From vibrant salads to golden-brown roast potatoes, these sides are perfect to bring extra flair and bursts of flavour to your holiday feast.   

Duck-fat roast potatoes with Parmesan and rosemary 

Serves 6 // Cooking time 40 minutes 

Ingredients 

1kg baby potatoes, peeled (if you like) and halved
5 Tbsp flour
5 Tbsp duck fat
3 cloves garlic, chopped
2 Tbsp sea salt flakes
10g rosemary
40g grated Parmesan  

Method 

1. Preheat oven to 200°C.
2. Parboil the potatoes for 10 minutes.
3. Remove and rinse in cold water, then drain well. Toss the potatoes through the flour until evenly coated.
4. Place the duck fat in a roasting tray and toss the potatoes through it until fully coated. Sprinkle with the garlic, salt and rosemary and roast for 20 minutes, tossing the potatoes every five minutes, until golden and crispy.
5. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with Parmesan. Serve immediately.

Carrot and quinoa salad with hummus dressing  

Serves 4-6 

Ingredients  

400g rainbow or regular baby carrots, trimmed and halved 
250g Brussels sprouts, halved 
Glug olive or canola oil
2 cloves garlic, chopped 
Salt and milled black pepper 
2 cups cooked quinoa 
½ lemon, juiced 
2 Tbsp chopped coriander
200g baby spinach 
5-6 radishes, sliced 
50g crispy chickpeas (optional)   

For the dressing

250g hummus 
3 Tbsp olive oil 
¼ cup of lemon juice
2 red chillis, deseeded and chopped 
1 Tbsp chopped fresh coriander   

Method  

1. Preheat oven to 180°
2. Place carrots and Brussels sprouts on a baking tray. Drizzle with oil, sprinkle with garlic and season. 
3. Roast for 10-12 minutes or until cooked through. 
4. Spread cooked quinoa over two baking trays and roast in the oven, stirring every few minutes until crispy and golden. Cool. 
5. Combine quinoa, lemon juice and coriander, and season. 
6. Place spinach on a serving dish and top with quinoa mixture. 
7. Add roasted carrots and Brussels sprouts, radish and crispy chickpeas. 
8. Combine dressing ingredients and season to taste. 
9. Serve salad with dressing on the side or drizzled over.

French-onion tartiflette 

Serves 8 // Cooking time 2 hours 30 minutes 

Ingredients 

For the crust

2 cups flour
¼ tsp salt
125g butter, chilled and cubed
3 Tbsp cold water  

For the filling

6 eggs
200g mature Cheddar, grated
1 cup cream
4 sprigs thyme + extra for serving
2 Tbsp flour
Pinch nutmeg
2 red onions, peeled and sliced 

Method 

1. For the crust, grease a 25cm springform tin.
2. Mix flour and salt. Rub in the butter until fine crumbs form.
3. Sprinkle the water over the mixture, then stir in until large clumps form. Shape into a ball.
4. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out to 35cm in diameter. Press it into the tin, lining the base and sides. Trim the edges. Freeze for 1 hour.
5. Preheat oven to 200°C.
6. Blind-bake the pastry shell for 15–20 minutes until golden.
7. For the filling, whisk together eggs, cheese, cream, thyme, flour and nutmeg. Season with salt and pepper.
8. Pour into the baked pastry shell and top with the onions and some extra thyme.
9. Bake for 40–45 minutes, until golden brown and set.

Thai watermelon salad 

Serves 4 // Cooking time 20 minutes 

Ingredients 

For the dressing

Juice of 3 limes
2 Tbsp fish sauce
2 Tbsp soy sauce
2 Tbsp honey
1 Tbsp sesame oil
2 tsp grated, chopped ginger
1 tsp salt  

For the salad

400g watermelon, peeled, seeded and cubed
Handful basil, torn
Handful mint, torn
Handful coriander, chopped
6 radishes, thinly sliced
2 red chillies, thinly sliced
1 red onion, peeled and sliced
1 Tbsp sesame seeds, toasted  

Method 

1. Mix the dressing ingredients together and set aside.
2. Arrange all salad ingredients on a serving platter drizzle with dressing.

Also read: 5 festive roasts to feast on

The post 4 festive sides for your roasts  appeared first on MyKitchen.

Two classics in one! French onion soup meets macaroni and cheese. 

French onion mac & cheese 

Serves 4-6 

Two classics in one! French onion soup meets macaroni and cheese. 

Ingredients

For the onions  

½ cup butter 
3 onions, sliced
¼ cup water
Salt and milled pepper   

For the mac & cheese  

2L milk
4-6 fresh or dried bay leaves 1 onion, sliced
2-3 cloves garlic, peeled and lightly crushed
Handful black peppercorns 
½ cup butter
½ cup flour
Salt and milled pepper
1 tsp smoked paprika
1 cup grated Cheddar
1 cup grated Gruyère
1 cup grated mozzarella
1 packet (500g) macaroni, cooked
2 tsp Dijon mustard
3 sprigs fresh thyme, chopped + extra for serving 
Pinch cayenne pepper  

For the topping  

1 cup grated Gruyère (or any other hard cheese) 
½ cup grated Cheddar  

Method 

1. Melt butter in a pan over medium-low heat.
2. Add onions, water and a pinch of salt and cook for about 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally until caramelised. Set aside.
3. In a separate pot, gently heat milk, bay leaves, onion, garlic and peppercorns for about 8-10 minutes.
4. Remove milk from heat, cover and set aside for 10 minutes to infuse. Strain out aromatics.
5. Melt butter in a large pot. Remove from heat and vigorously whisk in flour until a smooth paste forms.
6. Return to the heat and pour in ½  up infused milk, whisking continuously.
7. Add remaining milk in batches, allowing sauce to thicken slightly before the next addition. (This should take about 8-10 minutes).
8. Season and stir through the paprika.  
9. Remove from heat and stir through cheese. Set aside. 
10. Stir cooked pasta, onion mixture, mustard, thyme and cayenne pepper through sauce, making sure to coat well.
11. Spoon mixture into a 30cm ovenproof dish, top with remaining cheese and grill in the oven for about 10-15 minutes or until bubbly and golden. 
12. Sprinkle with thyme and serve warm. 

By Nabeela Karim
Text courtesy of Balanced Life magazine
Illustration: Gallo/Getty Images 

Also read: A Mac ‘n Cheese Recipe With a Twist

The post French onion mac & cheese recipe appeared first on MyKitchen.

Every home cook needs this ridiculously easy classic in their repertoire. The trick to that timeless earthy flavour is to cook your onions on a very low heat, slowly. This may take some time, but it will be worth it. Make sure they get some nice dark colour, just short of burning, for a perfectly rich French onion soup.

SERVES 6 // COOKING TIME 75 min

INGREDIENTS
100g butter
1.2 kg onions, peeled and sliced
3 sprigs thyme
1 bay leaf
4 cloves garlic, peeled and sliced
2 tbsp flour
1 cup dry white wine
1.2L beef or vegetable stock
Salt and black pepper
1 French loaf, sliced
150g Gruyère, grated

METHOD
1. Melt the butter in a large pot, then add the onions, thyme and bay leaf. Cook over low heat for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onions are dark and caramelised.
2. Add the garlic and flour, cook for 1 minute, then add the wine, stirring.
3. Add the stock and bring the soup to the boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Season.
4. Preheat oven to grill.
5. Top the French loaf with Gruyère and place under the grill for 5 minutes.
6. Serve the soup with the cheesy toast.

The post French onion soup appeared first on MyKitchen.