Category: Side Dish Recipes for One

Some meals are complete all by themselves, but others need a little something to fill out your plate.  If your main course is made with vegetables, you may only need some rice or noodles for a full meal.  If not, these side dish recipes for one are just the thing.

They are all one serving, so there’s no waste, and no leftovers. They can be prepared fairly quickly, for the most part (with one exception). Plus, you get something a bit more interesting than just a plain salad on the side.

I’ve divided them up by whether or not you have to cook them.  The cole slaw requires no cooking, but it does taste better if you have the time to let the flavors blend for a few hours.

Cooked Side Dishes

Honey Mustard Glazed Carrots for One

Roasted Cinnamon Nutmeg Butternut Squash

Roasted Paprika Potatoes (this is the exception, but it’s worth it)

Raw Side Dishes

White Bean Salad with Sun Dried Tomatoes

Chopped Israeli Salad for One Person

No Mayo Healthy Cole Slaw Recipe for One

Skin On Garlic Mashed Potatoes

It’s suddenly fall-like here in NY, with cooler weather and even a few leaves starting to turn.  So, time to start thinking about comfort food. And what better comfort food than skin on garlic mashed potatoes.

I’m posting this partly in honor of my sister-in-law, who loves mashed potatoes.  She practically thinks they are a food group. When she married my brother, I included a larger version of this recipe in a mini-cookbook we made for her.  Now, many years later, I make them slightly differently: not just mashed potatoes, but skin on garlic mashed potatoes.  It’s less work, less cleanup and more nutrition. Win win win!

The original recipe calls for milk, but I was feeling decadent, so I went with half and half here.  Use milk if you prefer.  Or, even a bit of cream.

Make sure to use thin skinned potatoes that are suitable for boiling and mashing.  I like to use either white potatoes, (sometimes called Eastern potatoes), or Yukon gold.  The skins on the white potatoes are thinner than Russets, which makes them better for a recipe that calls for leaving the skin on the potato.  Yukon gold are naturally more creamy and buttery tasting.  Also, I’ve never particularly liked Russets, they seem floury to me. They’re higher in starch, and don’t reheat well. They also don’t hold their shape (not an issue for mashing, but a problem for potato salad or soup).




Skin on Garlic Mashed Potatoes Substitutions and Variations

  • Top with some scallions
  • Add a few rosemary leaves
  • Try roasting the garlic, instead of boiling it with the potatoes
  • Stir in some freshly grated parmesan cheese

More Potato Recipes

dijon mustard vinaigrette potato saladFrench Dijon Mustard Vinaigrette Potato Salad

If you’d rather skip the mayo in your potato salad, this recipe is for you.  There isn’t any mayo. It’s got a mustard vinaigrette dressing instead.

 

roasted paprika potatoesRoasted Paprika Potatoes

One of my favorite comfort foods as a child, these are crispy outside and fluffy inside. No frying (but you might think they’re extra-tasty steak fries).

 

dill caper potato saladDill Caper Potato Salad

Sour/sweet capers, lemony dill, and a light hand on the dressing combined for an easy summer potato salad.

 

belgian potato salade liegoiseBelgian Potato Salade Liegoise

A potato salad that’s hearty enough for a meal all by itself.  Cook the potatoes, green beans, and bacon (or sausage), whip up a quick vinaigrette, and you’ve got lunch.

 




Rosemary Olive Oil Broiled Eggplant

I first learned to make this eggplant dish when I was visiting a cousin in Boston. He was living in a rambling house with lots of roomies and a student budget.  Creativity was important!  This meltingly tender broiled eggplant infused with olive oil and flecked with fresh rosemary takes full advantage of seasonal produce.  Just grab some of the fresh eggplants popping up in your local farmer’s market and make this super simple recipe.

Since this recipe is made nearly entirely with pantry staples, all you have to buy is the eggplant.  Fresher eggplants are less bitter than their out-of-season cousins and the standard dark, nearly black supermarket offerings. And, the farmer’s market should have a much wider selection.  I used Graffiti eggplant (streaky purple), but white eggplant, or fairy eggplant (the smaller streaky variety, which is particularly tender) works just as well.

