From November to December, we indulge in some of the richest, most comforting entrées, decadent desserts — and of course, sides. The name “side dish” might imply these non-entrées are not something to give our full attention to but that’s not how we do things here at One Green Planet. Side dishes are just as deserving of all the love and care we put into crafting the perfect holiday main dish. It doesn’t have to be complicated, but holiday time is THE time to season your sides with fresh herbs like rosemary, sage, thyme, and more.
If you’re looking for what we’ve done before, check out 30 Veggie Stuffings and Sides for Your Holiday Dinner, 15 Epic Christmas Sides That are Vegan, 5 Vegan Christmas Sides that Everyone Will Love, and 25 Hearty Winter Vegan Salad Recipes. Then, get ready because we have 25 new sides for you from our Food Monster App to try out and share with your family, friends, and loved ones.
1. Balsamic Brussels Sprouts With Shiitake Bacon
Source: Balsamic Brussels Sprouts With Shiitake Bacon
Gabrielle St. Claire‘s Balsamic Brussels Sprouts With Shiitake Bacon are bursting with flavors that will never disappoint. Hearty roasted Brussels sprouts are tossed with a tangy cherry balsamic reduction and smoky Shiitake bacon. It’s so good, everyone might just forget that it’s not the main course.
2. Sautéed Mushroom Farro
Source: Sautéed Mushroom Farro
This simple Sautéed Mushroom Farro by Maggie Jones makes for a comforting, hearty side that might just outshine the entrée. Sautéed mushrooms, nutty farro, and fragrant thyme come together quickly for a healthy dish that will warm you up on a chilly day! Both you and your guests will be glad to have this on the table.
Get the Blessed Cookbook!
BLESSED: Plant-Based Recipes For the Most Magical Christmas Ever
The ultimate Christmas cookbook is here! Blessed: Plant-based recipes for the most magical Christmas Ever contains the perfect recipes for holiday gatherings, gift-giving, Christmas morning, and scrumptious leftovers. From holiday classics like pineapple-baked ‘ham’, holiday loaves, and chocolate yule logs, to new flavors like saffron risotto, tropical Christmas fruit cake, and Tahini-Roasted Cauliflower With Lemony Herb Oil. This magical cookbook offers everything you need to create a stunning holiday spread!
3. Quinoa and Acron Squash Stuffing
Source: Quinoa and Acorn Squash Stuffing
Prepping for the holidays can be time-consuming, so when it comes to certain staples, like stuffing, it’s best to keep it simple. Heather Poire‘s hearty Quinoa and Acorn Squash Stuffing is a breeze to make. Quinoa is packed with adzuki beans and roasted squash while maple syrup adds a sweetness that plays well with the heat of the red pepper flakes. You can even make this stuffing two days ahead of time, so that’s less stress on the big day!
4. Olive-Walnut Biscuit Bites
![Olive-Walnut Biscuit Bites [Vegan]](https://i0.wp.com/www.onegreenplanet.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/olive-bites.jpg?resize=640%2C403&ssl=1)
Source: Olive-Walnut Biscuit Bites
This is a simple recipe for biscuits that would be a wonderful accompaniment to your holiday table. Although they may be small, Dina Honke‘s Olive-Walnut Biscuit Bites pack in a ton of flavor thanks to the olives, walnuts, thyme, and a touch of chopped pickled red pepper.
5. Spiced Orange Cranberry Sauce
Source: Spiced Orange Cranberry Sauce
Everyone needs cranberry sauce for their holiday table. Sabrina Russo‘s Spiced Orange Cranberry Sauce is infused with cinnamon and cloves and flavored with fresh orange juice and zest. This combination creates just the right balance of acidity, sweetness, and warming spice; perfect for your holiday table.
6. Loaded Smashed Potatoes
Source: Loaded Smashed Potatoes
Loaded baked potatoes are amazing, but Megan Sadd‘s recipe for Loaded Smashed Potatoes is everything. As the title suggests, this recipe calls on you to smash baby red potatoes which are then drizzled with a bit of oil and baked in the oven. Once they’re warm on the inside and satisfyingly crispy on the edges, these smashed potatoes are topped with some melty cashew mozzarella, a dollop of zesty Chipotle cream, plenty of chives, and smokey tempeh bacon bits!
