9 Vegetarian Side Dishes for a Cozy Dinner Party

If you eat a vegetarian diet, you probably already know that cold weather is an underrated season for cooking vegetables. Side dishes, in particular, are where meat-free cooking really shines. 

Winter sides can be substantial enough to anchor a table (rather than simply filling space around a main), which makes a cozy veg-forward dinner party as simple as serving a few strong dishes together and letting them do the work. You could anchor the meal with a creamy pasta—mac and cheese is famously vegetarian, just saying—and let the sides do the rest, or serve a meaty main and offer plenty of vegetarian sides to make sure your meat-free friends feel fully included.

From potatoes practically drowning in cream to a bracing radicchio salad, there’s something here for every kind of eater.

1. Steamed Indian-Spiced Potatoes

A quick steam turns tiny waxy potatoes, like bite-sized Yukon Golds, into a blank canvas ready to soak up sauce. Here, they’re coated in a boldly spiced, tomato-forward, Indian-inspired mixture seasoned with cumin, black mustard seeds, ginger, garam masala, turmeric and Kashmiri chile powder. Serve them with creamy yogurt to cool things down, plus basmati rice and a chickpea-based vegetable main to round out a satisfying vegetarian spread.

2. Crunchy Honey Beets

Steamed beets are quicker and far less fussy than their long-roasted counterparts, and here they come out fork-tender after only half an hour. They’re finished with spicy candied almonds, a bright citrus vinaigrette and crumbled feta, hitting that sweet spot between earthy, sharp and rich for a side dish that looks as good as it tastes. Try this recipe with any color of beets, from the readily-available magenta ones to golden or candy-striped.

3. HexClassic Potatoes Au Gratin

We're happy to report that a traditional creamy potato gratin is not much of a lift. A garlicky cream mixture gets poured over thinly sliced russet potatoes and layered with a nutty blend of Gruyère and Pecorino, then baked until bubbling and deeply golden on top. A generous scoop is welcome all winter long, especially alongside a peppery green salad, roasted vegetables or any centerpiece that could use a luxurious supporting act.

4. Lemon-Pepper Fried Cauliflower

As far as fried veg go, potatoes steal the thunder all too often. But crispy cauliflower florets are ready for their moment. After a quick blanch, you’ll toss the florets with a combination of potato starch and white rice flour, which fries up into a shatteringly crisp coating. Tossed with a tangy mixture of black lime, pepper, cumin, coriander and lemon zest, the result is a delicious and dippable side dish that will win over omnivores and vegans alike.

5. Radicchio-Fennel-Citrus Salad

A mustardy orange vinaigrette coats slightly bitter radicchio leaves, crunchy shaved fennel and juicy orange segments in this complex salad. Chile adds a welcome hit of heat, while toasted pecans deliver nutty balance. It’s proof that fresh salads are possible with peak winter produce. Easy ways to make it more filling include adding cooked white beans, slices of ripe avocado or serving it over a bed of brown rice.

6. Homemade Green Bean Casserole

Certain dishes have been long overdue for a refresh, and green bean casserole sits right at the top of the list. In this decadent remake of the classic, green beans are steamed until perfectly tender, sautéed mushrooms are cooked until golden brown and a Parmesan-enriched béchamel forms the backbone of the dish. But it’s the buttermilk-marinated fried onions that seal the deal, ensuring this is the version you’ll want to serve at dinner parties all winter long.

7.  "That Butternut Be Bone Marrow" Onion Dip

This vegetarian riff on bone marrow swaps the bone for roasted butternut squash, with carved channels filled with a homemade caramelized onion dip and finished with even more caramelized onions. It’s rich enough to stand in as a fork-and-knife vegetarian main, but just as happy set out with bread at the start of the meal for sharing.

8. Creamiest Cream-Cheese Mashed Potatoes

It wouldn’t be a homey dinner party without a pot of ultra-creamy mashed potatoes. In this easy version, boiled Yukon Golds get enriched with garlic-and thyme-infused milk, plenty of butter and a generous scoop of cream cheese for extra silkiness. Serve them as a base for large-format roasted vegetables or veggie burgers, no bun required.

9. Fried Brussels Sprouts With Cranberries and Balsamic

Fried Brussels sprouts are already excellent with little more than salt and pepper, but this recipe proves what sprouts with a little more ambition can do. After a brief fry, you’ll toss the sprouts with pickled dried cranberries, crispy fried shallots and a sharp balsamic vinaigrette, then finish with a shower of sliced chile, parsley and toasted almond slices.

Dreaming of a dinner party? All that’s left to do is send out the invites.