Look for smaller eggplants with firm skin.  A wrinkled eggplant is an old eggplant.  The smaller ones are sweeter too.  Check the stem to make sure it’s fresh; it should be free of mold or mushiness.  An eggplant that’s heavy for its size is better.  Lighter ones are likely to be hollow and less fleshy (so less to eat).

There’s some slightly inaccurate folk wisdom about “male” and “female” eggplants, with males having fewer seeds. The flowers are both male and female, but the fruit isn’t. However, if you want fewer seeds, check the bottom of the eggplant.  There’s an indentation which is sometimes oval and sometimes round. Eggplants with an oval indentation seem to have fewer seeds than the round ones.  So pick the oval eggplant (because you want fruit, not seeds).




Rosemary Olive Oil Broiled Eggplant Substitutions and Variations

  • If you can plan ahead, pour a small quantity of olive oil into a separate, sealed jar.  Add a sprig of rosemary and let it sit.  The flavor will infuse into the oil
  • Add some zucchini to the eggplant
  • Or, put in a few slices of onion
  • Try some Romano or Manchego cheese instead of the Parmesan

More Eggplant Recipes

moussaka without bechamelMoussaka Without Bechamel Sauce Recipe

This twist on the “usual” moussaka has no bechamel sauce. It’s lighter, and has fewer steps, but it’s still divine. And, bonus, there’s only one pan to clean (instead of lots). But, there’s no loss of flavor, since it has spicy/warm cinnamon and nutmeg, a bit of garlic, tender eggplant, ground lamb, and tomatoes.

pasta alla norma with eggplantPasta alla Norma with Eggplant

An easy, summery pasta dish tossed with eggplant, a quick tomato sauce, and topped with cheese. Ready in under 30 minutes.

 

eggplant parmesan for oneEggplant Parmesan Recipe for One

Lightly fried eggplant, a rich tomato sauce, and melted mozzarella adds up to a delicious dinner. And, it’s a lot less work than you expect.

 

vegetarian eggplant sandwichVegetarian Eggplant Sandwich for One Person

Israeli cucumber and tomato salad, with added eggplant and hummus equals a tasty (and easy) lunch.

 

 




Lemony Cucumber Salad Recipe with Dill

A lemony cucumber salad is the perfect antidote to a brutally hot day. And, with July nearly here, the temperature (at least in NY) is forecast to soar well into the 90s! This salad is cool, refreshing, and you don’t have to cook anything.  It’s also ready in about five minutes. So, it’s great when you have a bad case of the hungries and don’t want to wait a long time to eat (look further down the page for tips on making this a full meal).

I made my cucumber salad with romaine lettuce, English cucumber (the long seedless kind), fresh lemon juice, and dill.  If you use the English cucumber, you don’t have to peel it; which is a welcome extra shortcut.  I used dried dill, but fresh is even better, if you have some.

Made this way, it’s a wonderful, easy side salad, which would go nicely with some salmon in yogurt dill sauce.

On the other hand, if you would rather have a meal that’s a bit heartier,  toss in some sort of extra protein. You could add a sliced hardboiled egg,  a bit of crumbled feta or goat cheese, or even shredded leftover chicken.  With the protein, the recipe as written is enough for lunch.  If you want to have it for dinner, double the quantities of everything.




Taste the dressing before you add the olive oil and then adjust the seasonings if needed.  Adding the oil last helps the dressing emulsify (blend together better).

Lemony Cucumber Salad Recipe Substitutions and Variations

  • Add some sliced bell pepper
  • Garnish with freshly snipped scallions
  • Add protein (hard boiled egg, chicken, feta)
  • Vary the greens you use (try green leaf lettuce, arugula, or a salad mixture)
  • Add some chopped tomato

More Cucumber and Salad Recipes

blueberry feta spinach saladBlueberry Spinach Salad with Feta Cheese and Walnuts 

Sweet summer blueberries, salty feta, and earthy spinach, with an added walnut crunch. Toss this together in a few minutes (no cooking needed).

 

israeli chopped saladChopped Israeli Salad for One Person

A refreshing side dish that’s great alongside a sandwich or even for breakfast (yes, breakfast, with some olives and pita and lebne). Delicious.

