The holiday season is often filled with decadent and rich fare like juicy holiday roast beef, perfectly browned turkeys, glistening hams, or thick roast salmon filets. While these showstoppers may take center stage, we think that they shine best with a supporting cast. In our opinion, winter vegetables make the perfect side dish for these hearty dishes as they lend bracingly crisp textures, slightly bitter flavors, and often cooling temperatures to the holiday table.
1) Classic Stewed Collard Greens
Collard greens are a traditional side dish for any southern-themed feast. Collards are a member of the brassica family, sharing a family tree with other leafy vegetables like cabbage and kale. As with many of its family members, collard greens need a lengthy slow cook to tenderize the fibrous leaves. To infuse the collards with flavor, we used the classic combination of salted butter, smoked ham hocks, onion, vinegar, brown sugar, and a touch of crushed red pepper flakes for heat.
2) Black Pepper Parmesan Roasted Parsnips
Parsnips are one of our favorite root vegetables because they provide an earthy sweetness to any dish they are added to. We love to serve them alongside more hearty dishes like Steak au Poivre or Pulled Pork. Because parsnips are naturally sweet, they can handle a fair amount of spice. Feel free to increase the amount of ground black pepper to suit your tastes.
3) The Best Roast Beets
We love roasted beets for their earthy sweetness, which only intensifies the longer you cook them. The easiest way to prepare beets is to scrub them well, roast with the skin on, and then peel them just before serving – no need to peel and chop in advance.. We halve our beets to ensure they fit well in the Suvie and serve on top of Greek yogurt or sour cream, which is the perfect creamy and tangy contrast to the earthy beets.
4) Roasted Belgian Endive
Belgian endive, also known as chicory, is a smooth, pale bulb-like vegetable that is grown in the absence of light. Like white asparagus, this technique prevents the vegetable from turning green. Like most types of chicory, Belgian endive is bitter (the whiter the bulb the less bitter it will be), but roasting it helps to bring out its natural sweetness. We love these simply roast Belgian endives with vinaigrette as a side for roast chicken or pork tenderloin.
5) Spice Roasted Cauliflower
Brimming with spicy red pepper flakes, sweet fennel seeds, and flavorful curry powder, this dish takes cauliflower to center stage. A homemade tahini dressing is served underneath the spiced cauliflower to add richness and a welcome bitterness. We love this dish on its own, but it would also be equally as delicious served with roast chicken or warm pita bread.
6) Sweet and Spicy Roast Carrots
This easy side dish plays up the natural sweetness of the carrots with a touch of honey and adds a pop of heat with cayenne pepper. We like the richness that butter brings to this dish, but you can substitute olive oil if you prefer. Serve these carrots alongside any of your favorite entrees for a fun twist on a classic side dish.
7) Potato Parsnip Mash
Sweet and earthy parsnips make a great addition to mashed potatoes. Not only do they add another layer of flavor to our favorite spuds, but they also can handle vigorous mashing without becoming gluey. Sour cream and butter add creaminess and tanginess, while a shower of chives adds a fresh pop of color and flavor.
8) Extra Crispy Brussel Sprouts
Suvie Air Fry delivers perfect brussel sprouts every time with crisp exteriors and tender interiors. These sprouts are dressed simply with oil, salt, and pepper, but you can dial up the flavor by adding ¼ tsp red pepper flakes or ½ tsp smoked paprika in step 1.
