10 Best Italian Side Dishes

Making the perfect Italian side dish to go with your main is essential for creating the ultimate authentic dining experience and wowing your guests with your culinary skills. If you’re in need of some inspiration when it comes to choosing which side dishes to make, we’ve got you covered! In this article, we will explore some popular Italian side dishes that are easy to make from home with simple ingredients and no prior knowledge required.

The Best Italian Side Dishes

At our authentic Italian restaurants in Milton Keynes, we prepare our dishes from scratch each day, using fresh ingredients. If you’d like to try our delicious Italian side dishes, feel free to pay us a visit or treat yourself to a takeaway in Milton Keynes – you won’t be disappointed, we promise!

• Italian Pork Side Dishes
• Italian Asparagus Side Dish
• Italian Celery Side Dish
• Italian Meatloaf Side Dishes
• Italian Potato Side Dish Recipes
• Italian Side Dishes For Pizza

Italian Pork Side Dishes

You will not believe how tasty these Italian pork side dishes are! Perfect for serving at a dinner party, these dishes will wow your guests without completely stressing you out in the kitchen. Why not give them a go? We promise that you’ll be glad you did!

Italian Style Pork In Tomato Sauce

This delicious recipe shows you how to make juicy pork in tomato sauce with sweet peppers. This dish is the perfect side to share amongst loved ones. Here are all of the ingredients that you’ll need to make it:

• Pork belly
• Onion
• Garlic cloves
• Tomato sauce
• Bell peppers
• Fresh basil
• Salt and pepper
• Vegetable oil
• Salt and pepper

The first step to making this dish is to chop your pork belly into smaller pieces before cooking them in vegetable oil alongside chopped onions and garlic. Once the meat is fully cooked, you will need to add your tomato sauce, followed by the sliced bell peppers. You can use red, yellow or green bell peppers, or a combination of the three, depending on your personal preferences. We think that using all three kinds provides an appetising pop of colour! The final step to this dish is to add seasonings to taste, as well as fresh and fragrant basil leaves. Enjoy!

Italian Sausage Stuffed Peppers

There’s no better way to stuff peppers than with sweet Italian sausage! This incredible dish is definitely a crowd pleaser and looks just as good as it tastes. In order to make it, you will need the following ingredients:

• Bell peppers
• Mozzarella
• Parmesan cheese
• Sweet Italian sausage
• Cooked white rice
• Garlic cloves
• Beef stock
• Marinara sauce
• Fresh Basil
• Fresh Parsley
• Dried oregano
• Crushed red pepper
• Olive oil
• Salt and pepper

Start this dish by removing the tops and insides of your bell peppers before finely chopping your garlic and fresh herbs. Boil your peppers for five minutes while you fry the garlic in a shallow pan of oil. Remove the casings from your Italian sausages and add the meat to the pan and cook it. Add your seasonings alongside your white rice, beef stock and parmesan cheese. Finally, add your marinara sauce, which may be homemade or store-bought, and chopped fresh herbs. After all of the ingredients in the pan are nicely combined, you are ready to fill your peppers, top them with mozzarella cheese and bake them alongside more marinara sauce. These Italian sausage stuffed peppers are truly delicious and will perfectly compliment whatever main you choose to pair them with.

Italian Asparagus Side Dish

We all know asparagus as a highly divisive vegetable with many lovers and haters. However, this deliciously flavoursome Italian asparagus side dish could change that: serve it to your guests alongside your main at a dinner party, and you’re sure to receive some pleasantly surprised reactions! This recipe is unbelievably simple, using a mixture of tasty ingredients and clever cooking techniques to create the perfect cacophony of flavours and textures. To make it, you will need the following:

• Fresh asparagus
• Pancetta
• Fresh parmesan cheese
• White wine vinegar
• Olive oil
• Dried herbs
• Salt

The steps to recreate this delightful side dish could not be simpler to follow. You will start by perfectly cooking your fresh asparagus spears in salted boiling water, achieving the perfect texture that is not too tough or too mushy. The ideal length of time in order to achieve this is about seven minutes. The pancetta will need to be cut into small pieces and browned in a saucepan with some olive oil. At this point, you will add your dried herbs so that you can achieve a wonderful fragrance in your dish. Once your asparagus is cooked, you will add it to the saucepan containing the pancetta alongside white wine vinegar and more dried herbs. Finally, the asparagus is baked in the oven with a sprinkling of fresh parmesan cheese before it is served alongside the pancetta pieces.