 

simple panzanella for oneSimple Panzanella Salad for One

A classic Italian summer favorite. Make it a full meal with olives or tuna. Or leave it as is for a side dish.

 

 

Mediterranean Cucumber Feta Tomato SaladMediterranean Cucumber Feta Tomato Salad

Just toss a few ingredients together and you’ve got lunch (or a side salad). Add chicken for a heartier version.




Dijon Mustard Vinaigrette Potato Salad

Anyone else here a starch fiend (waits and looks for raised hands)? I just love potato salad, but I’m not that crazy about the usual heavy versions loaded with mayo. This Dijon mustard vinaigrette potato salad is different. It’s French, for one thing, which means there’s no mayo in it. Instead, it has olive oil, lemon juice, and Dijon mustard for a bit of bite.

It’s really easy to make, without a lot of fussing. You can eat it warm out of the pan, at room temperature, or chilled. Since there’s no mayonnaise, it also travels well if you’re going on a picnic or to a barbecue (make more!).

The best part? No peeling (oh, the scandal)!  That makes the prep time faster. And, you get more vitamins too.




Dijon Mustard Vinaigrette Potato Salad Substitutions and Variations

  • add a hard boiled egg
  • mix up your potatoes (try it with some red potatoes)
  • crumble cooked bacon over the salad
  • add tarragon to the dressing
  • use scallions instead of the bell pepper
  • add a splash of white wine to the dressing
  • replace the lemon juice with champagne vinegar

More Potato Salad Recipes

dill caper potato saladDill Caper Potato Salad

Sweet, lemony dill and salty/sour capers make a perfect foil for the potatoes. And no mayo in sight.

 

belgian potato salade liegoiseBelgian Potato Salade Liegoise

This potato salad is a full meal. Made with sausage, potatoes, and hard boiled egg, it’s savory, filling, and easy too.

 

mixed greens egg potato chicken saladMixed Greens Egg Potato and Chicken Salad with Mustard Vinaigrette

An entree salad that’s great for a summer lunch or dinner (just cook the egg and potato). Use leftover chicken (or get a pre-cooked one). It’s flexible too. Use whatever protein and veggies you like.

 




 

Sauteed Garlic Parmesan Spinach

In my head, this was Roman spinach.  Then I looked and realized that was a completely different recipe (with pine nuts and raisins). I was wrong about the Roman part, but at least sauteed garlic parmesan spinach is really Italian.

The recipe that inspired this called for blanching and baking the spinach and then broiling everything.  That was too much bother!  I’ve adapted it to make it simpler and easier.

This way, it doesn’t take a lot of time or effort to prepare.  It will go nicely, I think, with some fish or roast chicken.

Unlike the Roman spinach (which would have required a trip to get pine nuts), this spinach parmesan recipe is made from everyday ingredients you probably already have at home.  No special shopping trip needed!

If you want, you can add additional ingredients to the basic recipe (see the substitutions and variations section below for more ideas).




 

Substitutions and Variations for Sautéed Garlic Parmesan Spinach

  •  add a sliced mushroom or two (put that in before the spinach)
  • try some sautéed onions
  • add this recipe to some scrambled eggs and make it a main course for breakfast, lunch, or brunch
  • roast the garlic first
  • add some chopped fresh cherry tomatoes just before serving

More Spinach Recipes

bacon spinach tomato aioli sandwichBacon Spinach Tomato Aioli Sandwich Recipe

The classic BLT, with a twist. It’s got spinach, and the ordinary plain mayo has been upgraded to a garlicky, lemony aioli. Fresher, brighter, and even more delicious.

 

eggs with spinach and chili pepperEggs with Spinach and Chili Peppers

Turn up the heat with chilis. This omelette turns up the flavor with hot chilis, earth spinach, and a soothing dollop of yogurt or sour cream.

 

feta brined roast chickenFeta Brined Roast Chicken Recipe for One

Easy enough for a busy day, but fancy enough to serve to guests. Brining the chicken keeps it moist and adds lots of flavor too.

 

spinach and feta cheese omeletteSpinach and Feta Cheese Omelette

I wanted spinach and feta triangles. I had no phyllo dough. So I made this instead. All the flavors of spanakopitas in a simple, easy omelette.

