Pork chops are little pieces we eat almost every day that are obtained from pork. Around the world, it is considered as one of the most consumed food. Pork chops are amazingly delicious, and there is no doubt about that. However, preparing healthy side dishes for pork chops is sometimes challenging.
A side dish to everything is sort of necessary, for it enhances the main dish’s taste, flavor, fun, and excitement. But we often find ourselves confused at the thought of what side dishes are healthy and tasty for everyone. If you’re looking for simple side dishes, then those are easy to find. But healthy meals, are not so easy.
6 Healthy Sides for Pork Chops
To help you with the challenge of preparing healthy meals , we have listed below several healthy sides for pork chops that are straightforward and easy to make. And to acknowledge them, sit back and read this article till the end.
1. Fruit Salad, first on the list of healthy side dishes for pork chops
This is refreshing as it sounds, as it is to ingest. Hey, who doesn’t love fruits especially on a hot summer day? A cold fruit salad takes over anything and everything. It is straightforward to make and requires no unusual ingredients or time. Just those natural fruits. Cut them and serve chilled. Surely, it can refresh you throughout the day.
The ingredients you need for it are:
- Apples
- Mangoes
- Bananas
- Oranges
- Guavas
- Apricot
You can peel its skin off if you like; however, I prefer it with the skin. Cut it into small cubes or slices. Then into a bowl, add all the ingredients with sugar and chaat masala. Mix everything and keep it in the refrigerator to cool. Serve chilled. Enjoy!
2. Mix Vegetable Salad
If you’re on a diet and want to have some fun within limits, then the vegetable salad is the best option for you. It is prompt and easy to prepare. You only need the daily-life routine vegetables then add it to some other essential ingredients. A delicious and easy to make salad is made. You can add any vegetables you like.
This recipe requires:
- Vegetables of your choice
- Sweet corns
- Salt and pepper
- Parsley
- Bacon (optional)
Firstly, cut in small slices whatever vegetable you choose. Secondly, add sweet corns and bacon (if you want to). Then add salt and pepper for flavor. After that, put all the ingredients in a large bowl and mix. Set onto a dish or plate to enhance its presentation. Lastly, have it chilled before serving. Enjoy!
3. Cucumber Watermelon Salad
This salad as a side dish is just so refreshing, especially on a tiring, hot day. It helps you keep up your stamina. This simple recipe includes:
- Watermelon
- Cucumber
- Onions
- Salt
- Pepper
- Parsley
- Olive oil
- Red wine vinegar
- Cheese
Firstly, cut cucumber and watermelon into small cubes. And then slice the onions thinly so that they blend in with the taste. After that, grate cheese and mix with watermelon, cucumber, and onions in a bowl. Keep in the refrigerator to cool.
Consider taking another bowl and prepare the dressing. Combine olive oil, vinegar, parsley, salt, and pepper and mix. Lastly, add the mixture to the other bowl and toss gently.
Keep in the refrigerator to cool. Serve chilled. Enjoy!
4. Mashed Potatoes, if you want something quick, get this recipe on the list of side dishes for pork chops
If you are running out of time and you need to prepare something quick, mashed potatoes comes to mind first. This simple recipe includes:
- Potatoes
- Garlic
- Thyme
- Basil
This recipe simply demands mashed potatoes. First of all, boil the potatoes for half an hour so that they have the perfect tenderness and softness, which is required. Drain the potatoes from the water.
After boiling, peel the potatoes and cube them. After that have them mashed with garlic in a bowl using a fork. You can add any seasonings you like (I prefer salt, pepper and bit of red chillies). When done, sprinkle thyme and basil. You’re good to go. Enjoy!
5. Autumn Apple Salad
A sweet, and bit creamy salad that is exceptionally refreshing but possesses a mild taste. Especially in fall, when leaves are falling, and all you can see is sweetness all around.
The ingredients this recipe includes are as follows:
- Green apples
- Yogurt (vanilla preferred)
- Dried cranberries
- Almonds
- Dried cherries
This sweet recipe does not require much work. Simply chop the green apples so that they mix with the other ingredients well. Similarly, chop almonds, cranberries and cherries to small bits.
Then, take a bowl and combine all ingredients. Mix them until they are thoroughly coated with yogurt. Lastly, keep in the refrigerator to cool. Serve chilled. Enjoy!
6. Roasted Carrots, last on the list (definitely not the least) of healthy side dishes for pork chops.
And here we’ve come up with another easy and delicious dish. The ingredients are as follows:
- Carrots
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Olive oil
- Chives
- Orange peel
- Cumin
Firstly, pre-heat the oven to a good 450ᵒF. Then, spray the oven with a cooking spray. Secondly, peel the carrots and chop them nicely. Then, take a bowl and add all the ingredients in it, including the carrots. Mix them well. After that, spread it in a pan and roast for 20-30 mins in the oven until brown and slightly soft. Then, take out and let cool for 2 mins. And then again place it inside the oven for crispy edges.
Lastly, sprinkle chives and orange peel on top of the roasted carrots before serving. Let it cool at room temperature. Enjoy!
Conclusion :
Pork chops have a certain ability to make everything better with its deliciousness. Its taste and aroma are enough to make the other person go craving it. Its yumminess and its tenderness are two of many factors for its popularity.
Having pork loin on your table just makes everything better. But anything paired with a side dish all of a sudden becomes more charming and mouth-watering. And for that very purpose, we have mentioned some of our absolute favorite healthy sides for pork chops above. So, the next time you don’t remember healthy dishes to make, you hop right onto this article.
FUN FACT: In the list of one of the most versatile meats, pork stands at number one. It is so because a number of things can be done to it, i.e. it can be baked, grilled, marinated, stir-fried, skewered, roasted, barbecued, pan-fried, microwaved or dry-rubbed.
Want to know how to cook stuffed pork chops? Check out this post. If you are going to use frozen pork chops, remember to defrost them properly. Using a microwave oven is the easiest way of course.
Have a good day ahead!
