Cuisine: Side dish

Carrot with Smashed Tofu and Sesame

This Carrot with Smashed Tofu and Sesame salad is a recipe from Japan, The Cookbook by Nancy Singleton Hachisu. She is a native Californian and has lived with her Japanese farmer husband and three sons in their 80-year-old traditional farmhouse for the last 27 years in rural Japan. She moved from California to Japan in 1988. This cookbook is Japanese cooking for the home cook. I have many Japanese cookbooks. It's a thing of beauty.

By Leslie Blythe

  • Yields: 6 Servings

Potatoes à la Ketchup

This recipe for Potatoes à la Ketchup seems sort of bizarre. You basically put the potatoes in foil packets for the grill and add ketchup, Worcestershire sauce and lemon juice. It's actually quite good and a bit unusual which always appeals to me. You should try it the next time you fire up your grill.

By Leslie Blythe

  • Yields: 4 Servings

Crispy Salt-and-Vinegar Potatoes

My family loves anything salt & vinegar flavored. These Crispy Salt-and-Vinegar Potatoes are first boiled in vinegar to infuse the flavor into the potato. Then they are drained, dried and sautéed in a pan to achieve crispiness and doused with more vinegar. What's wrong with that? Nothing.

By Leslie Blythe

  • Prep: 20 mins
  • Cook: 25 mins
  • Yields: 4 Servings

Basmati & Wild Rice with Chickpeas, Currants & Herbs

Another recipe from the Jerusalem cookbook - Basmati & Wild Rice with Chickpeas, Currants & Herbs. It's absolutely delicious and can be served warm or at room temperature. It can be difficult to find dried currants in the US, so I used dried cranberries, which worked well. Oh, and did I mention the crispy fried onions on top?

By Leslie Blythe

  • Yields: 6 Servings

Roasted Cauliflower, Hazelnut and Pomegranate Seed Salad

This Roasted Cauliflower, Hazelnut and Pomegranate Seed Salad is from Yottam Ottolenghi's Jerusalem cookbook. The unusual combination of cauliflower, crunchy hazelnuts, crispy celery and tart pomegranate seeds work well together. It's a beautiful salad and healthy as well.

By Leslie Blythe

  • Prep: 15 mins
  • Cook: 40 mins
  • Yields: 2 - 4 Servings

Sautéed Asian Broccoli Slaw

This Sautéed Asian Broccoli Slaw is very easy and fast to prepare. Broccoli slaw is made from peeled and grated broccoli stems, carrots and red cabbage. Truth be told, I use it in stir-fry dishes all the time at the school I cook for. The kids have no idea they are eating broccoli and they love it.

By Leslie Blythe

  • Prep: 5 mins
  • Cook: 10 mins
  • Yields: 4 - 6 Servings

Parmesan Asparagus and Butter Beans

I happen to love Butter Beans, which are large, flat and yellow/white variety of lima beans. I usually like them plain, but the combination of parmesan and asparagus really works. This Parmesan Asparagus and Butter Beans is ready in 10 minutes and makes a great side for chicken or fish.

By Leslie Blythe

  • Prep: 5 mins
  • Cook: 5 mins
  • Yields: 4 Servings

French Lentil Salad with Goat Cheese and Walnuts

Lentils are highly nutritious. When it comes to affordable healthy eating, lentils are your new best friend. French Lentil Salad with Goat Cheese and Walnuts is the perfect thing to make for snacks and lunches just about every day. This salad holds up well in the refrigerator for a few days.

By Leslie Blythe

  • Prep: 15 mins
  • Cook: 20 mins
  • Yields: 4 - 6 Servings

Shawarma Roasted Cauliflower Steaks

Shawarma Roasted Cauliflower Steak is a great side dish for chicken or fish. The cauliflower gets crispy and tender and has a smoky flavor from the Shawarma spice. 

By Leslie Blythe

  • Prep: 5 mins
  • Cook: 25 mins
  • Yields: 4 Servings

Pan-Fried Zucchini with Vinegar and Chili Pepper

This Pan-Fried Zucchini with Vinegar and Chili Pepper is very quick to make. Fried zucchini is popular all over Italy, and change little from area to area. In Rome, this appetizing dish is given extra flavor by the addition of peperoncino (small, red chili pepper) and crushed garlic that browns in the oil.

By Leslie Blythe

  • Prep: 10 mins
  • Cook: 15 mins
  • Yields: 4 Servings