What is a side dish and how to cook it quickly?

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

There are a great many second courses in the world - dishes invented by mankind throughout the history of its existence. Many of them, according to classical recipes, require an addition, which is often used as a decoration, but also has practical functions: giving an additional flavor range or a taste that contrasts with the main ingredient. We will talk about what a side dish is in our next article.

Meaning in modern cuisine

In the culinary art of today, this concept is interpreted somewhat broader than, for example, at the beginning of the last century. What is a side dish today? This supplement can also accompany drinks, and also include products that are placed in a container with consommé, or what is put on portioned meat pieces.

What is it made of

Side dishes are usually made from various kinds of vegetables and root crops, cereals and legumes. Options are possible today with seafood, and with mushrooms, and withfruits. There are also in the nature of cooking and compound complex side dishes from several types of products, sometimes having cardinal differences in taste, which perfectly emphasizes the contrasts conceived by the chef. But today we will tell you more about how to make simple side dishes, for example, from rice, vegetables, potatoes. In general, about those types that are available to every housewife in the average Russian cuisine. What is a garnish? In French, this word means "to fill", "to decorate". Let's try to decorate and saturate familiar dishes with the help of side dishes.

Vegetable garnish

The variety of options for this kind of supplements is simply amazing. Vegetables can be used in various combinations with each other. For example, potatoes with onions and carrots or zucchini, potatoes and cauliflower. And side dishes can be made from one type. A striking example is mashed potatoes, familiar to everyone since childhood. Vegetables also pair well with cereals such as rice and legumes such as beans. Such side dishes are served with meat dishes: cutlets, chops, liver. Fish are no exception. Who hasn't tried fried or boiled fish with mashed potatoes at least once in their life? Let's try to make the easiest vegetable side dish.

Carrot plus potatoes

Great addition to meat or fish. And it's easy to prepare, and it's perfectly absorbed by the body! For cooking, we take 5-7 potatoes and a couple of medium-sized carrots. Still need greens (parsley, dill), s alt and water.

1. We clean the vegetables andmy.
2. Cut potatoes in half, and carrots in 3 cm segments across.
3. Dill with parsley (you can also use cilantro for those who like its taste), cut finely.
4. Put vegetables in a saucepan and pour cold water. Bring to a boil, add s alt and add greens.
5. Cook over low heat until done. We check it in a good old-fashioned way: we pierce the potatoes with a fork. It should enter freely, but without ruining the root crop.
6. Drain water and serve in portions with fish or meat dishes.

Rice for garnish

This cereal stands at the origins of human development, and in many countries is one of the main additives used. Rice for garnish is easy to make. There are many ways to prepare it. Let's use one of the culinary suggestions.

Cooking

We will need: rice, vegetable oil, garlic, s alt.

1. Peel a few garlic cloves. We make cuts on both sides.
2. Heat the oil in a saucepan (a few tablespoons) and fry the garlic there until golden.
3. Take out the garlic and fry the rice in the same oil for a few minutes until it becomes transparent.
4. Pour rice with water (according to the good old recipe: 1 part cereal and 2 parts water, that is, if you have a glass of rice, then you need to take two glasses of liquid), s alt and cover with a lid.
5. Cook on the lowest heat for about 15 minutes.
6. Thus, all the introduced water has time to boil away, and the garnish is obtainedcrumbly and fragrant.

This type of addition goes well with fish and seafood dishes. It can also be used as an independent dish. When serving, naturally fermented soy sauce is perfect for it. Rice can also be used to make sweet side dishes with dried fruits or fresh fruits, adding a spoonful of honey and spices.

Macaroni flavored with grated cheese

What is pasta garnish? It is prepared just as easily as the previous ones. By the way, in some countries it acts as an independent dish.

Take a pack of durum wheat pasta (those that do not need to be washed afterwards). We throw raw materials into boiling water, stirring constantly to prevent pasta from sticking to the bottom of the pan (it should be taken in larger sizes). Usually, the time of preparation of the flour product is written on the pack. As a rule, it is 10-15 minutes. It is not worth digesting, as they can stick together and spoil the whole appearance. Then drain the water and add the oil to the hot pasta. Stir and sprinkle with grated hard cheese.

Tip: you need to take real cheese, without additives, and not a cheese product. Then your side dish will be just lick your fingers!