MyPlate-Inspired Sides: Starchy Veggies and Whole Grains

April 25, 2013

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1405 MP: Smashed Yukon Gold Potatoes with Gorgonzola and Sage

Credit: Photo: Randy Mayor

Enjoy our favorite MyPlate-inspired starchy side dishes that are the ideal compliment to a delicious main dish.

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Nutritious Starchy Side Dishes

Credit: Photo: Oxmoor House

Cooking Light is working with the Partnership for a Healthier America and USDA’s MyPlate to give anyone looking for healthier options access to thousands of recipes that will help them create healthy, tasty plates. For more information about creating a healthy plate, visit

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Brown Rice with Sesame

Credit: Photo: Levi Brown

Lime adds a pleasant splash of tartness to this quick side dish of brown rice.

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Lemon-Herb Potato Salad

Credit: Photo: John Autry

Made with peppery arugula, kalamata olives, fresh herbs, and lemon, this potato salad will stand out among the other side dishes at your next gathering.

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Quinoa with Toasted Pine Nuts

Credit: Photo: Johnny Autry

View Recipe: Quinoa with Toasted Pine Nuts

The perfect side-dish companion to a variety of meat-based main dishes, including fish, chicken, and steak, this quinoa recipe is simple and delicious.

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Fresh Corn Salad

Credit: Photo: Randy Mayor

Fresh, sweet summer corn requires no cooking, which makes this corn salad a particularly appealing warm-weather side dish for grilled fish, poultry, or meat.

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Microwave Sweet Potato Chips

Credit: Photo: Romulo Yanes

View Recipe: Microwave Sweet Potato Chips

You won't want to miss these sweet potato chips. You'll need a mandoline to slice the potato thin enough to crisp. The results are delicious and easy, sans the hassle of the oven.

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Smoked Potato Salad

Credit: Photo: Charles Masters

The mesquite wood chips bring a strong smoky flavor to the potatoes, but the vinaigrette balances it out, especially when the kalamata olives are added to the mixture. To bring more heat to the potato salad, you can add cayenne or red chili flakes.

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Quinoa, Corn, and Tomato Salad with Chive-Infused Oil

Credit: Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Brightly colored flavored oil coats the quinoa grains and lends the salad fresh chive flavor. Refrigerate leftover oil to use as a dressing to drizzle over grilled fish or summer vegetables. Garnish with whole fresh chives, if desired.

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Rosemary Potatoes

Credit: Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

These rosemary potatoes taste as if they were roasted in the oven–but take only half the time making them a versatile and easy side dish.

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Creamy Potato Salad

Credit: Photo: John Autry

Light mayonnaise and nonfat Greek yogurt add creaminess without excess fat to this fingerling potato salad.

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Spicy Sweet Potato Wedges

Credit: Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

These peppery-sweet potatoes are delicious with roasted meats. Cooking them at a high heat makes their interior tender just as the sugar-and-spice coating begins to caramelize and brown the outside.

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Wild Rice and Carrots

Credit: Photo: Johnny Autry

If you can't find precooked wild rice, substitute boil-in-bag or precooked brown rice.

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Lemon-Arugula Potato Salad

Credit: Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

If you want to make this potato salad ahead, prepare the recipe through step two. Once the potato mixture is completely cooled, cover and refrigerate. Toss with fresh arugula just before serving so the greens don't wilt or get bruised.

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Roasted Rosemary Fingerling Potatoes

Credit: Photo: Charles Masters

These roasted fingerling potatoes are perfect for a weeknight meal with company: quick and convenient, but still dressy. Bake the potatoes in their jackets so the outsides get nice and browned while the buttery interiors gently cook through.

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Garlic-Lime Grilled Corn

Credit: Photo: Randy Mayor

A garlic and lime sauce adds delicious flavor to grilled corn, making for a perfect barbecue side.

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Grilled Zucchini Bulgur Pilaf

Credit: Photo: Iain Bagwell

This quick and easy dish makes good use of summer's bumper zucchini crop.

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Tabbouleh-Style Bulgur

Credit: Photo: Iain Bagwell

Bulgur provides an excellent base for the vibrant colors and crisp flavors of the tomatoes and cucumbers.

