Side Dish recipe collection

Paska: the traditional Russian Easter cheese dessert pyramid, loaded with raisins, candied fruit, almonds, and real vanilla bean. A centerpiece served with kulich bread.

Toasted pine nuts, briny capers, and sliced black olives toss with garlic-infused butter and olive oil for a quick Mediterranean pasta that's ready in 25 minutes.

One of my favorite things to do with garden peas is to make a pea purée. Think of mashed potatoes only with peas instead.

Peach fizz blends canned peaches with limeade, peach gelatin, and tonic water for a bubbly, fruity punch. A batch cocktail-style drink that serves 12 from one pitcher.

Peach iced tea made with brewed black tea and peach syrup. A simple three-ingredient summer drink you can sweeten to taste or make sugar-free with a substitute.

Homemade peach nectar from fresh peaches and water, blanched, blended smooth, and strained into a silky, naturally sweet juice. No added sugar, ready to sip or to pour into peach lemonade and cocktails.

Fresh peach yogurt shake blended with banana, milk, and a hint of almond extract. A creamy, naturally sweet fruit smoothie that tastes like summer peach cobbler in a glass.

Pear relish cooked slow with brown sugar, raisins, onions, and vinegar until thick and jammy. A sweet-tangy condiment perfect for cheese boards, pork, or holiday gifting.

Fresh pear halves filled with raspberry liqueur cream cheese, topped with crushed pistachios and mint. An elegant no-cook appetizer or light dessert ready in 15 minutes.

Pepper salad is a blender coleslaw with cabbage, carrot, and chili peppers pulse-chopped with water, drained, and dressed with mayonnaise. A quick, diabetic-friendly, 10-minute side dish.

Homemade pepper vodka infused with hot chili peppers for at least a week, plus a creamy vodka pasta sauce recipe with tomatoes, butter, cream, and Parmesan.

Homemade peppermint liqueur with just vodka, mint extract, and sugar syrup. Steep for two weeks for a smooth, minty after-dinner drink or cocktail mixer.

Molded cucumber gelatin salad with cream cheese, carrots, onion, and lemon juice made with sugar substitute for a diabetic-friendly side dish. A retro Jell-O salad with no added sugar.

Persian sugar-pickled garlic simmered in red wine vinegar with cloves and black peppercorns. Sweet, tangy, and mellow after a month of refrigerator pickling.

Open-faced pesto, tomato, and melted cheese sandwich on a roll, broiled until bubbly. Five-minute lunch with bright basil pesto and gooey cheese.

Picante potato salad with corn, red bell pepper, and scallions in a cumin-spiked vinaigrette. A mayo-free Mexican-style side dish served cold with fresh cilantro.