5 Side Dishes That Perfectly Complement Pizza
Pizza can easily be a meal all on its own, but that doesn’t mean it has to be! If you’re craving pizza but want to add a little something different, try serving it with a tasty side dish. Here are 5 great sides and appetizers that go with pizza.
Flavorful Roasted Veggies
Roasted veggies make a great pizza topping and a perfect side dish. This is a great opportunity to serve vegetables that pair well with pizza, but which you don’t prefer as a topping. Things like roasted asparagus, broccoli, and brussels sprouts provide great nutrition and flavor, and serving them separately allows friends and family to enjoy the flavors independently.
This is one of the best things to make in a pizza oven with a wood fire, as the smoky heat will impart a beautiful, rustic taste.
A Fresh Salad
A side salad is a simple, light complement to any pizza. If you’d like to balance out your meal and get some good fiber, a salad full of fresh, leafy greens and nutritious fixings is an excellent choice. Almost any type of salad can accompany pizza, but choosing ingredients that complement the pizza’s toppings can enhance their flavors.
For example: if you’re having a classic Margherita pizza with fresh mozzarella and basil, a very simple mixed greens salad with a balsamic vinaigrette combines classic Italian flavors for a tangy contrast.
Classic Garlic Bread
What better companion is there for pizza than bold, buttery, toasted garlic bread? One of Italy’s most beloved traditional flavors, garlic is a powerful ingredient that works well with almost any sauce, herb, or cheese. For incredible homemade garlic bread, roast a bulb of garlic in your oven until it becomes soft and spreadable. Combine it with butter and seasonings, slather it onto your bread and bake it per your preferred recipe. As a bonus, your kitchen will smell amazing.
Snackable Chicken Wings
Chicken wings—spicy, sweet, or otherwise—are the ultimate in casual, comforting, handheld foods. Pizza and wings are a powerhouse combination for social occasions, whether it’s a Superbowl party or a relaxed family dinner. Chicken wings can also be prepared in dozens of ways, allowing you to pair up flavors and offer a variety of choices.
A Sweet Fruit Dish
When you think of sides that go well with pizza, fruit might not come to mind. Nevertheless, sweet and tart fruits can enhance the savory flavors of your pizza. Fresh strawberries, for example, pair well with the flavor of balsamic vinegar. A mixed berry salad with blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries is easy to assemble and provides colorful variety. You can also create mini fruit pizzas for a cute coordinating dessert.
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