Italian Celery Side Dish

While celery is a secret component in a surprising number of dishes, providing both flavour and texture, it is seldom the star of a dish. This wonderfully tangy, fresh and flavoursome Italian celery side dish recipe demonstrates how humble celery sticks can be transformed into a delicious, light and summery salad that offers the perfect pairing for heavier mains. Here are the ingredients that you will need to make it:

• Fresh celery sticks
• Freshly squeezed lemon juice
• Olive oil
• Anchovy paste
• Celery seeds
• Roasted walnuts
• Parmesan cheese
• Salt and pepper

In order to make this refreshing salad, you will need to chop your celery before combining it with your freshly-squeezed lemon juice and leaving this mixture to sit in the fridge. To pack in some extra flavour and minimise the amount of food waste you produce, you can add the zest of the lemon you used to make the juice, so long as it is unwaxed. The next step is to add in your anchovy paste, celery seeds and seasonings. Once you have done this, you are ready to plate your salad and top it with chopped roasted walnuts and shredded parmesan cheese. Enjoy!

Italian Meatloaf Side Dishes

Meatloaf is a much-loved aspect of Italian cuisine, offering a hearty, satisfying meal when paired with the right side dishes. So, without further ado, here are some ideas for Italian meatloaf side dishes you can make yourself with ease.

Italian Rosemary Sweet Potatoes

Meat and potatoes famously go together beautifully; however, we’ve provided a couple of Italian potato side dishes to make alongside your meaty mains later in this article. So we thought we’d switch things up and provide you with a recipe using sweet potato that’ll pair beautifully with your classic Italian meatloaf. You will need the following ingredients to make this recipe:

• Sweet potatoes
• Fresh rosemary
• Olive oil
• Sea salt

This dish is tasty, nutritious and incredibly easy to prepare. To start, you will need to wash your sweet potatoes before slicing them into rounds that are approximately half an inch thick. Next, wash and roughly chop your rosemary before placing it onto a baking sheet alongside your sweet potato rounds. Drizzle olive oil over the baking sheet and sprinkle your sea salt over it too. At this point, your potato slices are ready to be roasted in the oven until they are fully cooked through. Not only is this dish packed with flavour and nutrients, but it will also serve as the perfect partner for your favourite meatloaf recipe!

Italian Mixed Vegetables

Vegetables are a huge part of Mediterranean cuisine and provide plenty of essential nutrients. This Italian mixed vegetable side dish will add a tasty pop of colour to your plate alongside a hearty slice of your favourite meatloaf recipe. The ingredients that you will need to gather to make it are as follows:

• Courgette
• Aubergine
• Bell peppers
• Onions
• Potatoes
• Cabbage
• Fresh basil
• Sea salt
• Olive oil

This Italian mixed vegetable side dish can be made in just a few simple steps. Start by heating a frying pan containing olive oil while you chop your onions, bell peppers, aubergine, potatoes and courgette and add them to the pan in that same order. Once these are mostly cooked through, you will chop and add your cabbage and fresh basil to the pan before covering it and allowing your veg to finish cooking. Once the dish is ready, you will be able to season it according to your personal tastes and enjoy the unique flavours provided by each vegetable, as well as a delightful pop of colour.

Italian Potato Side Dish Recipes

Potatoes are a staple food in a variety of cuisines thanks to their versatility: they can be seasoned in endless different ways and can be cooked to be blissfully creamy or delightfully crispy – or even both! If you’re looking for Italian potato side dish recipes to make alongside a hearty main dish, we’ve got you covered!