7. Cinnamon Turmeric Sweet Potatoes
Source: Cinnamon Turmeric Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes can be dressed up with all sorts of delicious things from tangy cranberry sauce to fluffy marshmallows. Holly Bertone‘s recipe for Cinnamon Turmeric Sweet Potatoes, however, lets the natural flavor of sweet potato shine, elevating it with just a few select seasonings like cinnamon, turmeric, thyme, salt, and pepper. Just a quick toss, some time in the oven, and voila! A delectable side dish you will use time and time again.
8. Turkish Stewed Green Beans
Source: Turkish Stewed Green Beans
Michael and Masa Ofei‘s Turkish Stewed Green Beans are known as “fasulye” in the country’s native tongue. For this simple recipe, simmer some green beans, tomatoes, and a few other ingredients together, and then enjoy the spectacular results. Don’t let its simplicity fool you, fasulye is extremely versatile and can be served as the main course or as an exciting side dish.
9. Sauerkraut Salad With Apples and Walnuts
Source: Sauerkraut Salad With Apples and Walnuts
Bianca, the Green Creator‘s Sauerkraut Salad With Apples and Walnuts is easy to make, delicious and will Support a healthy gut because of all the good bacteria. It is a truly delicious combination of contrasting flavors and textures, with the toasted walnuts, grated carrots, fresh chunks of tart Granny Smith apple, and cumin. This makes a wonderful addition to sandwiches or a side to a hearty dinner.
10. Herbed Celeriac Purée With Sautéed Chantarelle Mushrooms
Source: Herbed Celeriac Purée With Sautéed Chantarelle Mushrooms
Celeriac, also known as celery root, is the perfect substitute for mashed potatoes, like in Emma D’Alessandro‘s Herbed Celeriac Purée With Sautéed Chantarelle Mushrooms. Its puréed texture is creamy, yet less starchy than regular potatoes and its basic flavor makes it perfect for seasoning and pairing with more flavorful vegetables. The mushrooms that top the purée in this dish add a burst of flavor and meaty texture.
11. Cornbread Stuffing With 5-Minute Gravy
Source: Cornbread Stuffing With 5-Minute Gravy
There are three components to Molly Patrick‘s Cornbread Stuffing With 5-Minute Gravy — but don’t let that scare you. The cornbread is super easy to whip up, the stuffing takes hardly any time at all, and the gravy takes seriously five minutes to make. You can make the cornbread a day in advance to make the prep easier.
12. Winter Squash Wreaths
Source: Winter Squash Wreaths
Acorn squash cut into rings makes the perfect shape for these festive Winter Squash Wreaths by Alison Marras. Topped with green pesto and ruby red pomegranate seeds, your guests will (literally) eat these up.
13. Pesto Roasted Cauliflower and Potatoes
Source: Pesto Roasted Cauliflower and Potatoes
Melanie Sorrentino‘s Pesto Roasted Cauliflower and Potatoes are so good, they’ll upstage any entrée. Cauliflower and potatoes are roasted with just oil, salt, and pepper until tender and flavorful. Then, they’re tossed in a basil and pine nut pesto. If you like your pesto to be cheesy, add nutritional yeast to your liking. This versatile and comforting is best served alongside lighter mains.
14. Wild Rice With Kabocha Squash and Sage Butter
Source: Wild Rice with Kabocha Squash and Sage Butter
Brendan Brazier‘s Wild Rice with Kabocha Squash and Sage Butter is so simple but so good. Roasted squash folded into a rice mixture luxuriously coated with sage butter and aromatic shallots. Humble, but big on flavor, this dish is absolute proof that you don’t need to get fancy to make something delicious.
15. Sweet Potato Mash With Roasted Garlic and Cashew Cream
Source: Sweet Potato Mash With Roasted Garlic and Cashew Cream
Bianca the Green Creator‘s simple Sweet Potato Mash With Roasted Garlic and Cashew Cream has the deep flavors of roasted sweet potato, onion, and a whole head of garlic. The cashew cream makes this dish feel like a guilty pleasure, with its unsurpassed creaminess. It’s perfectly warming and served as a side or as a thick soup.
16. Pan-Seared Belgian Endives With White Wine Orange Reduction
Source: Pan-Seared Belgian Endives With White Wine Orange Reduction
In Belgium, where endives have been cultivated for centuries, they are called “white gold.” Whether you want to bestow the same prestigious title on Jordan and Clark Cord‘s Pan-Seared Belgian Endives With White Wine Orange Reduction is up to you. When cooked, endives become tender and take on a light and nutty flavor. They also become mildly sweet, something we’ve amplified with a delicious white wine orange reduction.
