Table of Contents
Almost everyone loves spaghetti, and that is totally understandable. After all, who can resist the al dente pasta soaked in a tomato-y and flavorful sauce topped with meaty chunks, right? Aside from its delicious and comforting taste, this dish also delivers two of the nutrients that our bodies need the most—protein and carbohydrates.
If you want to make your spaghetti a complete meal, it is recommended that you look for side dishes that would not just complement its taste but will also give you one nutrition that it lacks—fiber. If you want to know what goes with spaghetti, read on!
What Goes with Spaghetti? The Perfect Side Dishes for You!
In this list, we will share with you not just the usual spaghetti side dishes (garlic bread, salads, etc.) but also some of the rarely used but definitely perfect side dishes that you can serve with your spaghetti. If you are ready, let us get started!
Panzanella Zucchini Salad
As mentioned, spaghetti dishes need a dose of fiber, and one unique side dish for that is no other than the Panzanella zucchini salad. This salad is made of zucchini, baguette cubes, mozzarella pearls, and a few vegetables like green pepper and cherry tomatoes.
What makes this salad a great partner for spaghetti is its pizza-like taste (yet, it is a lot more nutritious). The baguette cubes are crispy like garlic bread and also gives off the texture of a pizza crust. On the other hand, the mozzarella gives the salad a cheesy twist while the cherry tomatoes would give the gooey and tomato-y taste of a pizza sauce.
Oven-roasted Asparagus
Another great and more flavorful alternative to the usual vegetable salad side dish is oven-roasted asparagus. If you like your side dishes delicious yet straightforward and easy to make, you would surely love this recipe!
Just simply toss the pieces of asparagus in green onions and melted butter. Once they are fully coated, arrange the pieces of asparagus properly in a baking pan and sprinkle it with salt. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees and roast the asparagus until it is crispy yet still tender.
Roasted Parmesan Broccoli
Another cheesy yet healthy alternative to your usual vegetable salad is roasted parmesan-crusted broccoli. It may seem complicated, but the truth is it is pretty easy to prepare!
All that you need to do cut the broccoli crowns into quarters. Drizzle it with olive oil and season it with pepper, pepper flakes, and salt. Line the pieces of broccoli in a baking pan lined with parchment paper. Put the pan inside the preheated oven (425 degrees) and roast for 10 to 12 minutes.
Bruschetta
Garlic bread is the go-to side dish for spaghetti. But what if we tell you that there is a fast and easy way on how you can upgrade it (nutrition- and taste-wise)? To do that, you will need to add a few colorful ingredients in your usual bruschetta recipe. This may include basil pesto, cherry tomatoes, green and yellow tomatoes, dill sprigs and fresh basil leaves. It would also be best if you will include ricotta cheese to make this dish creamier.
Instead of the usual bruschetta toppings, it is recommended that you spread ricotta cheese on your baguette slices. Afterward, whisk the pesto, dill, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar and add the tomatoes in it and toss to coat. Carefully arrange the tomatoes on top of the cheese spread and serve!
Cheesy Meatballs in Tomato Sauce
If you are already tired of veggie side dishes, then you may want to go for something meaty and tasty. This would work well with a spaghetti dish with little to no meat. The best thing about meatballs is that you can prepare them ahead of time. Since these freeze well, you can also whip up big batches of meatballs and store them in your freezer. In this way, you can easily create this amazing meatball dish anytime you want!
You can prepare this dish by combining ground beef and pork, eggs, milk, and a ½ cup of breadcrumbs. In a separate bowl, combine your choice of herbs with salt, pepper and olive oil. Combine the herb mixture and the meat mixture and shape it into a few ball pieces. Fry the meatball in a skillet then set it aside.
Using the same skillet, cook red pepper flakes, garlic and shallot for 2 minutes. Add the cherry tomatoes and cook for 7 to 8 minutes. Add crushed tomatoes and cook for 10 minutes.
Arrange the meatballs in a baking pan. Pour the tomato sauce over it and top it off with mozzarella slices. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes. Serve and enjoy!
Cauliflower Breadsticks
If you want the taste and crispiness of garlic bread (or any bread) but you do not want the extra carbs, this is one of the best options that you have.
Cauliflower has long been used as a healthy substitute for bread and pizza crusts, and it is about time that you take advantage of it. Use a food processor to combine garlic and cauliflower florets for about three minutes.
Add in the eggs, parmesan, egg white, mozzarella, parsley, and thyme then season it with salt and pepper and mix well.
Shape the cauliflower mixture into a bowl and press it on the baking sheet to form a ½-inch thick circle. Brush the top surface with olive oil and bake for 25 to 30 minutes.
Let it cool for a while then slice them into sticks.
Eggplant Pizza
Pizza and pasta always go well together, right? However, the carbohydrate content of both these dishes is too high for some people. If you are one of them, then you would love this low-calorie option.
To prepare this, cut the eggplant into ¾-inch thick slices. Arrange them in a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Brush the sides with olive oil and sprinkle salt and pepper on top then roast it for 12 minutes.
Afterward, spread marinara sauce on top of the eggplant slices then top it off with mozzarella slices then put around three slices of cherry tomatoes on top. Continue baking the eggplants for 7 minutes.
In Summary
Spaghetti is one of the most beloved pasta dishes in the world. While this dish can undoubtedly satisfy your taste buds, you would need a few side dishes to make it more nutritious and to balance off its flavors. Lucky for you, we have already provided you with all the most delicious side dishes that you can ever prepare and serve for dinner!