 




Honey Mustard Glazed Carrots for One

It’s been a while since I posted a side dish, so I thought I’d fix that. Honey mustard glazed carrots are an easy and savory side dish that’s ready in just a few minutes.  The honey adds a hint of sweetness, while the mustard provides a bit of a kick. The carrots are really easy to prepare, but the dish feels fancy enough for company.

This side dish goes beautifully with a simply roasted piece of chicken.  Season it with olive oil, lemon, and rosemary, put it in the oven and then start the carrots about 20 minutes before the chicken is done.

Or, try them with a grilled lamb chop,  or a steak. This recipe would also be great with Thanksgiving turkey or a family holiday get-together (you’d obviously have to size up the quantities).

If you’re trying to eat more veggies, honey mustard carrots also go well with a grilled cheese sandwich for lunch.

I sliced the carrots in matchsticks, but you can make them whatever way suits you. If you’re in a hurry, use frozen carrots (which are pre-blanched and will cook faster than fresh ones will).

Another tip to speed up the process and make your life a bit easier: when you measure the honey, dip the spoon in water first.  It creates a barrier that  will keep the honey from sticking and make it easier to pour it into the saucepan.




Substitutions and Variations for Mustard Honey Glazed Carrots

  • If you don’t have honey, use brown sugar instead
  • Add some fresh rosemary to the carrots
  • Saute some shallots with the honey mustard mixture and then add the carrots back to the pan
  • Try roasting them in a 450 oven for 40 minutes with some parsnips

More Side Dish Recipes

butternut squash brown sugar vanillaRoasted Butternut Squash with Brown Sugar and Vanilla

Sure, I’m calling this a side dish. It’s made with squash, isn’t it? It’s also got nuts, brown sugar, and vanilla. And thinks it’s a dessert. Shhh. Don’t tell.

 

roasted root vegetable medleyRoasted Root Vegetable Medley

A colorful, and surprisingly sweet mixture of tender veggies. Only five minutes prep and one pan.

 

roasted paprika potatoesRoasted Paprika Potatoes

Crispy, fluffy, and one of my favorite comfort foods. Think fries that are a lot less messy, with an extra flavor punch.

 

no mayo healthy cole slaw recipeNo Mayo Healthy Cole Slaw Recipe for One

Crisp, fresh, and healthy too. There’s no heavy mayonnaise, and it’s great with a leftover turkey sandwich.

 




Roasted Cinnamon Nutmeg Butternut Squash

Fall has finally arrived, and the temperature is dropping. It’s time to start thinking about butternut squash, apple crisp, and soups.  I found this recipe for roasted cinnamon nutmeg butternut squash tucked into a cookbook. I’ve no idea where I got it from, but the combination of cinnamon, apple cider, nutmeg, butter, and squash is classic.

Cinnamon and nutmeg add both a bit of warm spice and sweetness, and the apple cider is both tart and sweet. It’s also apple cider season, so all the ingredients are at their peak now.

Butternut squash are notoriously hard to peel, unless you have an Oxo Swivel Peeler, which makes this chore much easier.  Or, you can buy the pre-peeled squash.

The rest is just cutting up the squash (use a big, sharp knife), adding the spices, butter, and cider, and baking it in the toaster oven.




Substitutions and Variations for Roasted Cinnamon Nutmeg Butternut Squash

  • Add some chopped pecans or walnuts after 15 minutes of baking
  • Make it savory: replace the butter with chicken stock, skip the cinnamon and nutmeg, and use curry instead.
  • Bump up the sweetness with honey or maple syrup
  • Wash the seeds, pat them dry, and then roast them for 10 minutes in the same pan for a sweet, crunchy snack

Tools and Ingredients for Roasted Butternut Squash

Oxo peeler

Oxo Swivel Peeler

This peeler cuts through butternut squash skin with virtually no effort. It’s no harder than peeling a cucumber. I’ve had mine for years and it still works flawlessly. There’s even a little scoop at the end for de-eyeing potatoes or removing bruised spots. The handle is comfy and easy to hold. It works on apples, squash, cucumber, carrots, and hasn’t needed any extra care or sharpening. I did add a dab of red nail polish at the end to make it easier to find in my utensil holder.

six inch baking pan

Stainless steel 6 inch square pan

Most baking dishes are far too large for one person or small batch cooking. This is perfect. I use it for the squash, to bake brownies or coffee cake, and reheat leftovers. Goes in the oven and the dishwasher.

