Pairing Perfection: 11 BEST Side Dishes for Porchetta

Porchetta is one of the most popular dishes in Italy due to its simplicity and versatility.

This dish has been served on holidays throughout the country for decades, but it’s also a favorite at any family gathering or picnic.

In this blog post, we have compiled 11 side dishes to serve with porchetta.

What to Serve with Porchetta? 11 BEST Side Dishes

Porchetta is a delicious Italian dish made from seasoned pork belly, wrapped in pork loin, and roasted.

It’s prevalent because it can be served hot or cold, with vegetables, or on its own as a sandwich filling.

The problem with porchetta is that it doesn’t have much flavor by itself.

Unfortunately, this means you need to serve side dishes alongside it.

When you’re choosing side dishes for porchetta, keep in mind that it’s a heavy dish and should be served with lighter options like salad or roasted vegetables.

1 – Roasted Sweet Potatoes

Why does a restaurant need to serve roasted sweet potatoes as a side dish? Well, the answer is simple.

With this tasty vegetable on the menu, guests can enjoy something nutritious and delicious without sacrificing any flavor.

It might be a little more work than ordering French fries or hush puppies at your next event – but it’s worth the effort to make sure that everyone is well-fed.

Roasting them intensifies their sweetness and brings out the natural flavors of this wonderfully versatile vegetable, making it an ideal accompaniment for porky delights like carnitas or porchetta.

2 – Warm Buttered Asparagus

As we get closer to summertime, you’ll want an easy recipe to have in your repertoire, and this one fits the bill.

A dish of buttered asparagus is a simple way to add color, flavor, and nutrients to your diet.

It’s a green veggie that has been around since ancient times, and it tastes so good.

The best way to cook asparagus is by steaming or roasting them with butter, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and other spices.

You can also make your side dish more enjoyable by adding some different flavors like lemon juice for a tangy taste or red wine vinegar for a rich flavor.

3 – Grilled Corn on the Cob

Grilled corn on the cob is a tasty and economical addition to any summer BBQ.

The grill flavor imparts just enough smoky spice that adds depth while also giving you some healthy bonus points for eating a vegetable.

The first step of cooking grilling corn is picking out the suitable variety, which should be sweeter than “ordinary” sweetcorn varieties but still have an acidic or tart flavor that balances with other flavors well.

Then, to grill it properly at home, all you need to do is brush both sides of each ear lightly with olive oil, then season it with salt and pepper.

Grill the corn for about seven to ten minutes on each side until you get a nice char on both sides but leave some of that fresh sweetness intact.

4 – Parmesan and Garlic Green Beans

The best way to make a side dish for your entree is with green beans.

But, don’t just serve any old green bean.

The Parmesan and Garlic Green Beans recipe will make your mouth water, and you might not even want to touch the porchetta.

Green beans are a great low-carb, high-fiber side dish that can easily be made vegan by omitting the cheese or butter in this recipe.

Instead, all it takes is parmesan, garlic (or onion), green beans, salt/pepper, olive oil, and either vegetable broth OR vegetable stock for flavor depth — if you’re looking for something with more of an Italian flair.

The green beans are cooked in garlic, olive oil, salt, and pepper, which gives them a fantastic flavor that compliments the pork well.

The cheese melts into it to give you something crispy on top with each bite of your meaty main course.

5 – Creamy Mashed Potatoes with Chives

Why not serve your roast pork with a side of creamy mashed potatoes?

It is a beautiful pairing to serve alongside our house-made porchetta.

You can enjoy your meal and the creamy potatoes without having to worry about cleaning up too much.

The chive adds just enough flavor but doesn’t distract from what you’re eating.

It’s also gluten-free, so it will work well whether or not someone in your party has dietary restrictions.

There are many ways to make mashed potatoes. Here is one way that I like the best:.

1. Boil some potatoes, then mash them with butter and cream before adding salt and pepper (to taste).
2. If you want a little extra flavor, add chives or garlic powder.
3. Serve alongside your favorite meat dish for an even tastier experience.

6 – Kale and Fennel Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette

This recipe is a perfect way to add some fresh vegetables and greenery into your meal, but it isn’t just about the veggies.

The lemon vinaigrette offers that bright taste of sunshine we all need this time of year, and the fresh herbs give it a great flavor.

