24 Vegetarian Side Dishes for a Healthy Gut
Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD
If you deal with gut-health problems, it can manifest in some surprising symptoms, like frequent headaches, skin conditions or fatigue. Fortunately, these side dishes are packed with yummy ingredients that support a healthy gut, such as broccoli, pineapple and beans. With at least 3 grams of fiber per serving, they’re a great addition to make any entree a complete meal. Options like Whole Roasted Cauliflower with Balsamic Glaze & Parmesan or Composed Bean Salad with Basil Vinaigrette will keep you full and satisfied while helping you feel better from the inside out.
Whole Roasted Cauliflower with Balsamic Glaze & Parmesan
This whole roasted cauliflower recipe is incredibly easy—and requires just 5 minutes of active time—but delivers a healthy side dish that's impressive enough for entertaining. A mixture of Parmesan cheese and balsamic glaze adds tons of flavor.
Roasted Broccoli & Cauliflower
Photography: Caitlin Bensel, Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Styling: Christine Keely
Roasted broccoli and cauliflower are perfectly cooked with just the right amount of seasonings and char from the oven.
Composed Bean Salad with Basil Vinaigrette
Channel your inner food stylist while arranging the beans and vegetables for this showstopping composed bean salad recipe. Serve at a potluck or for a beautiful salad at brunch alongside grilled chicken, scallops or fish.
Roasted Rainbow Carrots with Sage Brown Butter
Wow your guests with multicolored carrots that take only 15 minutes to roast and are dressed in a brown butter and sage sauce.
Sautéed Broccoli & Kale with Toasted Garlic Butter
In this easy vegetable side dish, broccoli and kale are drizzled with a butter, garlic and crushed red pepper sauce. Serve this healthy recipe alongside roasted chicken, turkey or ham—or on top of your favorite whole grain, such as quinoa or farro.
Parsley Tabbouleh
Photographer: Rachel Marek, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman
This tart, parsley-dominated tabbouleh recipe makes for a flavorful side at any gathering. The recipe can be easily doubled to feed a crowd. Serve at room temperature or chilled.
Chickpeas with Garlicky Yogurt & Toasted Pita (Fatteh Hommos)
Fatteh means "broken" and signifies a dish of toasted bread pieces mixed with other ingredients. In this easy recipe, the yogurt is also "broken" with tahini, garlic and oil. Enjoy it immediately, before the crispy bread gets soggy from the yogurt.
Pineapple & Avocado Salad
This refreshing, simple salad recipe captures the flavors of the tropics. Serve alongside spiced chicken or pork, with rice and beans.
Summer Succotash Salad
This summer salad is based on the Southern favorite, succotash, and is a fresh-tasting combination of butter beans, corn, summer squash and tomatoes.
Sichuan Fava Bean, Pea Sprout & Radish Salad
This fresh and spicy salad features fava beans, which besides adding heft to this radish salad are a main ingredient in the iconic chili bean paste of Sichuan province.
Sautéed Broccoli with Peanut Sauce
Peanut butter, balanced with a little soy sauce and vinegar, makes a delicious sauce for broccoli and other vegetables. Giving the broccoli a head start by steaming it before sautéing it with the other vegetables ensures that all the vegetables are nicely cooked at the same time.
Super-Green Edamame Salad
Avocado, fresh chives and spinach are blended right into the creamy, bright-green dressing in this healthy edamame salad recipe.
Apple, Fig & Brussels Sprouts Salad
Salad dressing made from sweet and mellow white balsamic vinegar balances out the assertive greens and Brussels sprouts in this healthy salad. If you have one handy, a small mandoline makes it easy to slice the Brussels and apple.
Tomato & Fennel Salad
We like to use heirloom tomatoes in this simple salad. They're at their peak during the summer months and worth seeking out at your local grocery store or farmers' market. Which varieties you choose is up to you—any will work well here.
Blistered Corn Salad with Charred Scallions, Okra & Feta
This corn and okra salad gets loads of flavor from the grill. If okra isn't your jam, you could slice a large zucchini into planks to grill, then chop and stir into the salad. Grill some chicken thighs or tofu steaks to serve alongside.
Black Bean, Corn & Avocado Pasta Salad
Serve this colorful, veggie-packed pasta salad at your next outdoor gathering. From creamy avocado to crunchy bell peppers, this pasta salad is full of texture and flavor. A homemade herb-lime vinaigrette ties everything together.
Creamy Broccoli & Mushroom Casserole
This creamy broccoli and mushroom casserole is as comforting as it gets. A cheesy sauce filled with mushrooms coats tender-crisp broccoli, and a panko breadcrumb topping adds a crispy finish. Serve this crowd-pleasing side with roasted chicken, pork or steak.
Parmesan White Beans
Stash mirepoix blend—a basic building-block combo of chopped carrots, celery and onion—in your freezer and save some serious prep time on this simple bean side dish.
Grilled Broccoli with Smoky Yogurt Sauce
Blanching broccoli florets before charring ensures the broccoli's tender all the way through, helping it crisp up quickly in a very hot pan. The creamy yogurt sauce adds a delicious smokiness that pairs well with the vegetable.
Herb Marinated Beans
If you're an avid meal prepper, consider adding these marinated beans to your weekly routine. They're very versatile: try a spoonful on a salad, tuck some into a wrap or warm them up to spoon over a grain bowl. It's worth letting the beans marinate for at least 24 hours to infuse them with deeper flavor.
Broccoli & Grape Salad
An unlikely pairing of grapes and broccoli creates an out-of-the-ordinary quick side dish. The sweet snappy bite of the grapes complements the crispy raw broccoli and onion, while the creamy dressing and toasted almonds pull it all together.
Bean Salad with Lemon-Cumin Dressing
The bold flavors of the lemon-cumin dressing in this healthy bean salad recipe make it a wonderful side dish to grilled beef and lamb, yet it's also a stellar meatless main when served with whole-wheat couscous.
Moroccan Lentil Salad
This healthy date, carrot and lentil salad recipe is flavored with a spiced preserved-lemon dressing. While most salads taste best when freshly assembled, lentil salads appreciate time for the flavors to marry, so try to make it at least a few hours ahead if you can.
Beet Salad with Yogurt Bulgur & Herbs
The bulgur in this tasty beet salad is inspired by kishk, a crumbly cheese made by fermenting bulgur in buttermilk and yogurt. Chef Reem Assil, owner of Reem's California in Oakland, prepares this quicker version by skipping the fermentation and using labneh or Greek yogurt instead.
Read the original article on Eating Well.
