Gluten-Free Side Dishes - Cooking Light

Photo: Randy Mayor

Healthy Gluten-Free Sides

There's nothing boring about these dishes. From savory barbecued cabbage to sweet baked apples, you're sure to find at least a few gluten-free sides to add to your repertoire.

We'll start you off with Aromatic Slow-Roasted Tomatoes.

Slow roasting is one of the best uses for tomatoes because it intensifies their sweetness.

View Recipe: Aromatic Slow-Roasted Tomatoes

Photo: José Picayo

Bacon and Cheddar Mashed Potatoes

It's worth buying a food mill (we like OXO's) to make creamy mashed potatoes. Run the cooked potatoes through before combining with other ingredients.

View Recipe: Bacon and Cheddar Mashed Potatoes

Photo: Randy Mayor

Strawberry, Cucumber, and Basil Salad

Serve as a side salad, starter, or snack. But, no matter how you dish it up, this recipe will prove to be a refreshing and delicious treat.

View Recipe: Strawberry, Cucumber, and Basil Salad

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Balsamic Succotash

If you have high-quality balsamic vinegar, use it to finish this dish. Serve with shrimp or fish.

*Remember to check for gluten in chicken broth.

View Recipe: Balsamic Succotash

Photo: Jan Smith

Baked Rice (Arroz al Horno)

Traditional in Valencia, baked rice is delicious with pork or chicken.

*Remember to check for gluten in chicken broth.

View Recipe: Baked Rice (Arroz al Horno)

Photo: Randy Mayor

Barbecued Cabbage with Santa Fe Seasonings

This richly flavored whole head of cabbage cooks slowly over moderate heat while covered. This preparation is a showpiece.

*Remember to check for gluten in turkey Italian sausage and barbecue sauce.

View Recipe: Barbecued Cabbage with Santa Fe Seasonings

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Spicy Pickled Okra

It's easier than you think to pickle your own okra, and pickling is a great way to make use of an abundant garden harvest. Serve these crunchy pods as a side dish or part of a relish tray.

View Recipe: Spicy Pickled Okra

Photo: Brit Huckabay

Baked Eggplant with Mushroom-and-Tomato Sauce

This warm and savory recipe is sure to please. It is packed with delicious, satisfying flavors.

View Recipe: Baked Eggplant with Mushroom-and-Tomato Sauce

Mushroom Salad with Truffle Oil and Parmigiano-Reggiano

The success of this dish depends on slicing or shaving the mushrooms, celery, and cheese as thinly as possible so that each bite will provide some flavor from all the ingredients.

View Recipe: Mushroom Salad with Truffle Oil and Parmigiano-Reggiano

Photo: Randy Mayor

Baked Sweet Potatoes with West African-Style Peanut Sauce

Peanuts are integral to West African cooking. The nutty, spicy flavors in the filling complement the sweet potato. Serve with grilled chicken and Broccolini.

View Recipe: Baked Sweet Potatoes with West African-Style Peanut Sauce

Photo: Jan Smith

Balsamic Roasted Asparagus

Balsamic Roasted Asparagus is a supereasy side dish that helps round out most any meal.

View Recipe: Balsamic Roasted Asparagus

Photo: Randy Mayor

Asian Caramelized Pineapple

"I like to grill fish and am always looking for interesting side dishes to serve with it," said reader Victoria Johnson. "This is also good with pork chops. It can be served warm or at room temperature."

*Remember to check for gluten in soy sauce.

View Recipe: Asian Caramelized Pineapple

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Brûléed Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Borrowing from the classic dessert crème brûlée, this dish has a hard candy topping, a crisp contrast to the creamy sweet potatoes.

View Recipe: Brûléed Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Photo: Beau Gustafson

Basic Pot of Pole Beans

Long, often flat, large green beans are sold in most grocery stores as "pole beans." Because they are tougher and more fibrous than regular green beans, cooking pole bean takes longer than common green beans. Serve this basic side dish with anything you'd normally have with green beans.

*Remember to check for gluten in chicken broth.

View Recipe: Basic Pot of Pole Beans

Balsamic Carrot Salad

Perk up sliced carrots with the addition of white balsamic vinegar, cilantro, and oregano. Not only is this bright side dish great for picnics and cookouts, it's also a great source of vitamin A.

View Recipe: Balsamic Carrot Salad

Photo: Randy Mayor

Maduros (Sautéed Sweet Plantains)

"Maduros," or sautéed sweet plantains, are a common side in the Caribbean and parts of Latin America. They can also be served as a dessert.

View Recipe: Maduros (Sautéed Sweet Plantains)

Photo: Karry Hosford

Baked Rice with Butternut Squash

For a casserole-style dish that is sure to be a hit, you can't go wrong with this Baked Rice with Butternut Squash. This warming dish is full of flavor from the tender butternut squash and combination of herbs and cheese.

*Remember to check for gluten in chicken broth.

View Recipe: Baked Rice with Butternut Squash

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Zucchini Boats with Ricotta-Basil Mousse

Use the fragrant cheese stuffing with any mild vegetable, such as bell peppers, mushroom caps, baby eggplant, or tomatoes. Save the scooped-out zucchini pulp for risotto or pasta sauce. You can use a mini chopper to chop the herbs quickly, but do not use it to combine the mousse ingredients, as it will liquefy the ricotta.

View Recipe: Zucchini Boats with Ricotta-Basil Mousse

Photo: Randy Mayor

Braised Kale with Bacon and Cider

This recipe calls for what might appear to be a lot of kale, but it wilts to a manageable amount in the pan. The dish is a suitable side for roast chicken or pork. Also, consider using kale as a stand-in for spinach in other dishes. This low-calorie side dish has about 15 percent of the minimum daily recommended amount of fiber.

View Recipe: Braised Kale with Bacon and Cider

Baked Apples

Served as an accompaniment to pork or poultry, these baked apples are a sure way to add flair to your meal. Leftovers? These apples can be served over oatmeal or slices of breakfast bread the next morning.

View Recipe: Baked Apples

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Braised Baby Artichokes

"I simply love the taste of this unique little vegetable," said reader Nikki LoRé. "The recipe has a bit of lemony tang, and I opt for a Vidalia onion to complement that flavor. The easy preparation ensures that the dish comes out the same every time you make it."

*Remember to check for gluten in chicken broth.

View Recipe: Braised Baby Artichokes

Photo: Karry Hosford

Basmati Rice with Basil and Mint

This foolproof cooking method also works with long-grain white rice and jasmine rice.

*Remember to check for gluten in chicken broth.

View Recipe: Basmati Rice with Basil and Mint

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Blazin' Baked Beans

Chipotle chiles in adobo sauce add smoky-hot depth to these easy-to-make baked beans.

*Remember to check for gluten in chipotle chiles and barbecue sauce.

See Recipe: Blazin' Baked Beans

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Ragout of Cipollini Onions with Tomato, Cinnamon, and Cumin

This recipe, full of North African flavors, is good served as part of a mixed hors d'oeuvre such as tapas or over basmati rice to catch all the sauce. Roasting the tomatoes yields a deeper, richer, slightly sweeter flavor than you'd get by cooking them on the stovetop the entire time.

*Remember to check for gluten in vegetable broth.

View Recipe: Ragout of Cipollini Onions with Tomato, Cinnamon, and Cumin