46 Greatest Aspect Dishes for Lamb from Roasted Carrots to Pea Soup

Lamb is likely one of the most flavorful meats you possibly can prepare dinner. Whether or not it’s a slow-braised lamb shank, a roasted leg, or pan-seared lamb chops, it is nice on it is personal. However, the suitable facet dishes may also stability its richness, from brilliant citrusy salads to creamy potatoes and hearty grains. Under, you’ll discover greater than 40 of one of the best facet dishes for lamb—irrespective of the way you prefer to prepare dinner it.

Arguably one of many biggest lamb scenes in cinema (is that this one thing folks argue about?) comes by the use of My Massive Fats Greek Wedding ceremony, the 2002 rom-com that had a $5 million funds however went on to gross over $240 million.

Protagonist, Toula, is introducing her boyfriend to her household when she has to interrupt the information that he’s a vegetarian. Her aunt is horrified. “What do you imply he don’t eat no meat?” she screams. The room goes silent. However then, her aunt realizes an answer: “That’s okay, that’s okay,” she says, squeezing his cheeks. “I make lamb!”

However what is going to she make to go with the lamb? That is necessary. Lamb works simply as properly with minerally, bitter substances as gentle, candy ones—the powerful half is figuring out how you can slim down.

Fortunately, now we have some concepts. Under are a few of the highest facet dishes for lamb.

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Contemporary & Vibrant Asparagus Sides for Lamb

Bitter & Daring Veggie Sides to Stability Wealthy Lamb

Candy & Savory Carrot Sides That Complement Lamb

Do-it-yourself Buttery, Fluffy Dinner Rolls

Peas of All Varieties

The Greatest Potato Sides to Serve With Lamb

Fast & Straightforward Radish Recipes to Attempt With Lamb

Feta-Laced Salads That Pair Superbly With Lamb

Up to date in April 2025 to incorporate much more scrumptious facet dishes to serve with lamb—as a result of you possibly can by no means have too many choices.

Contemporary & Vibrant Asparagus Sides for Lamb

1. Shaved Asparagus & Arugula Salad

A easy, but spectacular facet that proves asparagus doesn’t at all times have to be cooked. Actually, with a wealthy protein like lamb, leaving it uncooked—shaved into ribbons like pappardelle—is a good match.

2. Pan-Roasted Asparagus with Brown Butter, Lemon & Eggs Mimosa

When smooshed via a fine-mesh sieve, hard-boiled eggs flip into fluffy snow. Right here, that falls on brown buttered asparagus, however don’t hesitate to do this on any inexperienced vegetable.

3. Absurdly Addictive Asparagus

This addictive roasted asparagus recipe is a high 10 favourite, that includes pancetta, leeks, garlic, and citrus zest—a deliciously savory facet dish for roast lamb or grilled lamb chops.

4. Shaved Asparagus & Mint Salad

As a substitute of the old-school mint jelly, attempt serving lamb with contemporary mint, in a technique or one other. Right here, it’s an herby salad with Parmesan and hazelnuts.

5. Crispy Chickpea Fattoush with Asparagus and Radishes

Recipe developer EmilyC provides up a foolproof fattoush method: crispy pita + greens + herbs + dressing. This model right here with translucent-crisp radishes, shortly toasted asparagus, and heaps (heaps!) of contemporary dill will bounce some spring into your lamb’s step.

6. Asparagus With Comfortable-Boiled Eggs & Anchovy Bread Crumbs

Barely blanched asparagus will get dotted with oozy eggs, crispy crunchy ‘chovy crumbs, and fruity Calabrian chile. I estimate a pound (sure, a pound!) of springtime goodness per particular person, however be happy to halve or quarter the serving dimension if serving as a facet.

7. Pea, Asparagus, & Avocado Salad With Burrata

This pretty, fraîche salad from A Cozy Kitchen options crisp butter lettuce leaves, tender asparagus stems, and snappy peas tossed in a yogurt dressing and served with a ball of burrata. Dairy on dairy? Sure, please.

8. Tagliarini with Asparagus and Herbs

From Ruth Rogers of the beloved River Cafe London comes this recipe for creamy, herby pasta with asparagus. The asparagus are minimize to the identical thickness because the pasta, making for startling bites (is it pasta or is it asparagus?) we simply can’t pull our forks away from.

Bitter & Daring Veggie Sides to Stability Wealthy Lamb

1. Charred Radicchio With Arugula, Cherries & Parmesan

Sorta counterintuitively, charring radicchio undermines its bitterness. Cherries and balsamic add sweetness, whereas arugula and black pepper carry spice.

