7 Easy to Prepare Side Dishes

Imagine a mountain with no clouds or Eagles. Imagine an ocean with no sandy beaches or waves. Imagine a Georgian mansion sitting I a desert .well, that is a centre piece of beef or lamb or fish without side dishes.

Side dishes are like the choir singing praise to a great soloist and they’re so easy to prepare. Here are some of the easy side dishes to prepare in no time at all. Hasty but healthy and tasty.

In many Asian countries, it is so easy to just go and enjoy the variety of side dishes in the restaurants or the streets but if you have to prepare them yourself, here are a few that you can prepare in no time at all.

1. Sweet potato
Cut it in half. Spear it with your fork in several places. Put some butter or bit of olive oil but this is really optional if you want to keep it much more healthy. Sprinkle a bit of cinnamon. Place in a microwave safe dish. Cover and put on High Heat for 7-8 minutes.

2. Squash 
Cut the squash in half. If you have a big squash, cut it to desired size. Remove the seeds and stringy bits. Spear with a fork in several places. Again, depending on your preference, add butter or olive oil. Sprinkle with cinnamon. Place in a microwave dish and put on High for 7-8 minutes. ​

Squash. Source: aesta1

3. Greens 
Our preference is for Mustard Greens, Bok Choy or Chinese Cabbage. Take out the damaged leaves and cut the bottom of Bok Choy. Place in a steaming pot. Just put a bit of water as you don’t need much time to cook it.  Put enough water in your pot to just barely cover the greens, an inch or an inch and a half of water in your pot and when it starts boiling, remove immediately and strain it under flowing cold water. You can add your favourite dressing.

4. Mushrooms
Cut mushrooms to desired pieces. Place a bit of olive oil in the pan. Add chopped or minced garlic. When the garlic turns brown, add the mushrooms.  Add a pat of butter, a bit of salt and pepper. No herb or spice. Just enjoy the flavour of the mushrooms. When it’s well mixed, take it out.

Green Tops

5. Morning glory or Veggie Tips
Prepare the morning glory or veggie tips by cutting the tops and soft stalks, at least half way from the roots. Discard the tentacles or hard stalks, some peel the stalks buy only if you have the patience. Add oil in the pan. Add chopped garlic and once brown, add the morning glory or the veggie tips. Add fish sauce or a bit of shrimp paste just to flavour it. It can be salty when you put too much. Saute a bit and remove from the pan. 

6. Broccoli or Asparagus
Steam broccoli or asparagus and sprinkle with lemon juice and a bit of Parmesan. Do not overcook. When you have no steamer, put an inch or an inch and a half, just enough water to barely cover the broccoli or asparagus. When it boils, take it out as it continues to cook anyway. A bit of crunch will not kill you.

Broccolini. Source: aesta1

7. Daal 
Put a cup of daal in the pot of about two and a half cups of water, and a tablespoon of oil. Add a cube of chicken bouillon, two small chillis seeded and chopped, half a large onion chopped up, 3 cloves of garlic  Just allow it to boil slowly until it is cooked. You can add cardamon, curry, and Worcestershire sauce. No need to add salt when you use the chicken cube. 

Here's your bonus. A video of how to easily cook Okra (Bhindi). It is so easy, I immediately did it.