Italian Roasted Potatoes

These Italian roasted potatoes are truly unbeatable. Crisp on the outside and creamy on the inside, they offer the perfect companion for any classic Italian main. To make them, you will need to gather the following ingredients:

• Red potatoes
• Olive oil
• Garlic cloves
• Dried oregano
• Salt

This recipe is unbelievably simple to make, meaning that it is the perfect side dish option for when you’re short on time. The first thing you will need to do when making it is to chop up your potatoes into one-inch cubes before combining these pieces in a bowl with your olive oil, chopped or crushed garlic cloves, dried oregano, and salt. These ingredients will need to be mixed thoroughly, which you can do using salad tossers. You will then place your potato pieces onto a baking tray greased with olive oil before roasting them in the oven until they are crispy and golden brown on the outside, flipping them halfway through. In total, your potatoes will need to be in the oven for around one hour.

Easy Italian Potato Salad

If you’re searching for Italian potato side dish recipes that will go down a treat in the summer, look no further than this easy, fresh Italian potato salad! It utilises a variety of fresh ingredients which – if you have a bit of a green thumb – you may even be able to find in your garden. Here is what you’ll need to make this dish:

• Potatoes
• Fresh chives
• Fresh oregano
• Garlic cloves
• Olive oil
• Freshly-squeezed lemon juice
• Salt and pepper

Get started with making this salad by peeling your potatoes and cooking them whole in boiling, salted water. While they cook, crush your garlic and chop it into a puree before combining it with salt, olive oil and freshly-squeezed lemon juice. Wash and finely chop up your fresh chives and oregano before adding them to this mixture, alongside some salt and pepper.

Once your potatoes are finished cooking, rinse them with cool water before chopping them into cubes and combining these with your herb mixture. To allow the potatoes to soak up all of the fresh, tangy flavours, leave this mixture to sit in the fridge overnight and serve your fragrant potato salad the next day. We can’t think of any better side dish to make for a summertime dinner party!

Italian Side Dishes For Pizza

Pizza is a dish loved by almost everyone, making it the perfect thing to serve as an easy crowd-pleaser. By making some delicious Italian side dishes for pizza, you can really wow your dinner guests. Here are some suggestions for recipes to try out:

Bruschetta

Bruschetta is a classic Italian dish that may be served as an antipasto or as an accompaniment to main dishes. It uses simple, fresh ingredients and is perfect for the summer. To make your own bruschetta, you will need the following ingredients:

• A baguette
• Fresh tomatoes
• Fresh basil
• Garlic cloves
• Balsamic glaze
• Parmesan cheese
• Olive oil
• Salt and pepper

Prepare the topping of the bruschetta by chopping up your tomatoes and draining away any excess liquid before carefully chopping up your basil leaves, taking care not to crush them. Mince your garlic cloves and add some minced garlic to your olive oil, adding the rest to your tomato mixture alongside olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt and black pepper.

Slice your baguette into rounds before brushing each side with your garlic and olive oil mixture. Top these with parmesan cheese before toasting them in the oven until golden brown. You are now ready to build your bruschetta by placing your tomato mix on top of the baguette pieces, though we don’t recommend doing this until you are ready to serve or eat them! These bruschetta pieces are especially delicious with a light drizzling of balsamic glaze on top.

Italian French Fries

French fries are a classic side dish for pizza, so we thought we’d show you how to make homemade french fries with an Italian twist! You will need these ingredients to do this:

• Potatoes
• Olive oil
• Italian seasoning
• Garlic powder
• Salt and pepper
• Vegetable oil for deep frying

This recipe could not be simpler to follow. To make it, start by cutting your potatoes into batons and patting them with a paper towel to soak up any excess moisture. Combine your potato batons with olive oil, as well as your salt, pepper, garlic powder and Italian seasoning in a large mixing bowl. Heat a large pan of vegetable oil before carefully adding your fries and cooking them until they are golden brown, at which point they are ready to eat!

Italian Side Dishes That’ll Leave You Craving More

After reading our article, you will now be fully equipped to make several delicious Italian side dishes that are perfect accompaniments for various dishes. Whether you are a fan of hearty side dishes or lighter ones, you are sure to find a recipe that you love!

However, if you don’t feel like spending hours in the kitchen, you can always come on down to one of our Italian restaurants in Milton Keynes. We offer a variety of delicious, authentic Italian side dishes, from our sautéed garlic mushrooms to our truffle and parmesan chips. You could even order a takeaway in Milton Keynes if you feel like enjoying a night in with delicious food made with fresh ingredients from the comfort of your home!