Side Dishes

Zucchini is the perfect summer vegetable for filling Half Your Plate. Not only is it seasonally fresh, packed with flavour and nutritionally dense but it’s simple to grill. Its firm texture easily handles the heat while absorbing lots of delicious charred flavours. This side dish is equally delicious hot off the grill or chilled for later making it ideal for grilling season.

This classic pasta dish is an easy way to show off the flavours of spring and fill Half Your Plate with lots of delicious asparagus. The super-simple sauce and streamlined method lets you cook the veggies and pasta at the same time. You’ll love the tangy bright flavours and watching bowls empty all around you!

There’s nothing quite like a steaming hot soup bowl brimming with intense vegetable goodness. But not a fan of pale promises? Vegetable soup that’s more filler than flavour? No worries. You can fill more than Half Your Plate with true broccoli flavour by following this super simple recipe.

As with any simple soup recipe a few easy options are included too:
>Bacon and cheddar for even deeper flavour that’s guaranteed to satisfy any picky veggie-averse eaters.
>Your choice of liquid so you can control how rich the results are.
>How to make a pure vegetarian version.

Are you looking for a signature party trick? Having a dinner party? Trying to impress your kids? Leaping flames! Dangerous heat! Cooking on the edge! This is how to fill Half Your Plate with delicious bananas and a showstopper dessert that no one will ever forget!

One of the best ways to fill Half Your Plate (and all of your soup bowl) is with a simple puréed soup. They’re a time-honoured and super-simple way to get a whole lot of vegetable flavour on the table in a hurry – maybe even hide vegetables from finicky eaters. This one was custom created by Agriculture Minister Norm Letnick with Chef Michael Smith’s coaching!

One of the best ways to fill Half Your Plate (and all of your soup bowl) is with a simple puréed soup. They’re a time-honoured and super-simple way to get a whole lot of vegetable flavour on the table in a hurry – maybe even hide vegetables from finicky eaters. This one was custom created by Health Minister Terry Lake with Chef Michael Smith’s coaching!

Parsnips are my all-time favourite root vegetable, which makes them ideal for roasting. Their sweet earthy flavour and firm texture are complemented with just a hint of delicious sharpness. My kids call them ‘white carrots’ and love when Dad fills up Half Their Plate with their tasty goodness.

You can fill more than Half Your Plate with this traditional Indian dish. It’s a complete vegetarian meal and a super-simple way to fill all your plate with big flavour and a last-second blast of dark green nutrition. You’ll love the bright finishing touch baby spinach adds to the dish and how easy it is to try this healthy trick anytime you cook up your favourite soup, stew or pasta!

Pumpkins are not just for carving into pretty faces they’re vegetables, so you can eat them too! As members of the squash family they’re deliciously versatile, inexpensive and packed with nutrients. Your best choice for cooking though are not the various jack-o-lantern varieties, they tend to be too big and bland. Instead, try this simple yet stunning idea with a few mini decorative pumpkins during harvest. With all this seasonal flavour they’re a great way to fill Half Your Plate!

Hummus is perhaps the world’s greatest dip. It’s unparalleled for addictive avor, smooth texture, nutritional value and the all-important functionality factor. With a batch of hummus ready, you can really release your creative juices. Try it on your favorite crackers, flatbreads or chips. Then top with smoked salmon, various charcuterie, even just plain sprinkled with green onions or giant dill sprigs.

You can fill more than Half Your Plate with this traditional Kenyan dish. It’s a complete vegetarian meal and so tasty that you just might end up filling all your plate. It’s often made with old-fashioned maize but even tastier with sweet corn.

This is a delicious way to fill Half Your Plate during grilling season with a unique technique and fun group of flavours. You’ll be amazed at how easy it is to grill watermelon and how well these tantalizing tastes complement each other.