40 Vegetarian Side Dishes

Enjoy these 40 vegetarian side dishes that are simple, flavorful, and perfect for every occasion—from quick weeknights to holiday spreads.

Everyone wants to eat more vegetables, but sometimes it's hard to feel inspired or find simple vegetable side dish recipes that you really enjoy.

Our goal at Buttered Veg has always been to share vegetarian recipes that are so good you love to eat them, not only because you know it's good for your health.

The selection of recipes below hail from around the world. They include hearty salad sides, simply spiced single vegetables, and refreshing vegetables combinations. We've come a long way from lettuce leaves baby. Read on to find your next favorite vegetable dish ... or two, or ten.

Jump to:

• 1. Air Fried Oyster Mushrooms
• 2. Indian Spiced Brussel Sprouts
• 3. Indian Okra Sauté With Red Onion (No Slime)
• 4. Aloo Palak - Potato and Spinach
• 5. Korean Gochujang Stir-Fry Vegetables
• 6. Harissa Roasted Chickpea & Tomato Salad
• 7. Arugula Salad with Lemon & Olive Oil
• 8. Kale and Chickpeas Recipe
• 9. Hearty Persian-Style Cucumber Salad
• 10. Maple Roasted Carrots
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• 11. Sweet Spiced Steamed Beets
• 12. Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Sweet Soy Glaze
• 13. Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms with Spinach and Artichoke
• 14. Grandma’s Sweet Zucchini with Parmesan
• 15. Cauliflower Curry with Potato (Aloo Gobi)
• 16. Turmeric Cauliflower Slabs, Caramelized in Ghee
• 17. Parmesan Parsnips
• 18. Oven-Roasted Baby Bok Choy Recipe
• 19. Two Fermented Vegetarian Kimchi Recipes
• 20. Roasted Sweet Potato with Ginger & Coriander
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• 21. Roasted Fennel Bulb
• 22. Green Bean Almondine Recipe
• 23. Calabacitas
• 24. Creamed Spinach with Croutons
• 25. Spinach Stir Fry with Garlic
• 26. Kerelan Coconut Cabbage
• 27. Braised Ghee Cabbage
• 28. Asparagus, Swiss Chard & Red Pepper
• 29. Spiced Mashed Potatoes With Ginger & Ghee
• 30. Apple Kale Slaw
• 31. Asian Sesame Ginger Slaw
• 32. Mediterranean Quinoa Salad
• 33. Kachumbari
• 34. Indian-Style Stewed Greens (Sarson Ka Saag)
• 35. Lemony Braised Leeks And Green Chard
• 36. Swiss Chard and Potatoes
• 37. Curried Couscous Salad with Feta
• 38. Sauteed Zucchini and Onions
• 39. Easy Asian Slaw Recipe
• 40. Butternut Squash And Leeks Baked In Parchment
• Other roundups you may like
• Tried this recipe? We’d love your review!

1. Air Fried Oyster Mushrooms

These vegan oyster mushroom fried chicken (air fried oyster mushrooms) are made in the air fryer, Japanese chicken karaage-inspired, and perfectly golden crunchy all over, with just a fraction of the calories.

2. Indian Spiced Brussel Sprouts

If you like Brussel sprouts, you may love Indian spiced Brussel sprouts, because the addition of turmeric, ginger and cumin combine beautifully. Bring excitement and flair to your palate with this nutritious vegetable side dish.

3. Indian Okra Sauté With Red Onion (No Slime)

I have your recipe for the best Indian okra sauté ever. Seasoned with turmeric and red chilis, this no-slime okra side dish is set to delight.

4. Aloo Palak - Potato and Spinach

Palak aloo is a simple but absolutely delicious recipe that combines potatoes and fresh spinach with a few simple, but deliciously fragrant, spices.

5. Korean Gochujang Stir-Fry Vegetables

This gochujang stir-fry vegetables, with crunchy vegetables cooked in a delicious spicy sauce, is the ideal quick weeknight meal! This simple one-pan recipe takes only 30 minutes to prepare.

6. Harissa Roasted Chickpea & Tomato Salad

This salad is very easy to make. Simply cut the tomatoes in half, toss them with the chickpeas in harissa, oil, and lemon juice, and bake in a moderate oven while you get on with whatever else you're making.

7. Arugula Salad with Lemon & Olive Oil

It’s hard to find a salad green that’s lighter and easier to digest than arugula. The robust peppery flavor profile of the green leaf brings lightness, dryness, clarity, and warming qualities to the dinner table.

8. Kale and Chickpeas Recipe

This kale with roasted chickpeas is absolutely delicious! You'll love the textures and flavors that both bring to the table.

9. Hearty Persian-Style Cucumber Salad

A nutrient-dense cucumber salad packed with fresh herbs, olive oil, lime juice, quinoa, and hearty vegetables.

10. Maple Roasted Carrots

Caramelised maple roasted carrots are slightly spicy, sweet, and indulgent. A delicious and healthy way to enjoy this humble vegetable.

11. Sweet Spiced Steamed Beets

This simple steamed beets spiced with ghee and coriander, and finished with lemon juice, is side dish that will feel delightfully satisfying on a cool spring or autumn day.

12. Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Sweet Soy Glaze

These oven-roasted Brussels sprouts make an excellent side dish! Even better, this healthy and delicious roasted Brussels sprouts recipe only requires four simple ingredients.

13. Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms with Spinach and Artichoke

Stuffed portobello mushrooms with spinach and artichoke are so easy to make! Serve these low-carb stuffed mushrooms as an appetizer or side dish.

