Vegetable side dish inspiration

[Sosigsandwich]

We're trying to eat more veg but feel like we eat the same things over and over. Examples of things we have as side... Ribbons of carrot & courgette, mushrooms & leeks, oven roast sweet pots & butternut squash and the usual steamed carrots & brocolli.

Any ideas would be great. TIA

I make the veg part of the main dish and don't bother with side dishes.

I'm at a bi of a loss with this, too.

Cauliflower cheese
Corn on the cob
Sweetcorn salsa www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/vegetables-recipes/corn-salsa/
Pancetta peas recipes.sainsburys.co.uk/recipes/peas-with-pancetta
Honey roasted parsnips
Creamy cabbage www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/food/recipes/a536158/creamy-savoy-cabbage-recipe/

Rumbledethumps

Colcannon

French lettuce & peas

Braised endives

For inspiration, have a look at the Hugh FW book "Veg Everyday" or Nigel Slater is also very good on interesting vegetables.

Autumn/winter veg we enjoy
Red cabbage (make huge batch and freeze - it’s particularly good with sausages or salmon)
Spring greens (or chard,kale etc) stir fried with garlic, ginger and chilli
Celeriac and parsnip gratin (bbc good food recipe)
White cabbage boiled in small amount of vermouth and stock, with tsp of caraway. Boil until almost all water evaporated and add butter
Roast cauliflower with cumin seeds - either defrost frozen florets or microwave/parboil fresh ones for a few mins

A couple of summer ones are
Runner beans braised slowly in butter with lots of garlic and just a couple of tbs of water
As above, but add tomatoes
Grated carrot salad with simple dressing but stir in toasted sunflower seeds while they are still hot

Have a look at Anna Jones's recipes and books. Her recipes are all vegetarian and vegan so contain loads of veg and they are delicious. Lots of them can also be sides to meat or fish

Boil green beans. Meanwhile saute some tomatoes and,/or red peppers in olive oil with some garlic. When beans are done to your liking, drain and add to the garlicky pan. Heat through. Add a squirt of lemon if you like.

Kind of moving out of the season now but I like a chopped veg salad. So depending on which veg needs using up, finely chopped broccoli carrot and red onion, a Greek salad of there's cucumber and peppers, add feta and olives. Sweetcorn Salad is v easy and popular here. Big can of sweetcorn, chopped red & green peppers, red onion, chili flakes. Make sure they're all nicely seasoned & use a tasty dressing. Fresh herbs make a huge difference. This creme fraiche dressing is lovely & works with almost anything. Leftovers keep well for a few days and are great to add to lunches.

Some great ideas thank you. As for the negative comments why bothering answering?! 🙄

Crispy kale.

Wash the shredded kale. Transfer to a large sautee pan and allow the left over water to boil/steam off. Continue cooking on a high heat. There will be no water left. Add a knob of butter. Stirring frequently allow the kale to char and stir fry. Don't be afraid of some burning! You can season and add sesame seeds.

Creamed cabbage. Much the same as the kale, but more butter needed and at the end add in a good splosh of cream and cook through.

Something that brightens up veg such as green beans or courgettes (useful if you’ve got a glut) is a Greek tomato dressing.

Gently fry chopped onion in a saucepan till transparent, add some garlic, chopped tomatoes and Mediterranean herbs. Simmer gently till tomatoes are cooked, add tomato purée for colour if needed. You can add a splash of wine if liked, but don’t make it too wet.
When ready, tip in the cooked beans, stir to combine.
This can be served hot, (good with lamb chops or baked gammon) or leave to cool and serve at room temperature as a salad, with fish or chicken.

@Sosigsandwich

Some great ideas thank you. As for the negative comments why bothering answering?! 🙄

That’s a bit rude! You have one suggestion to turn the focus of the meal around and someone else sympathising. Hardly ‘negative comments’.

@Sosigsandwich

Some great ideas thank you. As for the negative comments why bothering answering?! 🙄

No one has left a negative comment!!

@SheWoreYellow Are you serious?! Again... Why bother commenting if you're just going to be rude?! It's a thread asking for food ideas... Either comment giving idea or just don't comment. Honestly at times this website is just ridiculous.

Literally the first 2 were pointless and negative... Why bother saying anything?! FFS don't even know why I bothered.

Roasted broccoli and cauliflower with cumin.

sweet & sour red cabbage (put the red cabbage in hot water to soak first than drain put butter or marg in saucepan & braise for a few mins than add with apples & sultanas (can add onions if you wish!) which you can fry for a few mins add mixed spice (or whatever spice you fancy!) add same amount of apple juice & vinegar sweeten to taste with brown sugar(there are many variations on this!) (you can use any sweet juice or for you mns wine or cider than cook & cook in saucepan for at least half an hour with lid on! (Oh & dash of salt!)
cauliflower in white sauce with cinnamon (or cloves or whatever sweet spice you like)
stuffed toms(can be stuffed with bread crumbs/rice & mixed veg or capsicum or use mince!)
slice potatoes par boil & bake in oven with a light cheese sauce with sweet spice
Ahem - my cooking tend to be a lot of experience & taste & throw in the flavour & experiment when I can't find the right ingredients
Look up BBC website for versions

Leeks!!!

Hey its end of summer steamed (with herby sauce) or stuffed marrow (it can be stuffed with precooked savoury rice)

Wow, I was going to suggest adding garnishes like chopped pine nuts/walnuts/chestnuts/peanuts/cashews, crispy onions, bacon/pancetta, fresh herbs, chilli oil or garlic butter, tahini sauce, lemon juice, maple syrup/honey whatever complements the main dish etc but I'm a bit scared of getting my head bitten off for not being specific enough now...

KirstenBlest's suggestion to look for one pan dishes that incorporate vegetables, like she does, is a useful point.

How is it rude for UtterlyUnimaginativeUsername to sympathise? She is probably hoping for ideas by joining and following the thread

I don’t think those two comments were rude, pointless or negative either. It’s just general chat, isn’t it?

If you're looking for ideas about eating more veg, then why is it unhelpful to suggest also looking at veg filled main meals?
Personally I'm a lazy sod, so don't make side dishes unless its for a special occasion.
Spiralized courgetti as part of a stir fry, split pea soup (full of veggies), pasta with veggies, smoothies, veggies blended in pasta sauce. All yummy ways of incorporating veggies in main meals, and less work than a token vegetable side dish.

I think sometimes people forget that there are people behind these usernames. I’m sure I have at times.
OP I’m sure you wouldn’t be as rude to people in real life? It’s good to try and talk to people in the same way as if you know them/know who they are.

OP you have a strange idea of what constitutes negativity.