Wash greens well and pat dry with paper towels.

Remove outermost leaves from fennel bulbs/stalks, slice the bulb into thin strips or use a mandolin to get excellent fennel slices.

Toss together kale and fennel in a large bowl with lemon vinaigrette dressing while vegetables are still crisp if possible; set aside until needed.

Add some fresh thyme or basil for color as desired before serving.

The key to making the perfect vinaigrette is to measure the ratio of vinegar and oil first.

To make a standard vinaigrette, you need an equal part (e.g. one tablespoon) of each ingredient; they don’t need to be the same type, but they shouldn’t vary much in flavor or texture either.

7 – Creamy Polenta with Mushrooms

Side dishes can be the difference between a delicious meal and an unfulfilled stomach.

Polenta with mushrooms is one of those versatile, tasty options to serve as your accompanying course.

To create the creamy mushroom sauce for this side dish, melt butter in your saute pan over medium heat, then add finely chopped onions and celery – occasionally stirring until softened but not browned; about five minutes.

Add garlic during the last minute of cooking.

Next, stir together wine vinegar and soy sauce in a bowl or measuring cup, then pour into veggies along with thyme leaves while still on low heat – mix well until veggies absorb all liquid.

Next, grate cheese (try using Parmesan) directly from the package onto cooked polenta before adding wilted vegetables on top – mix everything up, so it’s all combined.

In the end, you’ll have a porchetta-worthy side dish that will bring out flavors in your main course and give it an extra level of deliciousness.

8 – Carrot Slaw with Cilantro and Mint

If you’re looking for a refreshing, crunchy salad to serve at your Thanksgiving table, this carrot slaw with cilantro and mint is the perfect solution.

The combination of light and refreshing ingredients will add freshness to your meal while complementing various dishes.

Carrots are easy to prepare in advance for parties and holidays because they hold up well when stored in the refrigerator or freezer.

This dish features shredded carrots with a tangy but not too acidic dressing that is perfect for buffering the natural sweetness of carrots.

When serving this dish alongside your main course, be sure to toss it with some extra cilantro and mint leaves just before you bring it out to keep its flavors bright.

9 – Zucchini Noodles with Pesto Sauce

You’re tired of the same old side dishes, salads, and baked potatoes for your pork roast.

The next time you serve it up with zucchini noodles in pesto sauce.

Zucchini noodles are a great alternative to pasta, and they’re perfect for the summertime when you want something light.

When paired with pesto sauce, it’s almost like having an Italian take on zoodles.

It’s a super-easy way to add some variety into the rotation because not only is this dish lighter than traditional mashed potatoes or macaroni cheese, but it also tastes incredible.

Plus, it’s gluten-free.

You can use fennel seeds or cumin to spice it up if you want a different flavor profile or use your favorite pesto sauce.

10 – Arugula Salad with Walnuts

Arugula is a leafy green vegetable that has a slightly sweet flavor.

You can serve the salad with walnuts, which adds to the nuttiness of this dish and provides healthy monounsaturated fats.

Arugula is at its best in late fall when it’s harvested for salads or as an ingredient in larger dishes like risotto because it wilts quickly if overdressed.

It also holds up well during cooking and doesn’t lose its texture much when heated even after being frozen.

The best way to dress this arugula salad is with a drizzle of honey, lemon juice, and olive oil.

This dressing will provide the perfect balance between sweet, salty, and sour flavors that work well for all seasons.

11 – Cherry Tomato Salad with Fresh Basil

I was looking for a side dish to serve with my porchetta sandwich that would be light, refreshing, and flavorful.

I found this recipe by Jocooks.com, and it is so easy you could even make it on your days off.

You can find all of these ingredients at most grocery stores- cherry tomatoes, fresh basil leaves (or any other herb or vegetable), olive oil, salt & pepper if desired.

But many are already prepped, which saves time from cutting them yourself.

In just 10 minutes, you’ll have an elegant appetizer as well as a healthy side dish option that will complement meat dishes like pork perfectly.

Conclusion

Porchetta is a delicious and hearty dish that provides tons of protein.

We’ve pulled together 11 recipes for the best sides to serve with porchetta, from simple roasted vegetables to more complex sauces or salads.

We recommend trying some of these options in the future or this time around.

Which dish do you think would be best?

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