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Bell Pepper and Corn Sauté

Credit: Photo: Jason Wallis

Want to add a bit of heat to dinner? Substitute 1 tablespoon of mined jalapeño for the bell pepper.

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Roasted Potato Wedges

Credit: Photo: Jason Wallis

Cut the potato wedges roughly the same size to ensure even roasting.

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Easy, Cheesy Potato Gratin

Credit: Photo: Johnny Miller

Refrigerated presliced potatoes slash tons of prep and cook time. The combo of Gruyère and Parm-Regg cheeses is delicious, but you can use all one type if you prefer.

View Photo: Easy, Cheesy Potato Gratin

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Sweet Potato Wedges

Credit: Photo: Brian Woodcock

Your kids will adore the flavors of these homemade sweet potato steak fries, and you'll love how simple they are to prepare!

View Photo: Sweet Potato Wedges

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Mushroom and Pine Nut Fried Brown Rice

Credit: Photo: Justin Walker

This simple side lends a hearty, down-home feel to dinner.

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Fried Brown Rice with Snow Peas and Peanuts

Credit: Photo: Justin Walker

Make sure the wok has reached the proper temperature before you add any ingredients.

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Mint and Pistachio Tabbouleh

Credit: Photo: Jason Wallis

View Recipe: Mint and Pistachio Tabbouleh

If you don't want to use pistachios, sub in almonds instead.

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Zucchini and Walnut Fried Brown Rice

Credit: Photo: Justin Walker

The walnuts add a unique crunch to this quick and easy side dish.

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Brown Rice Pilaf with Pecans

Credit: Photo: Jason Wallis; Styling: Cindy Barr

Toasted pecans bring a nutty and sweet crunch to this rice pilaf.

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Creamed Corn

Credit: Photo: Jason Wallis; Styling: Missie Neville Crawford

To get the creamy consistency of the corn without the unnecessary calories, we added flour to thicken up the milk.

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Balsamic and Grape Quinoa

Credit: Photo: Jason Wallis

The sweetness of red grapes tones the acidity of white balsamic vinegar to create a balanced side.

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Nutty Almond-Sesame Red Quinoa

Credit: Photo: Jason Wallis

Sliced, toasted almonds balance the thinly sliced green onions in this beautiful red quinoa. If you can’t find red quinoa, regular works just as well.

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Lemon-Snap Pea Quinoa

Credit: Photo: Jason Wallis

To know when the quinoa is done, look to see if the liquid is absorbed and tiny curly tails are emerging from the seeds.

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Greek Orzo Salad

Credit: Photo: Jason Wallis

We used briny, meaty Castelvetrano olives for a flavor boost in our Greek Orzo Salad. They are lower in sodium and available at the olive bar in your grocery store.

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Smashed Yukon Gold Potatoes with Gorgonzola and Sage

Credit: Photo: Randy Mayor

Gorgonzola cheese makes these smashed Yukon potatoes a cheesy treat to complete your meal. For a milder flavor swap, use goat cheese or feta cheese instead.

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MyPlate-Inspired Sides: Starchy Veggies and Whole Grains

1 of 32

Nutritious Starchy Side Dishes

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Brown Rice with Sesame

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Lemon-Herb Potato Salad

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Quinoa with Toasted Pine Nuts

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Fresh Corn Salad

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Microwave Sweet Potato Chips

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Smoked Potato Salad

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Quinoa, Corn, and Tomato Salad with Chive-Infused Oil

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Rosemary Potatoes

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Creamy Potato Salad

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Spicy Sweet Potato Wedges

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Wild Rice and Carrots

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Lemon-Arugula Potato Salad

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Roasted Rosemary Fingerling Potatoes

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Garlic-Lime Grilled Corn

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Grilled Zucchini Bulgur Pilaf

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Tabbouleh-Style Bulgur

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Bell Pepper and Corn Sauté

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Roasted Potato Wedges

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Easy, Cheesy Potato Gratin

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Sweet Potato Wedges

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Mushroom and Pine Nut Fried Brown Rice

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Fried Brown Rice with Snow Peas and Peanuts

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Mint and Pistachio Tabbouleh

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Zucchini and Walnut Fried Brown Rice

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Brown Rice Pilaf with Pecans