2. Broccoli Rabe in Lemon Cream

This dish made our co-founder Amanda Hesser have a look at broccoli rabe in a model new method. And sure, you must give the lemon-cream therapy to different bitter issues, like radicchio or escarole.

3. Marinated White Bean & Radicchio Salad

A heavy-on-the-Pecorino salad for any season. For those who can’t discover oversize gigante or corona beans (psst: you possibly can order on-line from Rancho Gordo), go for cannellini.

4. Broccoli Rabe Goma-ae

A easy broccoli rabe salad that’s all concerning the sesame seeds. Soy sauce provides salty-savoriness and a pinch of sugar retains all the things even-keeled.

5. Berardino’s Crispy Pancotto

Add this to your record of “Methods to Use Up Stale Bread.” With garlic, chiles, and plenty of olive oil, it’s harking back to a greens-stuffed, crispy-bottomed bread pudding.

6. Fall Salad with Lemony Brown Butter French dressing

Fall, shmall. Carrots are technically a spring vegetable, too! A head of treviso, fluffy herbs, and beady lentils get tossed in a cumin- and fennel-spiced French dressing.

7. Union Sq. Café’s Hashed Brussels Sprouts with Poppy Seeds & Lemon

This Genius recipe, involves us from beloved N.Y.C. establishment, Union Sq. Café. Uncooked and roasted brussels are hashed and tossed in a brilliant, nutty, fruity dressing. Topped with a fried egg, this could additionally make for a beautiful gentle major.

8. Roasted Brussels Sprouts With Pears & Pistachios

Our readers voted this recipe “Our Greatest Inexperienced Vacation Aspect,” which suggests you possibly can preserve it on rotation from Easter via Thanksgiving.

9. Roasted Spring Root Greens with Horseradish-Thyme Butter

Spring root greens get deep, caramelized taste from roasting, whereas horseradish butter provides simply the suitable kick—a straightforward, earthy match for lamb.

10. Chopped Radicchio Salad With Sourdough Croutons

This chopped radicchio salad from Ella Henry combines crisp, barely bitter greens with crunchy sourdough croutons for a satisfying texture distinction (an effective way to make use of up a day-old loaf). Tossed in a easy, tangy French dressing, it’s a refreshing and simply customizable.

Candy & Savory Carrot Sides That Complement Lamb

1. Pomegranate Roasted Carrots

Consider pomegranate molasses as the simplest glaze your carrots will ever meet. To not point out, the fruitiest and tangiest, besides.

2. Candy Smoky Roasted Carrots

Candy from honey (maple syrup would even be pretty), smoky from smoked paprika. Dorie Greenspan dreamed up this recipe for her guide On a regular basis Dorie.

3. Buttery Maple Cumin Carrots

Cumin seeds and coriander seeds crew up with maple syrup–smooched carrots. We wouldn’t complain if you happen to sprinkled some contemporary herbs on high, like cilantro, dill, and/or mint.

4. Carrots Cooked Eternally

Carrots, however with the tenderness and silkiness of mashed potatoes. You may be tempted to scrimp on the olive oil. Don’t.

5. Golden Carrot Souffle

Regardless of how intimidating making a soufflé could seem, you don’t have to fret about this one collapsing mid-bake. Carrot purée is whipped with egg whites, sugar, and vanilla to create a candy, ethereal combination that’s then baked. For those who’re on the lookout for a spring facet dish to serve with lamb, that is it.

Do-it-yourself Buttery, Fluffy Dinner Rolls

1. Basic Dinner Rolls

I do know I mentioned no vacation feast is full with out mashed potatoes, nevertheless it’s actually incomplete with out at the very least one basket of dinner rolls (however ideally there’s one at every finish of the dinner desk and a backup batch warming within the oven). There are such a lot of variations of dinner rolls, however these are as traditional because it will get.

2. Milk Buns with Salted Maple Butter

These milk buns are delicate, fluffy, and irresistible, with simply the suitable stability of sweetness. Topped with a wealthy salted maple butter, they’re the proper accompaniment to roasted lamb.

Peas of All Varieties

1. Peas in Mint Cream

The title simply instructed you many of the substances on this fuss-free recipe. Be at liberty to swap in frozen peas; simply modify the prepare dinner time accordingly.

2. Pea Salad With Parmesan & Mint

Peas could be salad, too. Right here, they’re dressed up with contemporary mint, lemon juice, and shaved Parmesan (a vegetable peeler is up for the duty).

