Side dishes are a great way to add more flavours and textures to a meal - add some spice, some crunch, and of course, some of your five-a-day with our creative and tasty side dish recipes.
If you’ve not tried fruit in your salad before, you’re missing a trick. Clementine’s add a pop of juiciness and go so well with the fresh herbs. Lucy's recipe counts towards 2 of your 5-a-day and is a source of fibre, all whilst delivering big, bright flavours. It's great on its own or works well as a side dish too.
This make-ahead gravy is perfect for taking the stress out of Christmas Day or any other occasion
Take your bread sauce to the next level by swapping in rich focaccia. This bread sauce recipe has all the classic features of your much-loved roast dinner side – gently spiced, aromatic and indulgently creamy. Put this dish on your Christmas lunch menu!
This sharing platter is a colourful, vibrant dish to add to any Christmas party table
This golden, fluffy focaccia is topped with green olives, red onion slices and tangy Parmesan
This creamy tuna dip recipe is perfect for snacking – simply whip together quark, soft cheese and salad cream, add zesty lemon and spring onions and finish with flaky tuna and chives for a simple dip that's easy to make. What's more, this healthy dip is high in B12, which supports the reduction of tiredness. Pack into a picnic with your favourite crudités and enjoy!
Learn to make this basic gluten-free bread loaf that's just as delicious, soft and moist as any other bread
Combine classic seasonal flavours in this easy cornbread recipe, with sage and gloriously sharp cheddar
Gluten-free fried goodness! These cauliflower pakoras are easy to make for a big gathering and deliver tongue-tingling flavours
This on-trend cottage cheese loaf is a source of protein and high in vitamin B12, and makes a tasty alternative to sliced bread.
Inspired by the flavours of the classic British hors d'oeuvre – devils on horseback (that's dried fruit wrapped in bacon), these delicious Christmas stuffing balls are a must-try.
These are the crispiest roast potatoes, ever! Giving the par-boiled spuds a good shake helps to fluff them up and if you're veggie, see our tip for which fat to roast them in.
Shredded sprouts sautéed in butter and thyme and sprinkled with pecorino makes for a special side dish to serve with your Christmas dinner or any Sunday roast. This recipe would also be great tossed through pasta for a quick midweek meal!
Great for sharing, these Buffalo fries are a fun new way to add some excitement to frozen French fries.
This blue cheese and leek savoury crumble might just become a staple in your comfort food favourites. Leeks, softened in butter are combined with Stilton then covered with a breadcrumb topping and baked in the oven until golden and oozing. An indulgent roast dinner side or veggie main.
The season's freshest produce shines bright in this delicious recipe that combines sweet turnip and creamy Stilton with hearty barley and a gorgeous honey and mustard dressing. An easy recipe for a midweek meal that looks and tastes great
Take your side dishes up a notch – add an indulgent Stilton and breadcrumb topping to simple peas and kale for a gooey, melting finish.
Say hello to your new favourite veggie side – roasting beetroots helps soften the flesh and release all of their natural sweet flavours
Jade Greenhalgh's creamy root veg gratin features carrots and parsnips, with a subtle kick of horseradish and a golden, nutty topping. It makes a special side dish for roasts, a hearty winter main or a deliciously indulgent vegetarian Christmas dinner.
This delicious side dish transforms a pack of cavolo nero (otherwise known as Tuscan kale) into something quite special, with just a few ingredients. You could serve this with your Christmas dinner or any Sunday roast, or toss leftovers through pasta for an easy veggie dinner!
A simple dressing of gin, olive oil and cider vinegar takes roasted beetroot and fennel to new heights in this pretty side dish. This is a stunning addition to any Sunday roast or Christmas dinner, or you could stir the veg through grains and leaves for an easy warm salad.
Blitz up this easy-prep dip for an impressive addition to your Christmas party food table. With a garlicky, whipped cheese base and a crunchy, salty-sweet walnut topping, it packs a flavour and texture punch!
This simple peanut butter dhal is made entirely out of ingredients you probably already have in your cupboard. Add in a dash of coconut milk for extra creaminess and top with a fenugreek tarka (infused oil). Perfect for those chilli winter evenings when you don't know what to cook!
Traditional stuffing gets a makeover with the help of flavourful Parmesan, smoky nduja and sourdough breadcrumbs, it's a stuffing unlike anything you've tried before
Sweet carrots and parsnips with apple, bacon, honey and thyme: what's not to love about this colourful Christmas side dish?
Here's a great Christmas or Sunday lunch side that won't take up oven space. Simply boil the carrots until tender, then fry in smoky bacon, brown butter, sage and lemon. This is seriously delicious yet so simple and speedy.
Try cooking your sprouts in the air-fryer this year to get them super crispy. Cook with lardons, nutmeg and rosemary for festive flavours, then serve alongside all the trimmings.
Dips make great party food especially at Christmas time and this musabaha, which is a deconstructed version of houmous, is something special! Topped with caramelised lemons and pine nuts for crunch, it's totally delicious with toasted pitta bread.
Chef, author and TV presenter, Kwoklyn Wan shares his simple, yet totally delicious twist on sesame prawn toast. Kwoklyn says: "Christmas is a time for sharing, and a plate stacked high with glistening, golden sesame chicken toasts is the perfect festive finger food for a gathering."
Crispy and golden on the outside and fluffy within, these zesty smashed potatoes are a delicious side to add to your Christmas lunch table. You can even get ahead and prep them the day before!
Take your sprouts to the next level by roasting them in honey, chillies and walnuts for a sweet, spicy and earthy crunch. A crumble of tangy blue cheese on top and you've got an epic side dish for Christmas lunch.
This colourful, flavour-packed side is a star supporting act for Christmas lunch or any Sunday roast. Carrots and beetroot are coated in balsamic vinegar and roasted until golden and sticky – simple yet impressive!
These vibrant red cabbage 'steaks' are roasted until tender and crispy and are topped with chestnuts for extra festive flavours. They'll make a deliciously different side for your Christmas dinner!