17. Cranberry and Rosemary Cornbread
Source: Cranberry and Rosemary Cornbread
Missing a side for your holiday party? Try Shea Cope‘s tender Cranberry and Rosemary Cornbread! It’s perfect as a side anytime; for spring and summer barbecues, picnics, and holiday dinners — you can never go wrong and the way that it disappears from the serving platter will only confirm that.
18. Lentil and Mushroom Stuffed Onions
Source: Lentil and Mushroom Stuffed Onions
These Lentil and Mushroom Stuffed Onions by Jasmine Briones are so simple but so flavorful, and so delicious. White onions are stuffed with a savory mixture of lentils, chickpeas, red onion, and mushrooms that are puréed until crumbly. Then, they are baked until the onion halves are crispy around the edges and pleasantly sweet, savory, and a little tangy. These may be a side dish, but guests will be scrambling for them like they’re the main course.
19. Braised Red Cabbage With Apples and Beer
Source: Braised Red Cabbage With Apples and Beer
Sweet, tangy, and a little savory, Cathy Elton‘s Braised Red Cabbage With Apples and Beer is a must-make for your holiday celebration. Braising red cabbage makes it tender and opens it up for absorbing flavors; in this case, balsamic vinegar and beer, along with the juice from the cooked apples and onions. Warm spices like nutmeg and allspice elevate this side to a whole new level.
20. Fennel and Carrot Purée
Source: Fennel and Carrot Purée
Not sure how to incorporate fennel into your kitchen? Rachel Hanawalt‘s rich and creamy Fennel and Carrot Purée is the perfect recipe to start with! Chopped carrots and fennel are blended, along with creamy coconut milk, olive oil, and a bit of lemon.
21. Tangerine Roasted Root Veggies
Source: Tangerine Roasted Root Veggies
This medley of sweet and roasted root vegetables, like carrot, sweet potato, and turnip, to name a few, is reminiscent of fries with a holiday spin. Molly Patrick‘s rustic Tangerine Roasted Root Veggies are a welcome side to a hearty dinner, where they’ll be the first to disappear from the plate.
22. Scalloped Sweet Potatoes
Source: Scalloped Sweet Potatoes
Tender-soft roasted sweet potatoes drenched in the creamiest of sauces and baked to bubbly, golden brown perfection. Except Taylor Kiser‘s cream-a-licious Scalloped Sweet Potatoes in question have no cream, no butter … no dairy at all! The sauce is made from half almond milk and half canned coconut milk. Nobody will be able to resist the layers of potatoes, smothered in thick, flavorful, roasted garlic. This dish full of cozy feels and delicious smells is guaranteed to be a winner.
23. Herbed Biscuits With Mushroom Gravy
Source: Herbed Biscuits With Mushroom Gravy
These gluten-free Herbed Biscuits With Mushroom Gravy by Jasmine Briones are amazingly flavorful, they’ll disappear in an instant. They are best fresh, warm, and straight out of the oven, but if you make them the day ahead, simply warm them in the oven before serving. With the addition of herbs and a gravy that encompasses classic fall flavors, and is a fantastic addition to any holiday table.
24. Turnips With Caramelized Onions and Toasted Lentils
Source: Turnips With Caramelized Onions and Toasted Lentils
Rinku Bhattacharya‘s recipe for Turnips With Caramelized Onions and Toasted Lentils is perfection. It started with sautéed onion and garlic, followed by lentils that are pan-toasted and coated in aromatic flavor. Then, it’s followed up with turnips that are cooked until tender in Indian spices and finally, turnip greens. This simple dish will be the star of your holiday party.
25. Roasted Jerusalem Artichokes With Braised Garlicky Kale
Source: Roasted Jerusalem Artichokes With Braised Garlicky Kale
Never heard of a Jerusalem artichoke? Jerusalem artichokes, or sunchokes as they are also known, have the texture of potatoes and the taste of artichokes, so if you love those, you’ll love these Roasted Jerusalem Artichokes With Braised Garlicky Kale by Rhea Parsons. Kale is simply braised with onion and garlic and then the two dishes are mixed to make a new dish that has a variety of tastes, textures, and colors. Whether you serve them separately or together, these recipes are a great way to make new foods more inviting. Enjoy!
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