Are you looking for yummy Christmas dinner sides that will impress your family? Then, you have come to the right place. Here, we are going to talk about an amazing selection of Christmas side dishes to complement your main dish. Irrespective of what you prepare as the main dish, the sides are perhaps the most loved part of many avid eaters. The side dishes you bring on to the table must not only nicely blend with the main dish, but also please the taste buds of all in the family leaving nobody out.
Are you a health-conscious eater searching for healthy side dish recipes for a balanced diet? Are you looking for Christmas side dishes that your kids will enjoy? Would you rather prepare easy cold side dishes for your Christmas dinner? The options will never end. Therefore, to help you plan your dinner table, we compiled this guide featuring the best, healthy and easy side dish ideas.
Why do you need to prepare healthy Christmas side dishes?
When preparing meals for your family, one thing you should always keep in your mind is to cook healthy meals, and Christmas dinner is no exception. Despite the festivity Christmas brings you, the health of your family members should be your biggest concern when preparing meals. Here are some healthy sides that complement your main dish.
1. Brussels Sprouts, Cranberry and Quinoa Salad
This healthy vegetarian side salad prepared with Brussels sprouts, cranberries and quinoa will go with any type of nutty or fruity dish.
2. Baked celeriac & parsnip
Celeriac and parsnip baked in the flavours of thyme, mustard, red wine vinegar and the chicken stock would be a great addition to your Christmas dinner table and would simply go with any main dish.
3. German Potato Salad
This special salad made out of German potatoes with a pleasing touch of celery, dry mustard and carrots is a great accompaniment to any kind of meat dish.
Christmas Side Dishes that Your Kids Will Adore
Christmas is the most joyous season for little children. Waiting for Christmas and enjoying the festivity that Christmas brings occupy a huge part of their childhood. Every Christmas dinner table should have side dishes that kids will love to have. These are some all-time favourite Christmas side dishes enjoyed by kids from all over the world.
1. Oven-roasted, lemon flavoured asparagus topped with parmesan cheese
Even though asparagus is a vegetable hated by many little children, no kid will say no to this asparagus dish finely baked in extra virgin olive oil. Lemon zest and grated parmesan cheese will enhance its flavour.
2. Cheesy Squash Casserole
Yellow summer squash cooked with onion and butter are baked into the golden perfection with parmesan, cheddar, sour cream and cracker crumbs in order to offer your kids an unforgettable Christmas dinner experience.
3. Roasted Carrots with Maple Syrup
Even though the preparation is easy, this will taste like heaven for kids. Baby carrots topped with butter, brown sugar, maple syrup, olive oil, red pepper flakes and a pinch of salt are baked until they become tender and brown in the edges. This delicious side dish will easily blend with a meat-driven Christmas dinner table.
4. Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole
Every kid loves hashbrown and with some added cheese and chips on top, this will be the most favourite side dish of not only children, but also the adults in your family.
Easy Cold Side Dishes that You Should Bring onto Your Christmas Dinner Table
Cold side dishes are a great idea if you have a very hectic lifestyle, but still want to give your family an amazing Christmas dinner experience. What is significant in this type of dishes is that they can be made ahead of time, refrigerate and serve when it is time to eat. All of these dishes are served cold. Here are some famous cold side dishes that will save you amidst your busy lifestyle.
1. Broccoli Salad with Bacon
Broccoli combined with bacon, onion, raisins and sunflower seeds and coated with a tasty salad dressing made using mayonnaise, red wine vinegar and a little bit of sugar is a perfect cold side dish that accompanies with your main dish.
2. Beets with Mandarin Oranges
Beets and mandarin oranges stirred in a thick sauce prepared with apple pie spice, sugar, vinegar and corn starch is a sweet and sour cold side dish that everyone will pile their plates with. This can be served either warm or cold.
3. Savory Deviled Eggs
Halved hard-boiled eggs filled with a buttery mixture of mayonnaise, rice wine vinegar and Dijon mustard and flavoured with dill and garlic powder would be a divine addition for your Christmas dinner table. This traditional recipe which can be prepared ahead of time is a cold side dish loved by many.
4. Cranberry Relish
If you want to go for a fruity dish that is easy to prepare, serve your loved ones with fresh cranberry relish. You just have to mix fresh cranberries with apples, oranges and pineapples in a food processor, add some sugar, refrigerate it and serve.
Conclusion
Great food is one of the best things about the Christmas season. Christmas dinner table is a place where every one of the family gets together to share not only food, but also love and company. The sides you prepare for the Christmas dinner table is as important as the main dish. But, what is important is that they should complement the main dish and please even the picky eaters in your family. This guide featuring the healthy side dishes, sides that your children will love to have and the cold sides that are easy to prepare will be a great reference article when you are planning the menu for Christmas dinner.
