — Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster

This zesty carrot salad features a sweet and savory vinaigrette that adds punch to every bite. Serve it on its own, mix it with greens, or use it as part of a sandwich or wrap filling. Let it stand for at least 10 minutes before serving to let the flavors meld. Freshly grated carrots work best here. Grate them using the large holes on a box grater, or use the shredding disk for your food processor if you have one.

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06 of 14

Roasted Broccolini with Lemon & Parmesan Is the “Perfect Side Dish”

a recipe photo of the Roasted Broccolini with Lemon & Parmesan — Photographer: Greg DuPree, Prop stylist: Shell Royster, Food stylist: Emily Hall

Broccolini, a hybrid of conventional broccoli and gai lan, or Chinese broccoli, is perfect for roasting. Here, we add freshly grated Parmesan, which coats the florets and helps the cheese melt into every bite. If the pan seems crowded, divide the broccolini between 2 large rimmed baking sheets and roast in the upper and lower third positions of your oven, rotating between racks halfway through.

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07 of 14

Roasted Cacio e Pepe Cabbage

a recipe photo of the Cacio e Pepe Cabbage Wedges — Photographer: Hannah Hufham, Prop Stylist: Tucker Vines, Food Stylist: Amanda Stanfield

These perfectly roasted cabbage wedges draw inspiration from cacio e pepe, an Italian pasta dish that translates to “cheese and pepper.” Blooming the black pepper in butter and oil before brushing it on the cabbage deepens the flavor and ensures a peppery kick in every bite. Be sure to heat the baking sheet while the oven preheats—it helps jump-start the browning of the cabbage. Serve alongside seared chicken thighs or grilled steak.

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08 of 14

Garlic-Butter Green Beans Prove That Simple Is Best

a recipe photo of the Garlic-Butter Green Beans — Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster

These no-fuss green beans are smothered in melted garlic butter and mixed with fresh herbs. They pair with everything, from steak to chicken and seafood. Steaming them before sautéing results in the perfect tender-crisp texture without the risk of burning them in the pan.

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09 of 14

Caesar-Style Whole-Roasted Cauliflower

Roasting cauliflower whole makes for an impressive main dish or a stunning side paired with chicken or steak. Here, we draw flavor inspiration from Caesar salad by making a creamy dressing to accompany the tender cauliflower. If you don’t have anchovy paste, substitute 2 drained anchovies, cut and mashed into a paste using the flat side of a chef’s knife. Let the cauliflower cool for 10 minutes before cutting into wedges.

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10 of 14

Crispy Parmesan-Crusted Cabbage Slices with Gremolata

These cheesy, tender-crisp cabbage slices will make anyone fall in love with the vegetable. Arranging the cabbage around the perimeter of the baking sheets is crucial as it ensures the most even browning and the crispiest Parmesan crust. The lemony gremolata adds a dash of freshness and brightness to balance the salty cheese.

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11 of 14

Broccolini Amandine

a recipe photo of the Broccoli Amandine — Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless

Perfectly steamed broccolini seasoned with a nutty, buttery almond topping in just 10 minutes is a side dish that can't be beat. Broccolini is a bit milder and sweeter than broccoli and, because its stalks are thinner, broccolini requires less prep work than broccoli. However, if the stalks are thicker than 1/2 inch, cut them in half lengthwise. Pair this quick side dish with everything from pan-seared fish to roasted chicken.

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12 of 14

Cumin-Lime Roasted Sweet Potatoes

These simple roasted sweet potatoes are tossed with fragrant spices, lime zest and juice. Serve them with roasted pork, chicken or steak for a quick weeknight meal. When roasting sweet potatoes, we like to space them out as much as we can to help them crisp up, which is why the potatoes are divided into 2 pans.

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13 of 14

Cabbage Caesar Salad

In this Caesar salad, we skip the usual romaine lettuce and opt for napa cabbage, a delightfully tender cabbage variety that maintains a crisp and mild sweetness even when eaten raw. The dressing takes a shortcut, using store-bought mayonnaise instead of fresh egg yolks, and gets a savory kick from anchovy paste. Feel free to switch it up by using chopped anchovy fillets, or omit it entirely for a vegetarian-friendly salad according to your preference.

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14 of 14

Brussels Sprouts Caesar Salad

Photo of Caesar Salad with Brussels Sprouts — Jake Sternquist

Cooking the Brussels on the stovetop first gives them a jump-start to becoming brown and crispy without drying out. The roasted flavor of the Brussels sprouts combines with the Worcestershire sauce and Parmesan cheese in the dressing to build the savory profile that Caesar salad is known for.

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