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Simple Cuban Black Beans & Rice in a Rice Cooker

Simple Cuban Black Beans & Rice in a Rice Cooker by John Spottiswood

I've loved cuban black beans and rice ever since I lived in Weehawken, New Jersey and ate at the Unica Cafe. This recipe takes some short cuts and uses a rice cooker, but I still think the results are delicious. Try this under any caribbean grilled meat, fish or stew and you won't be disappointed!

5 votes
65067 views
Lemon & Garlic Green Beans

Lemon & Garlic Green Beans by John Spottiswood

It is rare to have a side dish which everyone keeps reaching for instead of the main dish. That's especially true if its a fairly simple green vegetable side. But these green beans were truly that good. We used packaged, thin french cut green beans from Trader Joes. They are tender and tasty on their own, but I've never had them taste…

8 votes
33840 views
Stir-Fried Broccoli with Chili-Garlic Sauce

Stir-Fried Broccoli with Chili-Garlic Sauce by John Spottiswood

My father-in-law has become an amazing cook, and he made this as part of our Easter lunch this year with the fabulous pork tenderloin recipe (see linked below). This version isn't gloppy with extra sauce like you find in many Chinese take out places. It's very flavorful but also relatively light and healthful. He made a TON of it,…

18 votes
42224 views
Brussel Sprouts Sauteed in Garlic & Olive Oil

Brussel Sprouts Sauteed in Garlic & Olive Oil by John Spottiswood

This is a simple, tasty side dish to add to your menu. I've adapted it from Marcella Hazan's recipes for other vegetables. It tastes GREAT with Brussel Sprouts. Broccoli is good too.

25 votes
63857 views
Roasted Potatoes, Carrots, and Onions

Roasted Potatoes, Carrots, and Onions by John Spottiswood

This is a great side dish for roast beef, pork, or lamb. It would also be great with any grilled meat. The recipe is adapted from an America's Test Kitchen recipe that included brussels sprouts and excluded the onions. I love the flavor that the caramelized onions add to the potatoes and to the gravy if you make it, so I think they…

15 votes
28948 views
Red beans and rice

Red beans and rice by John Spottiswood

I've adapted this recipe from a number that I have used in the past. You can deviate from this and it is still delicious! Normally, I serve this with a jerk marinated chicken or pork, but it also goes well with grilled fish, steak and many other treats. If you serve it with something that isn't spicy, try adding some of the spices…

47 votes
77575 views
Cauliflower & Potatoes ~ Indian style

Cauliflower & Potatoes ~ Indian style by Amos Miller

I have never been a really big fan of cauliflower, but I love potatoes and spices. This dish, known as 'Alu Ghobi', has long been a favorite vegetable side dish in my kitchen. It is simple, easy to make and very healthy for you. One seldom finds a cauliflower dish on the average restaurant menu. But you need not be a…

8 votes
21525 views
Cumin Rice

Cumin Rice by Joyce Leung

This rice is a delicious mix of cumin and cinnamon. It provides a nice, slightly sweet flavor, that is a perfect complement to any middle eastern dish. The only dishes I would avoid serving this with are sweet dishes with dates, figs, etc. I served it with my Braised Lamb with Beans. It was great!

7 votes
20775 views
Lentils, rice and fried onions (Mujadarrah)

Lentils, rice and fried onions (Mujadarrah) by Nancy Miyasaki

This is a tasty and healthy side dish that goes well with just about anything. It's filling without being too heavy, and tastes great as leftovers too.

14 votes
16887 views
Easy Pan Fried Tomatoes

Easy Pan Fried Tomatoes by Nancy Miyasaki

This recipe is incredibly easy and really tasty. We're healthy eaters, so frying tomatoes isn't the first thing that comes to mind. But you have got to taste these. Amazing! Disclosure: we used fresh tomatoes from our garden that were really flavorful. You may not get the same results with less flavorful tomatoes. We served with…

11 votes
21639 views
Green Lentil "Moong" Curry

Green Lentil "Moong" Curry by John Spottiswood

I've made this with green lentils and also with a mix of brown and yellow lentils. It doesn't really matter. They all taste awesome! Healthy and delicious as a side or main dish.

7 votes
10692 views
Potato and Sweet Potato au Gratin with Herbs

Potato and Sweet Potato au Gratin with Herbs by Nancy Miyasaki

This is not the lightest recipe I've made, but it's a real treat when you are having guests and want to splurge. I love the flavor and color combination of the sweet and gold potatoes. It's a wonderful twist on a classic French standby.

7 votes
12951 views
Easy Persian Rice in a Rice Cooker

Easy Persian Rice in a Rice Cooker by John Spottiswood

Admittedly, this doesn't capture the crunch outside of the normal method of making persian rice. But if you are just looking for a fluffy and buttery rice to serve with a stew or tagine, this works wonderfully and is super easy.

3 votes
13492 views
Garlic Ginger Green Beans

Garlic Ginger Green Beans by John Spottiswood

These are an excellent, healthy side dish to any grilled meat. I highly recommend them with the Chinese BBQ chicken recipe below, but honestly these would go well with just about anything. Unfortunately these were tapped out long before our chicken, so make more than you think you need. They are great the next day too!

6 votes
6284 views
Basmati Rice with Herbs

Basmati Rice with Herbs by Nancy Miyasaki

This is an excellent, flavorful side dish that goes really well with fish, shrimp, or chicken. It's like a mild version of a Briyani...easy to make and full of healthy ingredients. I thought the Parmesan cheese was weird addition, but the flavor blends nicely and it isn't over powering. Enjoy!

11 votes
19424 views