More Butternut Squash Recipes

butternut squash brown sugar vanillaRoasted Butternut Squash with Brown Sugar and Vanilla

It’s a veggie dessert! If you didn’t know it was a nice, healthy vegetable (packed with Vitamin A and C), you’d think you were having a dessert. Because that’s what it tastes like. But, it really is a vegetable!

butternut squash cream sauce pastaButternut Squash Cream Sauce Recipe for One Person

Roasted garlic, some cream, and parmesan balance against the sweet squash for a rich, creamy sauce. Punch it up with crumbled bacon or pancetta.

 

curried butternut squash soup with applesCurried Butternut Squash Soup with Apples

Mild sweet curry is a perfect foil for apples and squash. Filling, comforting, and perfect for a cool fall or winter day.

 

 




White Bean Salad with Sun Dried Tomatoes

I spotted this white bean salad with sun dried tomatoes when I was shopping.  It sounded delicious: beans, sun dried tomatoes, olive oil, spinach.  Healthy and tasty!

The price was a bit of a turn off though: $8.00 a pound?! For beans?  Nope.  I had dry beans at home, but it was too hot to start cooking them. So, I trotted over to the canned beans section. Instead of $8.00 a pound, I got a whole can of beans for 88 cents (on sale!).  Score!

The rest was easy (and no cooking needed on a hot day).

Just soak the sun dried tomatoes, pour the beans into a bowl, roughly chop the spinach, chop some onion, and let it sit for a while to let the flavor develop.




Substitutions and Variations for White Bean Salad with Sun Dried Tomatoes

  • Add some olives and mozzarella cheese
  • Substitute fresh basil for the dried oregano
  • Make it a dip: roast some garlic, add that to the salad, and put it in your mini-chopper or blender. Or, do this with the remaining beans.
  • Use different colored beans or several different kinds. Put the rest of the can(s) in soup or chili.

More Bean Recipes

black beans and rice recipe one personBlack Beans and Rice Recipe for One Person

A meal that’s budget and pantry-friendly, that somehow feels indulgent.  Simmer the beans with garlic, onions, and two surprise ingredients for a rich, delicious meal. Cook it less for soup, longer for a side dish/entree.

tuna cannellini bean saladTuna Cannellini Bean Salad Recipe for One

Open a couple of cans, add a few standard ingredients, and you’ve got a meal. No cooking needed.

 

Brazilian chicken paprika stewBrazilian Chicken Paprika Stew

Essentially Brazilian chicken paprikash, but with a South American twist. The cream is gone, and replaced with beans and sausage. It’s rich and satisfying, even without the cream. One pot meal!

 




Chopped Israeli Salad for One Person

Chopped Israeli salad isn’t quite what you might assume. It doesn’t have lettuce or carrots.  It’s not even eaten when you’d expect.  Israeli salad isn’t for lunch or dinner. Instead people eat it for breakfast with eggs, hummus, pita bread, fish, and olives. Not being much of a standard American breakfast person, I approve!

Of course, all of those things make a great lunch too, especially on a hot day when  you don’t want to get anywhere near a stove or an oven. I adapted this recipe from a comment on Tori Avery’s web site. 

She had a recipe for Israeli salad, and a commenter, Schelly Talalay Dardashti, pointed out that there’s a Persian version called “salad e-shirazi.”

She said it calls for red onion and parsley (neither of which I had).  However, I did decide to follow her suggestion and use lime juice instead of lemon juice and add mint.

Make sure to use either Persian cucumbers or English cucumbers (rather than the standard kind).  The Persian (or mini) cucumbers are shorter and thinner than standard cucumbers and usually sold in sealed packages.  The English (or hothouse) cucumbers are the long, skinny ones individually wrapped in plastic wrap.

