Cuisine: Side dish

Shiitake Mushrooms With Harissa Vinaigrette

I saw this recipe years ago in The Wall Street Journal. I love mushrooms also I happened to have a tube of Harissa, which my husband, Eric, calls "The Ketchup of North Africa". Harissa, the Tunisian chili paste packed with spices and herbs, can add punch to all kinds of dishes. Harissa is available at some speciality foods stores and at Middle Eastern markets. To save time, you can use store-bought harissa and skip straight to the instructions for making the vinaigrette, which is what I did. The other liberty I took with this recipe was to use a combination of Shiitake and Crimini or Baby Bella mushrooms.By the way, mushrooms are packed with vitamins, nutrients and antioxidants. People who eat 2 medium-sized mushrooms daily have a 45% lower risk of cancer compared to those who do not eat mushrooms, according to Pennsylvania State University research, published in Advances in Nutrition.

By Leslie Blythe

Bacony Parmesan Potatoes

Bacony Parmesan Potatoes - This potato dish with the addition of some bacon, Parmesan cheese and rosemary got rave reviews!

By Leslie Blythe

Peas with Orange and Mint

Peas with Orange and Mint is a great easy side dish that livens up a bag of frozen peas...

By Leslie Blythe

Lemon & Thyme Potato Gratin

I made this Lemon Thyme Potato Gratin for a client (which I will have to admit, I had never made before!). She called me a week later and said it was the best potato gratin they had ever had, and can I make it again for a party using her pan. It's based on a Martha Stewart recipe. I used cream instead of milk - maybe that's why it was so good! Unfortunately, I did not take a picture of the final product because I delivered it par baked...

By Leslie Blythe

Roasted Squash with Lemon Tahini Sauce

Roasted Squash with Lemon Tahini Sauce makes an excellent side dish. You can really use any kind of squash. My sister-in-law, who lives in England, brought me a stack of recipes she has cut out of magazines. This recipe my nephew, Will, made. Oddly enough, it's from Bon Appetit. It was excellent. You can really use any kind of squash. I used a Kabocha and an Acorn squash in the recipe.

By Leslie Blythe

Sautéed Broccoli Rabe

Broccoli Rabe, also known as rapini or, “broccoletti” in Rome or “friarelli” in Naples is a common vegetable in the cuisines of southern Italy, especially in Naples. The flavor of rapini has been described as nutty, bitter, and pungent. Rapini is often sautéed with garlic. In Umbria and other Central Italy regions, rapini is sautéed with garlic, chili pepper and guanciale (guanciale is an unsmoked Italian bacon prepared with pig's jowl or cheeks) is a typical side dish for porchetta, grilled pork ribs and sausages and other pork dishes.

By Leslie Blythe

Sautéed Japanese Eggplant

Sautéed Japanese Eggplant is a very easy side dish. I made this earlier and served it at room temperature. Everyone LOVED it!

Japanese eggplant is the Western name given to dozens of Japanese eggplant varieties, both heirloom and hybrid. The most common of these varieties are Millionaire and Orient Express, both long, slender oblong shaped eggplants with glossy, purple-black, thin skin. The interior cream colored flesh is spongy and nearly seedless. Japanese eggplant's flavor is mild and because it is nearly seedless it doesn't possess that bitter quality found in Western and Thai varieties.

By Leslie Blythe

Broccoli Slaw

I bought a bag of broccoli slaw. I love regular coleslaw, but I think I like this better. You could use toasted almonds, cashews, sunflower seeds instead of pistachios. The bacon is also optional. I actually did't put bacon in mine, too lazy.

By Leslie Blythe

Herbed Steamed Rice

Herbed Steamed Rice - the fresh herbs really add a wonderful bright note to this rice. Every time I make something with tarragon, it's like I've used a mystery herb. Tarragon was very popular in the late 70s early 80s, but isn't used much now. This rice pairs well with Lyonnaise Chicken with Vinegar Sauce.

By Leslie Blythe

Israeli Couscous with Dried Cranberries, Apricots & Currants

This Israeli Couscous with Dried Cranberries, Apricots & Currants is such a colorful salad. I used Traders Joe's Harvest Grains Blend, which has a little bit of orzo, baby garbanzo beans and quinoa in it. You can just used plain Israeli couscous.

By Leslie Blythe