14. Grandma’s Sweet Zucchini with Parmesan

My grandmother’s recipe for sweet zucchini with parmesan is a flavorful sautéed side dish that goes well with chicken, pork, and vegetarian main courses.

15. Cauliflower Curry with Potato (Aloo Gobi)

Known as one of India’s most popular dishes, aloo gobi is a vegetable side dish made with cauliflower and potato fried together with onions, ginger, tomatoes, and fragrant spices.

16. Turmeric Cauliflower Slabs, Caramelized in Ghee

For all my friends who love cauliflower, this is a simple recipe that's filled with health benefits, as well as volumes of flavor. The powerhouse ingredient lineup starts with the anti-inflammatory duo of turmeric cooked in ghee.

17. Parmesan Parsnips

Roasted parsnips with rosemary and parmesan cheese make a tasty side dish that is easy to make and will complement any main course!

18. Oven-Roasted Baby Bok Choy Recipe

This oven-roasted baby bok choy recipe is extremely easy to make, and it’s a delicious way to enjoy bok choy!

19. Two Fermented Vegetarian Kimchi Recipes

The first Kimchi is made from crunchy napa cabbage, with all the fun alliums, the unexpected kabocha squash, and a touch of raw sugar for sweetness.

The second is a mildly pungent daikon radish kimchi, balanced with Korean pear and apple, and a touch of sugar.

20. Roasted Sweet Potato with Ginger & Coriander

Loaded with natural sweetness and over-the-top nutrition, this healthy, oven-roasted sweet potatoes will delight your tastebuds.

21. Roasted Fennel Bulb

Enjoy this roasted fennel bulb as an appetizer or side dish. Turn it into a complete meal along with meat, fish, or legumes, and another side of vegetables or a salad.

22. Green Bean Almondine Recipe

Green beans almondine is a simple, flavorful side dish that goes with any dinner! Gluten-free, low-carb and Whole30 friendly.

23. Calabacitas

Looking for a light lunch or a side dish? Try this recipe for calabacitas! With maize, tomatoes, fiery peppers, savory seasonings, and Mexican squash cooked until soft.

24. Creamed Spinach with Croutons

Creamed spinach with croutons is a simple, but elegant vegetable side dish that can be cooked ahead of time and with minimal effort.

25. Spinach Stir Fry with Garlic

Spinach stir-fry with garlic is a Chinese inspired dish, made of blanched spinach seasoned with garlic, spring onions, and soy sauce. It only takes 10 minutes, making it a great option for your holiday menu or as a side for any weeknight dinner.

26. Kerelan Coconut Cabbage

This cabbage stir-fry with coconut is colorful, full of flavor, and loaded with health benefits. Once you’ve got your cabbage and onion sliced, and your spices out, this exciting cabbage side dish comes together in about 15 minutes.

27. Braised Ghee Cabbage

This recipe for braised ghee cabbage, two ways, was conceived as a side dish, a replacement for the traditional potato or rice starch component of the plate, or part of a larger meal filled with more interesting foods.

28. Asparagus, Swiss Chard & Red Pepper

Asparagus, Swiss chard & red pepper is a novel vegetable side dish that will make you look like an incredible cook because it's so beautiful.

29. Spiced Mashed Potatoes With Ginger & Ghee

This unique mashed potatoes recipe features three fun flavor twists. Enjoy on its own, or with sautéed kale, braised veggies, and lentils for a satisfying vegetarian dinner.

30. Apple Kale Slaw

This creamy, sweet, tangy apple kale slaw is packed with flavor and nutrients. The acidic dressing of maple syrup, tahini, and lime is delicious, and the apples and kale provide a pleasing crunch and texture. 

31. Asian Sesame Ginger Slaw

This Asian sesame ginger slaw is heartier because of the kale and quinoa. It's also mayo-free and lighter thanks to a delightful sesame ginger dressing, making it one of our favorite quick and easy dishes.

32. Mediterranean Quinoa Salad

This healthy Mediterranean quinoa salad recipe is perfect for lunch or for a refreshing summer dinner and can be easily stored in the fridge for a few days.

33. Kachumbari

This salad belongs to the African Great Lakes region and is built around chopped tomatoes, onions, and crisp vegetables like celery and cucumber.

34. Indian-Style Stewed Greens (Sarson Ka Saag)

A ton of greens packed with nutrition, anti-oxidants, and fiber, cooked in a single pot, and then flavored with onions fried in pure ghee. Get ready for a revelation in how good stewed greens can be, because this recipe for sarson ka saag is “the bomb.”

35. Lemony Braised Leeks And Green Chard

These braised leeks taste outstanding and go with whatever vegetarian meal you serve. White wine vinegar, fresh lemon juice, and grainy mustard—add complexity of flavor to the succulent leeks.

36. Swiss Chard and Potatoes

A crisp bunch of Swiss chard and potatoes are all you need to create a simple and delicious side dish.

37. Curried Couscous Salad with Feta

This curried couscous salad with feta, dried cranberries, crunchy almonds, and a zesty lemon vinaigrette is simple to prepare, full of flavor, and ideal for lunch or a dinner side.

38. Sauteed Zucchini and Onions

Sautéed zucchini and onions are a quick stovetop side dish that takes less than 20 minutes to prepare. Cubed zucchini and onions are sautéed in butter with red pepper flakes for a light seasoning.

39. Easy Asian Slaw Recipe

With its unusual flavor and zesty dressing, this simple Asian Slaw is a refreshing variation from standard coleslaw and green salads.

40. Butternut Squash And Leeks Baked In Parchment

Roasted vegetables in parchment paper pockets is an elegant, yet simple cooking method that intensifies the inherent tastiness of the vegetables inside.

Other roundups you may like

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