Potato side dishes are popular in many US households, especially during festive seasons and other celebratory moments. Packed with fiber, nutrients, and antioxidants, they provide 45% of your body's daily Vitamin C needs. However, potatoes cannot always be your go-to side dish. Sometimes, they can be a mismatch for certain meals. Broke is a discussion on factors to consider when choosing a side dish to go with different foods.
Think about contrasting the textures
In the culinary industry, contrast is key to deriving the best from meals. This is why certain wines are better served with specific dishes. The contrast in taste and textures creates a memorable eating experience. It is the same with side dishes that are meant to accompany the main meal. Your mouth and everything within it is expected to experience the distinctive textures the different foods offer.
A side dish is usually what rounds up the main course. It explains why contrasting textures are recommended. For example, when the main course is a soft roasted lamb that melts in your mouth, an oven roasted asparagus recipe can be the perfect side dish because of its crunch. In another breath, if the main course is crispy and crunchy, a smooth textured side dish can round it up.
Consider the convenience in its preparation
After spending so much time cooking the main dish, you wouldn't want another meal prolonging it. The solution is to find a simple side dish that takes little time to put together. This is particularly important when you have guests coming over. Usually, the main course is the first meal to be cooked because it takes a lot of time. When your guests are in, your side dish will only require a few minutes to be ready if it's been prepped. This technique allows you to be at the table with guests in due time.
The rule here is simplicity but with a focus on creating a highly-nutritious side dish. Usually, when the main course misses out on certain nutrients, the side dish is expected to provide that. Therefore, it supports the belief that foods that take less time to cook retain the most nutrients.
Contrast the colors
The first reaction to food comes from its appearance. The dish's presentation whets your appetite even before the aroma hits the olfactory senses. This is a popular trick used in food magazines as they succeed in making readers want to kind of taste the images of well-presented foods. Contrasting food colors create enticement, which you want for your side dishes. Any color strikingly different from the main course will create a picturesque lunch or dinner table.
How would you feel about a plain-looking side dish with another bland-looking main course? It doesn't matter if these dishes are delicious. People will automatically assume that the dishes represented are also bland in taste. When you understand it from this perspective, you will make it a point to make your side dishes an instant eye appeal.
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