Eight inspirational side dishes

We know a balanced diet with nutritious carbohydrates complements the high-quality protein content found in New Zealand beef and lamb. Quality complex carbs like potatoes, kūmara, brown rice and pumpkin, are important to help maintain our energy levels throughout the day, provide essential vitamins, minerals and fibre and support our overall health.

How these carbohydrates are cooked and prepared matters, but on the whole they are a nutritious addition to any meal and are a key player in a healthy, balanced diet.

We’ve gathered all the best starchy sides to help balance your plate with beautiful New Zealand produce, beef or lamb.

New potato, blue cheese and bean salad

Easy to put together and packing a flavourful punch, this potato salad can be served alongside a lovely steak or taken to a pot-luck dinner – just keep the dressing separate and add right before serving.

Warm Vegetable Salad with Persimmon

Level up your roast vegetable salad with the fruit of the season, persimmons. Commonly misunderstood, wedges of these fruits roast beautifully, lending a sweetness to balance the savoury.

Garlic Potato Hash

We love this potato hash and especially with mince and a poached egg for a hearty brunch. Gather your mates to watch the Olympics and serve this for something a little different, they’ll be salivating as they walk in the door.

Potato mash three ways

How many ways can you mash a potato? Get creative and add another vegetable in, bulking up your veggie count and help diversify your meal. We love potato and carrot mash as an alternative for cottage pie topping.

Roasted spice pumpkin

Rich in carbohydrates and fibre, pumpkin is the ultimate winter vegetable, we love transforming it into something special. Roasting it brings out a natural sweetness and we love to pair it with this zesty yoghurt dressing.

Kūmara stuffed with kale and parmesan

These stuffed kūmara are a delicious alternative to jacket potatoes. We love them made with slightly smaller kūmara and served as part of a family-style spread. The chilli flakes add only a little hit, but feel free to leave it out if you’re serving to children.

Oven roasted root vegetables

Simple is as simple does, these oven-roasted vegetables are simply that – until you add a dollop of crème fraiche and sprinkle them with chopped hazelnuts. Now, they’re a new favourite way to transform a little tray of roast vegetables.

Roast New Potatoes with Chili, Lime and Garlic

For the chilli lovers out there, this the potato side dish is just for you. All the zesty, herby goodness but with the humble potato as a backdrop. Perfect for with an Asian inspired steak or even lemongrass lamb rumps.