Spice it Up: Traditional Side Dishes
Most traditional side dishes have one thing in common: They are boring! As sides their job is to compliment your main dish and add another layer to the meal, this means most of the go to sides don’t have much flavor on their own. Adding seasonings to these classic dishes can create a new and exciting flavor with very little extra work so they will not only compliment, but also add to the meal. Seasonings allow you to transform a side dish you eat regularly into a whole new dish by changing the flavor portfolio. You can make chicken and rice 7 days straight and experience different flavors each day because seasoning is EVERYTHING. Try to use a variety of seasonings to keep your meals tasting different and delicious everyday.
Rice - One of the best qualities of rice is how versatile it is. Adding different seasonings can completely change the flavor of your rice to match the rest of your meal Pasta Lovers Paradise is great to add to rice. It can be paired well with grilled chicken or grilled vegetables. Another good seasoning to rice is Pinchin’ the Tail Cajun to add a little bit of spice to your rice.
Vegetables - Most vegetables lack flavor when they are cooked, so adding seasoning will make you want to eat more of them! Garlic Lemon Pepper is a staple to add a fresh flavor to your veggies! Fusion cooking adds a very different flavor to your food. One of our favorite fusion spices is Moroccan seasoning, which is sweet, earthy, and has a touch of heat. When roasting vegetables, you should toss them in a small amount of oil and your seasoning before cooking them. Steamed vegetables do not need to be coated or seasoned before cooking. You are able to season them after they have cooked and add butter or oil if you wish to.
Potatoes - Potatoes may be bland, but they are a very versatile side dish. Due to a potato’s lack of flavoring, adding seasoning is necessary. For roasted potatoes, we recommend Oh, My Sweet Chipotle. This offers a balance of sweet and savory and provides a punch of heat. If you are looking for a peppery flavor, Berbere Ethiopian is going to be your new best friend. This is an extremely flavorful way to spice up your potato dish.
Bread - A side of bread is a classic choice. The best way to add flavor to bread is to sprinkle a seasoning onto butter. A sprinkle of Sesame Herb & Garlic will be a great addition to just about any meal. Although the name suggests it is just for poultry, Flippin’ the Fowl will be another great addition to any side, especially to a plain bread.
Side dishes tend to be relatively boring, but adding seasonings is a great way to spice things up. The best way to find out what you like is simply to try a variety of different spices. To see everything we have to offer to change up your meals, check us out at Julia Belle’s Seasonings! Our seasonings are unique blends that are sure to turn your everyday meals into a family favorite every night!