On the Side: A sourcebook of inspiring side dishes

by Ed Smith

A revolutionary cookbook that moves the humble side dish to centre stage.Whilst writing his food blog, Rocket & Squash, Ed Smith noticed that a key part of our meals was being ignored. On too many occasions, side dishes were being relegated to an overboiled afterthought, or dismissed with a throwaway 'eat with potatoes' or 'serve with seasonal greens' line. But our side dishes have the potential to be as inspirational as the main event itself. In fact, they're often the best bit! Here it's the 'two veg' rather than the meat which are given the you'll find 140 inspiring recipes and insightful tips to make your pulses, roots, vegetables and greens dazzle in their own right. Think of garlic oil pea shoots, smoky ratatouille, celeriac baked in a salt and thyme crust, carrots with brown butter and hazelnuts, spelt grains with wild mushrooms, and chorizo roast potatoes. Complete with a recipe directory that will help you find the perfect accompaniment, whatever your cooking, On the Side will brighten and invigorate every meal.

Genres: Cookbooks, Food, Cooking

356 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 4, 2017

About the author

Ed Smith is a regular contributor to Borough Market's online magazine and Market Life, its print magazine. He also writes 'Five of the Best' features for The FT Weekend Magazine, and for the Guardian, the Telegraph and various other publications. At the 2015 Fortnum and Mason Food and Drink Awards he was named 'Best Online Restaurant Writer' and he was shortlisted for 'Best Cookery Writer'. In 2016 his blog Rocket & Squash was shortlisted for the Guild of Food Writers' Best Blog Award. His first cookbook On the Side was published in spring 2017 to great acclaim.

Reviews

[Donut · Rating 5 out of 5]

A complete inspiration for doing better by your side dishes with major and minor tweaks, only a few of which leave you wondering "Why didn't I think of that?".

Portion sizes could be smaller, as all recipes feed 4 to 6 and I for example run a household of 1, but that's what maths is for.

[Mike McQuaid · Rating 3 out of 5]

I do like this book but only gave it three stars because so many of the dishes call for butter. I'm flexitarian, but would like to keep things with high cholesterol, e.g butter and coconut-based butter, at a minimum.

[Dray · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful book with many valuable recipes. The author noted that published articles rarely had side dishes and pulled together an outstanding collection of such. Many recipes to try in 2019.