SIDE DISHES GRAB THE SPOTLIGHT
No longer relegated to the ottom of the menu, toda’ ide dihe are graing their hare of the potlight. Though the mot frequentl menued ide dihe are alad, frie and rice, operator are rethinking thee dihe to e flavor-forward and on trend.
Kale alad and ruel prout alad, for example, are popping up in place of the traditional ide Caear. Crip mahed marle potatoe make for a colorful alternative to french frie. Ancient grain uch a ulgur and quinoa have experienced tremendou growth a ide, too. Interet in plant-aed cuiine and root-to-tem technique ha inpired innovation in the vegetale ide dih categor. Think roated unchoke, warm cauliflower alad and nori (eaweed) chip. mall portion of comfort dihe uch a caerole or mac and cheee can e offered a premium ide for an upcharge or erved famil-tle for haring. ide have the tar power to drive traffic, oot check average and add a ignature touch to an menu!
Hearty, well-crafted side dishes that put a unique spin on a beloved dish are showing serious potential for boosting check averages and traffic.
71% OF CONSUMERS ORDER SIDES FROM FOODSERVICE OPERATORS AT LEAST ONCE EACH MONTH2
HOT OR FRIED APPETIZERS, SNACKS, & SIDE DISHES WERE RATED AS "VERY OR EXTREMELY POPULAR" BY 91% OF OPERATORS FOR LATE-NIGHT MENUS1
CONSUMERS ARE ORDERING SIDES FROM FAST-FOOD RESTAURANTS 18% MORE OFTEN2
FEATURED PRODUCTS
tart with nutritiou grain, eaonal produce, or claic tarche and "plus up" (+1) your recipe by adding read-to-ue product from Cutom Culinar® to enliven the flavor of an ide dih.
True Foundations® Tikka Masala Sauce (9681)
True Foundations® Al Pastor Sauce (9900)
CHEF TALK
“Side dishes are taking center stage as guests seek smaller portions and plate-forward meals. Bold flavors and shareable options continue to grow in popularity. Cutom Culinar® offers so many great choices to add tons of flavor to your side dishes. I cook with our RTU Indian or Latin sauces to create innovative recipes for potatoes, vegetables, grains or even mac and cheese. The sky’s the limit when it comes to experimenting with new flavor combinations!”
Mike Speranza, CEC
Corporate Executive Chef
FEATURED RECIPES
Here are some fast-growing side dishes that can add signature appeal to your menu when elevated with just a few ingredients.
ALL RECIPES
Al Pastor Street Corn
Featuring Custom Culinary® True Foundations® Al Pastor Sauce
VIEW RECIPE
Birria Grilled Cheese Dipper
Featuring Custom Culinary® True Foundations® Vegetable Birria Broth
VIEW RECIPE
Cauliflower Quesabirria Flatbread
Featuring Custom Culinary® True Foundations® Vegetable Birria Broth
VIEW RECIPE
Grilled Harissa Fruit Slaw
Featuring Custom Culinary® True Foundations® Harissa Sauce
VIEW RECIPE
Korean Roasted Cauliflower
Custom Culinary® Korean-Style Sweet Heat Sauce
VIEW RECIPE
Latin Citrus Chili Totchos
Featuring True Foundations® Latin-Style Citrus Chili Sauce
VIEW RECIPE
Masala Sweet Potato Salad
Featuring Custom Culinary® True Foundations® Tikka Masala Sauce
Parmesan and Mushroom Oats
Featuring Custom Culinary® True Foundations® Vegetable Birria Broth
VIEW RECIPE
Spicy Jalapeno Cilantro Slaw
Featuring Custom Culinary® Gold Label Jalapeno Relish
VIEW RECIPE
Tikka Masala Pasta
Featuring Custom Culinary® True Foundations® Tikka Masala Sauce
White Cheddar Potato Au Gratin
Custom Culinary® Master's Touch® Cream Soup Base
VIEW RECIPE
ShareAbles Menu Inspiration
Throughout this guide, you’ll find recipe ideas for shareables that span a range of cuisine types, popular dishes and hot trends. To help you get even more mileage out of these menu concepts, you’ll also find tips for adding dipping sauces and toppings and ways to “plus up” speed scratch products with signature appeal.
DOWNLOAD GUIDE
SOURCES
1. Datassential [Menu Trends: What's New, 2025-05-16, Page 17]
2. Technomic [Starters, Small Plates & Sides Consumer Trend Report, 2023-08]