3. Creamy Watercress, Pea & Mint Soup

As brilliant and glad as soup will get. For those who can’t discover watercress, be happy to swap in spinach (sure, frozen works!). This plus roast lamb plus bread can be a dream.

4. Radish, Snap Pea & Burrata Salad With Chives & Lemon

Creamy burrata can’t get sufficient of perky-crunchy greens, like snap peas and radishes. Mozzarella works in a pinch.

The Greatest Potato Sides to Serve With Lamb

1. Garlicky Roasted Potato Salad

Lamb loves garlic virtually as a lot as I do. This roasted-not-boiled potato salad makes use of 4 cloves, which you possibly can definitely improve if you happen to dare.

2. Squashed Potatoes

Squashed is normally an unlucky destiny, however on this case, it’s a blessing. The potatoes develop into exceptionally crispy with irregular, craggy edges.

3. Medley of Roasted Potatoes With Do-it-yourself Za’atar & Aleppo Pepper

Za’atar is a spice mix, aromatic with thyme, sumac, and sesame seeds. Right here, it’s a superpower for roasted potatoes (assorted colours are fairly however not essential).

4. Potatoes a la Lyonnaise

“What are you able to say a few easy potato dish that goes with all the things?” Mimi Thorisson writes. “Every part” clearly consists of lamb, lamb, and extra lamb.

5. Scalloped Potatoes with Caramelized Onions

These scalloped potatoes are so not your grandmother’s, however even she may admit they’re higher. In between layers of sliced potatoes, cheese, and a wealthy béchamel sauce are candy caramelized onions.

6. Prompt Pot Buttermilk & Leek Mashed Potatoes

Sure, each vacation feast ought to have mashed potatoes. Sorry, I don’t make the foundations (okay, perhaps on this case I’ll declare one spud-tastic rule, however everybody might be higher off for it). However if you happen to’re bored of a traditional mashed potato facet dish, do that: Yukon gold potatoes and leeks, stress cooked after which mashed with buttermilk and heavy cream.

7. Candy Potatoes Roasted in Coconut Oil

After all, you’d look forward to finding a candy potato dish on the desk for Thanksgiving nevertheless it’s not precisely a facet dish that involves thoughts for roast lamb. By roasting the orange-hued taters with coconut oil, they tackle a fair lighter, sweeter taste that simply is smart for spring dinners.

Fast & Straightforward Radish Recipes to Attempt With Lamb

1. Radish Salad With Anchovy Sauce

Anchovies underscore lamb’s savoriness. On this salad—with uncooked radishes, capers, and parsley—all you want is one tiny fish.

2. Pan-Braised Radishes & Greens

The following time you choose up a bunch of radishes with their greens nonetheless connected, don’t throw these greens out. As a substitute, whip up this cheerful braise with butter and tarragon.

3. Roasted Radishes With Almond Salsa Verde

Roasting renders radishes caramelized and fork-tender. This oregano-y almond salsa verde is the proper teammate (superior with nearly any roasted vegetable, too).

4. Radish & Pecan Grain Salad

The important thing to this chewy-crunchy salad is combined grains—say farro and quinoa or rice and wheat berries. This element provides a great deal of texture and nuttiness.

Feta-Laced Salads That Pair Superbly With Lamb

1. Herb Salad With Chickpeas & Feta

The extra sorts of herbs, the higher. Be sure you purchase feta in a block (ideally in brine), then crumble it your self; its taste and consistency are far more scrumptious.

2. Wilted Escarole With Feta, Walnuts & Honey

Escarole is bitterish, sure. That’s the place the fatty walnuts and sticky-sweet honey are available in. Don’t maintain again on the latter.

3. Lemony Inexperienced Bean Salad With Feta, Purple Onion & Marjoram

A salad that’s stuffed with lamb’s favourite phrases: lemon, feta, onion, marjoram (or, if you happen to can’t discover it, oregano—one other favourite phrase).

4. Shaved Broccoli Stalk Salad With Comfortable Feta & Golden Raisins

Broccoli stalks, now stuffed with objective. This may be dreamy alongside (or piled on high of!) juicy-rare lamb chops.

5. Pita Panzanella with Sumac & Feta Cheese

This brilliant, herby fattoush is the proper match for lamb—it’s loaded with crunchy pita, tangy sumac, and salty feta, all of which stability the richness of the meat. The contemporary greens and juicy tomatoes add a refreshing distinction, making each chew really feel gentle but satisfying.

6. Shaved Fennel Feta Salad

Spring means lamb, and lamb loves fennel. This crisp, citrusy salad cuts via the meat’s richness, making it a contemporary, vibrant pairing for the season.