Vegan side dish needed, to anyone who's out there
I'm grilling some jalapeno sausages and some shrimp tonight, and I plan to do some veg kebabs (zucchini, red pepper, mushroom).
But I need a side dish that is:
- grain or starch-based (additional veggies are welcome)
- vegan (and will make a suitable meal with the grilled veg)
- guy-friendly
- amenable to, basically, Mexican flavors.
I've considered a simple rice pilaf (red or white) but wonder if anyone has a more exciting suggestion.
Thanks in advance, there's always such a helpful host of people around here.
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11 Comments:
Sweet potato fries. Sprinkle with your favorite seasonings and make as hot as you like.
PerkyMac at 4:45PM on 02/15/09
I don't know if it's particularly exciting, but polenta/grits is different. You could cook it with a vegetable stock and not use any cheese. If you chill it, cut it and fry it, it seems pretty guy-friendly, and you could stud it with veggies if you wanted to or serve it with a peppery salsa on top.
Or, hmmm...think of it as a deconstructed tamale sort of thing. You could layer the polenta/grits/whatever with some beans, salsa, peppers, whatever, and then chill, slice, and fry. Don't know how well it would hold up being layered and fried, but it would also be good at room temp or reheated or hot...depending on how you're timing things.
Or, bulghur wheat is a pretty hearty grain, and not so common that everyone's going to be tired of it. It would make a nice cold salad, too, so that could be another veg option.
dbcurrie at 4:46PM on 02/15/09
the first thing that came to mind was a spanish rice (same as red rice pilaf?).
black bean and mango salad, you could mix in quinoa. i love roasted sweet potatoes and black beans over brown rice.
dmarina at 4:58PM on 02/15/09
I'd go with a black bean and corn salad. Mine includes black beans, corn, diced tomato, minced jalapeno, red onion, lime juice, a tiny bit of olive oil, salt and a basic southwest seasoning blend. You can pretty much do whatever you want to with it. A little ripe mango is a great addition, but then I'd leave out the tomato.
chisai at 5:05PM on 02/15/09
I would do a combo of the suggestions of dmarina and chisai - black bean, pan roasted corn, mango, and quinoa salad. if you have avocado, you can mix that it in, too. the beans and quinoa will give it protein, to make it a fuller meal.
NYCEater at 5:22PM on 02/15/09
Roast up some potato wedges! Clean and cut as many potatoes as you need to feed your crew into wedges (~6-8 wedges per potato probably), toss into a saucepan or stockpot, and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil, let boil for about 30 seconds, then kill the heat and drain. Put a tight-fitting lid over the pot and let the heat from the potatoes steam them for about 10 minutes.
After that, toss the potatoes with a few glugs of olive oil and spices of your choice. I like chili powder and and garlic powder on sweet potato fries, but you could lean it toward Mexican flavors with chili powder and cumin or lime. Grill until crispy and golden brown, ~10 minutes on each side.
joyyy at 5:29PM on 02/15/09
quinoa salad!
watchforbears at 5:46PM on 02/15/09
http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2008/09/black-bean-tomato-quinoa-healthy-delicious-recipe.html
Substitute olive oil for butter. I actually prefer it that way, and it'll make it vegan.
cycorider at 6:05PM on 02/15/09
Sounds like a resounding consensus for black bean, quinoa, etc. salad. And minimal cooking required, so that's great.
Thanks everyone.
renzata at 6:42PM on 02/15/09
How about couscous with aubergine, feta and sundried tomatoes: http://www.figandcherry.com/recipes/a-salad-for-you-wherever-you-are/
I served with lamb, but it would be great with grilled veggies.
Or Stir fried chilli potatoes: http://www.figandcherry.com/recipes/potatoes-get-a-posh-makeover/
Hope that helps! :)
figandcherry at 6:22AM on 02/16/09
i do a lot of red beans & rice variations, and if they aren't vegan, they are one or two ingredients away.
Red beans & tomatoes - dice an onion and fry it in oil. when soft, stir in a can of diced tomatoes, 1 tbsp dried cilantro, and a pinch dried or fresh hot pepper to taste. simmer 5 minutes. stir in a can of kidney beans, simmer a few more minutes.
Sort of Southwestern Red Beans & Rice
Chop and onion, and saue in oil. Add a can of vegetable broth and 1/4 cup brown or green lentils, bring to a boil, then cover and simmer 15 minutes. stir in the following: 1 can kidney beans, 1 cup salsa, 1 cup uncooked rice, 1 cup frozen corn, 1 tsp chili powder, and dried or fresh hot pepper to taste.
beans, rice and onions are "guy friendly", right?
redhead at 10:28AM on 02/16/09