Quick Answer: What to Serve with Eggplant Parmesan?
The best side dishes that you can serve with Eggplant Parmesan are- Italian Pasta Salad, Italian Sausage, Caprese Salad, Classic Meatballs, Gnocchi, Grilled Zucchini, Garlic Bread, Buttered Noodles, Italian Green Beans and Sautéed Spinach with Garlic and Parmesan.
In this post, we are going to discuss about the best side dishes that you can serve with baked to perfection Eggplant Parmesan.
I have personally tried my hand at these recipes and these decadent sides are sure to turn your meal into an unforgettable one!
Let’s dive right in.
1. Italian Pasta Salad
Total calories (per 100 gm)– 210
Total preparation time- 30 min
Nothing beats a side of Classic Italian Pasta Salad next to cheesy Eggplant Parmesan.
Made with tender rotini pasta, fresh and colorful veggies, dried herbs, meats and extra cheese and covered in a tangy homemade Italian dressing, this pasta salad is a beautiful blend of textures- from crisp to chewy.
With an abundance of fresh flavors, it is guaranteed to become a new favourite at your next gathering.
Check out a super quick recipe by The Stay At Home Chef:
2. Italian Sausage
Total calories (per 100 gm)– 344
Total preparation time– 4 h 15 min
Italian Sausage makes for a fantastic side dish to Eggplant Parmesan and the home-made version tastes so much better!
The sweet and spicy flavor of the sausage complements the cheesy eggplant parmesan optimally.
Add extra chili flakes if you want heat. Also, don’t forget to add fennel seeds. They give the sausage its signature flavor!
Pro tip- Mix the seasonings with meat and let it rest in the fridge. This allows the flavors to blend beautifully.
Meat lovers, where you at?
Here’s a descriptive recipe by Food Wishes:
3. Caprese Salad
Total calories (per 100 gm)– 147
Total preparation time– 10 min
A colorful Italian salad made with fresh mozzarella cheese, juicy tomatoes and a good amount of basil leaves is an absolute crowd-pleaser.
It adds a hint of freshness and tanginess to your hot eggplant meal and hence makes for an ideal side.
If you want to give your classic salad a notch, drizzle the mix in a balsamic glaze for extra tangy flavor.
Here’s how you can make an easy breezy salad with balsamic glaze:
4. Classic Meatballs
Total calories (per 100 gm)– 170
Total preparation time– 40 min
Picture these delish meatballs alongside Eggplant Parmesan! Toothsome as ever.
Rich tomato sauce and grated onion are the secret to making perfect meatballs with extra flavor.
Plus, you can make them balls extra soft and juicy by using bread in place of breadcrumbs.
The meatiness and the extra flavor will complement the cheesy, tangy goodness of your eggplant parm to perfection!
Check out this quick and delectable recipe by Natasha’s Kitchen:
5. Gnocchi
Total calories (per 100 gm)– 152
Total preparation time– 60 min
Gnocchi is nothing but dumplings made with a combination of mashed potatoes, flour, cheese and eggs. They are so soft and chewy!
Moreover, they are a fantastic accompaniment to your eggplant parm.
Top it with fresh mozzarella and turn to your choice of sauce- brown butter sage, Bolognese or pomodoro. You are either way in for a treat!
Check out this one-pot recipe by The Cooking Foodie:
6. Grilled Zucchini
Total calories (per 100 gm)– 40
Total preparation time– 10 min
Zucchini is one of those vegetables that is healthy, easy and cooks so quickly!
Since eggplant parmesan in itself is a bit filling, it’s only fitting to complement it with a side of light and charred zucchini.
Season the grilled zucchini with red chili flakes and lemon zest. If you want to add some crunch, throw in some toasted nuts or seeds. Major win!
Here’s how The Stay At Home Chef makes the perfect grilled zucchini:
7. Garlic Bread
Total calories (per 100 gm)– 350
Total preparation time-20 min
Cheesy garlic bread is the perfect side that abounds with some starchy goodness.
It is super crisp on the outside and tender on the inside. Fuss-free to put together and tasty as ever, it makes a great pairing with Egg Parmesan.
Also, it soaks all the richness of that savory marinara sauce.
There are multiple methods and fun twists to the recipe.
The easiest however is rubbing a clove of garlic over toasted slices of bread, and coating it liberally with olive oil and some butter.
Here’s how you can make the best ever garlic bread:
8. Buttered Noodles
Total calories (per 100 gm)– 470
Total preparation time– 13 min
Buttered noodles topped with parmesan cheese and fresh parsley make for a super simple and delectable recipe.
Served along eggplant parm, they are sure to level up your meal game.
The best part of the recipe is that you can use any unstuffed or dried pasta available in your pantry and get the dish together in less than 15 minutes!
Noodles, Parmesan, parsley and butter is all you need. Plus, a little salt and pepper for the seasoning.
Check out this simple recipe by Simply Mamá Cooks:
9. Italian Green Beans
Total calories (per 100 gm)– 60
Total preparation time– 15 min
Looking for a quick, healthy and hearty side for your eggplant parmesan?
Give these Italian Green Beans a try!
The interesting flavors and crispiness of the green beans are ideal with the spices in eggplant parm.
Sauté the beans in butter, bread crumbs and parmesan cheese and season with salt to taste. That’s it! Easy and flavorful.
Do check out this awesome recipe by AnitaCooks:
10. Sautéed Spinach with Garlic and Parmesan
Total calories (per 100 gm)– 150
Total preparation time– 10 min
Who says Spinach is boring?
Try this interesting way of eating your greens and this side dish will turn into your new favourite!
Made with minced garlic, parmesan cheese and olive oil, it provides an amazing mix of richness and spice.
In order to brighten up your side, you can always drizzle a little lemon or orange juice. Additionally, you can also add minced garlic and red chili flakes to the mix for an added flavor.
Check out this recipe by Laura in the Kitchen:
Bottom Line
We hope this detailed guide on what to serve with Eggplant Parmesan has been fruitful. These decadent and complementing sides can never go wrong with that loaded Eggplant parmesan.
Additionally, if you have any suggestions or comments, do let us know below.
Don’t forget to share these side dish recipes with your near and dear ones!