Category: Sides

While edamame beans might be a favorite choice as a plant-based appetizer at restaurants, they can also be used in a wide variety of dishes. From stir-fries to bean burgers to this garlicky sauteed dish where it comes together with bean sprouts, the delightful edamame never disappoints!

Struggling to eat your two to three cups of vegetables a day? With this silky and creamy cauliflower mash, you’ll wonder why you weren’t eating more like five to seven cups of vegetables a day! High in vitamin C and fiber, cauliflower offers nutritional benefits and a satisfying texture in this slow cooker mash.

Pickling is super easy and takes minutes to prepare yet adds lots of flavor to sandwiches, salads, and grain bowls. What’s more, you can use just about any type of vegetable to pickle. (Pro-tip: garden veggies make the best pickled vegetables, especially when you have an abundance of them!) Enjoy this versatile, tasty, and crunchy treat on meals and as a snack throughout the week.

Texture, flavor, and nutrition — this dish checks all the boxes! You’ll get the oh-so-satisfying crunchy and creamy from the sprouts and avocado, respectively. Olives and tomatoes provide umami flavor, while freshly squeezed orange juice offers a little acidity mixed with some sweetness. Savor this by itself as a snack, alongside a meal, or top a grain bowl with it — no matter how you enjoy it, it’s nourishing and delicious!

What’s great about this dish is that the longer you let it sit (preferably overnight) the more intense the flavor becomes. That’s the essence of marinating! While we suggest cucumber, radish, and asparagus, you can add just about any vegetables you have on hand or that you’re growing in your garden. Enjoy this as a snack or side salad — with each flavorful bite you’re also getting a fork-full of nutrition!

If you haven’t enjoyed a warm salad, this is the one to try! Bursting with flavor, nutrition, and texture, it gets extra stars for spanning the seasons. You can eat it year-round, whether you want a light, refreshing meal in the summertime or a soothing, comforting warm salad in the winter.

Trying to eat less meat? You’ll want to try these Lentil Quinoa Meatballs. They’re a bit different than traditional meatballs in that the flavor is slightly different, but also in that you won’t be getting saturated fat, hormones, antibiotics, or any other unwanted ingredients that come with red meat. Instead, you’ll receive tons of fiber, plant-based protein, lots of phytonutrients, and vitamins and minerals found in the quinoa and lentils. What’s fantastic about this recipe is that it’s so versatile. Make them as a party appetizer, stuff them into an organic whole grain wrap, dip them in your favorite plant-based sauce, or top them on spaghetti squash for “spaghetti and meatballs.” Tell us how you enjoy them and what fun things you pair with them in the comments below.

Want the sauce without the wings? This plant-based dish has all the flavor, and just as much protein, as the meat-based version. Enjoy this by itself, serve it as an appetizer, or savor it alongside a veggie burger. No matter how you dive in, you’re getting a boatload of vitamin C, beta carotene, fiber, and protein from this nutritious dish.

Make this recipe as-is for a hearty side, or double the recipe and enjoy it as a main meal. There’s no hiding it, squash is the star of the show here and for good reason! It makes a delicious casserole combined with other vegetables, cashew cheese, and fresh herbs. Enjoy it with summer squash during the spring and summer and butternut squash during the fall and winter. Either way, the squash is lending a hearty dose of vitamin C, phytonutrients, and fiber towards your health!