From formal dining rooms to fast casual operations, customers want healthy choices when they dine out. Vegetable side dishes make it easier to develop menus that cater to their appetites.
Veggie sides are good for back of house too. Kitchen staff always appreciates quick-prep dishes that streamline operations during a busy shift.
Let's take a look at side dish menu ideas that keep tables full and kitchens happy.
Healthy Side Dishes for Restaurant Menus: 11 Easy Recipes
Fresh Veggie Breakfast Sides
Why These Work – Vegetable side dishes make traditional restaurant breakfasts more inviting. They offer healthy portions of plant protein, and they serve well as sides on brunch menus too.
1. Buttered Brussels Sprout Hash
Serve your best breakfast selections with a uniquely upscale side. Brussels sprout skillet hash cooks up quickly, complements traditional breakfast fare and satisfies hearty appetites.
It's an ideal breakfast side for busy morning services.
Easy Prep: Skillet-glaze pearl onions in honey and butter. Add shaved Brussels sprouts, and splash with white wine.
2. Buttered Zucchini Pancakes
These little crepes are just the right size for siding the first meal of the day. Their subtle flavors work with every type of breakfast, from savory to sweet. The special flapjacks are also an excellent addition to brunch menus.
Easy Prep: Blend shredded zucchini, eggs and oil with flour, salt, sugar, and baking powder. Grill pancakes for approximately 2 minutes per side.
Choice Sides for Classic Cuisines
Why These Work – Flavorful sides add an extra layer of customer interest to classic cuisines. There's always room on the menu for healthy Asian, Mediterranean and Mexican side dishes.
3. Sriracha Glazed Brussels Sprouts
The combination of fiery sriracha sauce and sweet honey creates a delicious side of glazed Brussels sprouts. Serve the savory veggies as a spicy side dish to traditional Asian dishes like Hunan beef or chicken teriyaki.
Easy Prep: Saute Brussels sprouts in butter until brown. Mix sriracha sauce with honey, soy and lemon. Add to sprouts and simmer for another 3 to 5 minutes.
4. Fava and Chickpea Dip
Make a casual Italian meal even more inviting with a side of fresh veggies and creamy dip. This recipe doubles up on the appetizing idea with a silky blend of fava beans and garbanzo beans.
The delicious dip can serve as a stand-alone antipasto too.
Easy Prep: Saute blanched fava beans with garbanzos, onion and garlic, and then blend with lemon juice to create a paste. Add olive oil to thin the mixture into a creamy consistency.
5. Fresh Italian Broccoli
Fresh broccoli is a natural choice for siding Italian entrees, serving up a crunchy contrast to favorite pastas. Steamed broccoli florets serve as an easy choice for a la carte sides that give dining room guests healthy options.
Easy Prep: Heat red pepper flakes, white wine and steamed broccoli with pan-sauteed garlic. Transfer to a serving dish, and sprinkle with toasted panko breadcrumbs and lemon zest.
6. Housemade Salsa Verde and Napa Cabbage
Reimagine tomatillo salsa verde as a cool topping that tames spicy Mexican entrees. Make it in-house, spoon over grilled napa cabbage quarters, and serve as a side to chicken enchiladas, pork-stuffed poblanos or tacos al pastor.
Easy Prep: Start the salsa with a blend of olive oil and lemon juice, add roasted pistachios and capers, and season with parsley and shallot. Pour over grilled napa cabbage quarters, and serve.
Seafood-Centric Side Dishes
Why These Work – The best sides for fish and shellfish bring light flavors and textures to the table. Healthy vegetable sides are an excellent choice for complementing delicate seafood entrees.
7. Citrus, Avocado and Cabbage Hearts
Citrus slices, buttery avocados and crisp napa hearts build a beautiful side plate for your best seafood dishes. Splash with miso vinaigrette, and serve the mini-salad as an innovative side dish.
This recipe earns extra stars for beautiful presentation.
Easy Prep: Toss shredded napa cabbage hearts with sliced oranges, tangelos, avocado and sugar snap peas. Garnish with sesame seeds and almonds, and dress with housemade miso vinaigrette.
8. Swiss Chard Saute
The mild flavor of Swiss chard makes it an ideal leafy green for all types of seafood entrees. The slightly sweet stem adds a crunchy texture to this very simple and very satisfying side.
Topping options include toasted pine nuts, sumac or parmesan.
Easy Prep: Saute chopped chard stems with yellow onion and minced garlic. Add chard leaves, cook for several more minutes, and finish with a splash of lemon juice.
Sides That Sizzle With Grilled Entrees
Why These Work – Your restaurant's best grilled entrees are even better when they're served with hearty side dishes. Healthy vegetables offer smoky options that expand the dining experience by impressing hungry guests.
9. Grilled Corn Salad
Charred kernels of sweet white corn are the main ingredient in this grilled side salad. It's a versatile dish that gives the kitchen options for adding the season's freshest vegetables.
Make the salad ahead of a busy service, chill, and warm just before serving.
Easy Prep: Grill shucked ears of white corn for approximately 3 minutes per turn. Cool, slice kernels from cob, and combine with chopped hazelnuts and thin-sliced ricotta salata.
10. Grilled Hearts of Romaine
Grilled romaine hearts handle high heat by developing a beautiful crisp char on the outside. The lettuce interior stays cool and takes on a caramelized texture.
This easy side dish quickly grills up in the kitchen, but it's also a great choice for outdoor events too.
Easy Prep: Slice premium romaine hearts in half, brush with olive oil, and grill cut-side down for 3 to 5 minutes. Garnish with Parmigiano Reggiano, and dress with a balsamic and sherry vinaigrette.
11. Perfectly Mashed Potatoes
Side your grilled steaks with a classic comfort food favorite. Buttery mashed potatoes provide a creamy contrast to the savory flavors of grilled entrees.
Buttermilk and sauteed leeks make it happen with this richly delicious recipe that's sure to become a customer favorite.
Easy Prep: Mash russet potatoes to a creamy consistency, and then add freshly sauteed leeks, butter, buttermilk and regular milk. Salt and pepper to taste.
Your Dependable Source for Premium Produce
Every entree deserves a great side. Every health-conscious customer wants delicious choices. Well-prepared vegetable sides make your restaurant's main dishes even better, and they satisfy consumer appetites for healthier dining.
As you incorporate healthy side dishes into your menu planning, you can depend on us here at Hitchcock Farms. We grow and ship premium produce from our California fields to foodservice operations all across the country.
We know you want the freshest vegetables available. You have our commitment to always supplying the best.