They’re easier to cut up and you don’t have to peel them! Also, the standard cukes tend to be more bitter.

I cut everything up, mixed it together, and left it out on the counter for a couple of hours (there’s nothing to spoil quickly) so that the flavors would blend.  Also, if you put tomatoes in the fridge, they start to lose their flavor.

You can serve this salad with the pita and etc. I mentioned above for a light meal or as a side dish with a sandwich or some eggs. You can make plain scrambled eggs, a frittata, or keep the Persian theme going and serve it with Persian eggs. I added about 1/4 C of eggplant I had left over (recipe here and it’s even for one person).

There’s no picture of the eggs because I was hungry and started eating before I remembered to take one!




Substitutions and Variations for Chopped Israeli Salad

  • Try the full standard Persian version, “salad-e-shirazi,” which is made with seeded cukes and tomatoes, red onion, parsley, mint, salt, pepper, lemon juice (or lime juice) and a bit of olive oil.
  • Make it more filing with some crumbled feta cheese.
  • Add some red bell pepper (or try orange or yellow for more color), cut into tiny pieces
  • Chop some radishes and add them to the salad
  • The Book of Jewish Food has a variation popular with Baghdadi Jews in India: add grated ginger and some chopped chili peppers.

More One Person Side Salad Recipes

lemony cucumber salad recipeLemony Cucumber Salad Recipe with Dill

Easy, refreshing, and just perfect for a hot summer’s day.  Only requires a few basic ingredients too.

 

dill caper potato saladDill Caper Potato Salad

Instead of heavy mayo salad, try this tangy version instead. The star here is the starchy, tender potatoes paired with the crunchy sour/sweet flavor of the capers and the lemony, sweet dill.

no mayo healthy cole slaw recipeNo Mayo Healthy Cole Slaw Recipe for One

Crispy, crunchy, and packed with nutrition too. And just look at those colors.  A great alternative to the usual mayo.

 

dijon mustard vinaigrette potato saladDijon Mustard Vinaigrette Potato Salad

A French twist on potato salad with bell peppers, dijon mustard, and lemon. Perfect for picnics (no mayo again).




No Mayo Healthy Cole Slaw Recipe for One

I like cabbage, and cole slaw, but most of the recipes are too heavy and have too much mayo. I feel as if I’m eating mayo, rather than cabbage. This no mayo healthy cole slaw recipe is different. It’s healthy and has no mayo at all.

I was at The Second Avenue Deli, which is a restaurant that specializes in food that is definitely not healthy:  fried pierogies, chopped liver, and enormous pastrami and corned beef sandwiches.  But, before you get your main dish, they plop down a big bowl of pickles and another of their “health salad.”  The salad is delicious! And no mayo.

The next day, I found a recipe, which I have adapted. I reduced the servings and made a few substitutions and changes.

Delicious! And it’s easy too.  It’s great as a side dish with a turkey sandwich (or on top of one), or along with a hot dog.  Or, pastrami, of course. Because mayo and pastrami is a shonda (a terrible disgrace, especially in public).




 

Substitutions and Variations for No Mayo Healthy Cole Slaw Recipe

  • Use green cabbage (which is what the original recipe said)
  • Make it with green pepper (again the original recipe)
  • Add some cucumber
  • Try apple cider vinegar
  • Make it Asian with rice vinegar, soy sauce. and sesame oil

More  Cabbage Recipes

 

chinese chicken noodle cabbage soupChinese Chicken Noodle Cabbage Soup for One Person

Aromatic and flavorful with garlic, spicy chili, and a hint of sweetness from honey, this Chinese chicken noodle cabbage soup tastes good and knocks out germs too.

 

creole cabbage and sausageQuick Creole Cabbage and Sausage

Knock out dinner in minutes with this quick recipe.  Spicy, fragrant, and super easy too.

 

stuffed cabbageSmall Batch Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls Recipe

Stuffed cabbage is delicious, but those rolls are too much work. So skip them and layer it instead (like lasagne).

 

Asian chicken salad with cabbageAsian Chicken Salad with Cabbage

Fresh, crispy, and colorful. Just chop, add cooked chicken, and mix it all together with an Asian-inspired dressing.