Sage, a member of the mint family, livens up any dish. But remember, too much sage will make food taste bitter or medicinal. This holds truer for dried sage, which tends to sit in the spice rack for years, growing even mustier.
This green bean dish is mildly creamy, thanks to a quick blanching in milk, which also sweetens the beans slightly. A garnish of toasted chopped hazelnuts adds a lovely nutty crunch. This recipe appeared with Irene Sax’s piece Small Wonders (November 2008), a tribute to Thanksgiving side dishes–though we think it works well anytime of year. Get the recipe for Green Beans with Pancetta and Mint »
The smoky flavor of this side dish from Oaxaca-based cook Susana Trilling comes from charring the onions before adding them to a spice-infused cream sauce. Get the recipe for Creamed Roasted Onions »
Slow-cooked vegetable dishes like this one, a cumin-and paprika-spiced stew of beans and tomatoes, are a standby in many parts of the Middle East. Here, tomatoes and green beans release some of their flavor into the cooking liquid, creating a rich broth.
This flavorful mix of broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, and potatoes is braised in olive oil that’s been infused with rosemary, chile flakes, lemon, and anchovies. Get the recipe for Olive Oil-Braised Vegetables »
Baked Sweet Potatoes with Brown Sugar and Black Pepper
SAVEUR associate food editor Ben Mims loves brown sugar and black pepper together: the pepper provides a pleasant heat, and the sugar brings out the spice’s latent sweetness. On a rich and earthy baked potato, the combination is a natural. See the recipe for Baked Sweet Potatoes with Brown Sugar and Black Pepper »
Twice-Baked Potatoes The buttery, creamy indulgence of mashed potatoes meets the visceral joy of digging into a baked potato in this iconic side dish. See the recipe for Twice-Baked Potatoes »Todd Coleman
A sauce of unabashedly flavorful ingredients including evaporated milk and, yes, Velveeta cheese, makes for a spectacularly rich take on creamed spinach. Get the recipe for Spinach Madeleine »