Healthy Recipes Healthy Side Dish Recipes Healthy Vegetable Side Dish Recipes 16 Smashed Vegetable Side Dishes That Will Steal the Show By Alex Loh Alex Loh Alex Loh is EatingWell's associate food editor. As part of the food team, she creates healthy, delicious recipes for the EatingWell audience. Alex also writes informative food and cooking articles that range from how to store ground beef to the best picks from Trader Joe's. Alex conducts product and taste tests to find the best options, from salad spinners to salsas. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Updated on April 23, 2021 Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD Instagram Jessica Ball, M.S., RD, has been with EatingWell for three years and works as the associate nutrition editor for the brand. She is a registered dietitian with a master's in food, nutrition and sustainability. In addition to EatingWell, her work has appeared in Food & Wine, Real Simple, Parents, Better Homes and Gardens and MyRecipes. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Jason Donnelly Make these smashed vegetable recipes for a healthy and flavorful side dish. Whether it's beets, potatoes or root vegetables, smashing the vegetables allows them to absorb flavor so they're delicious on the inside and outside. Try recipes like Crispy Smashed Brussels Sprouts and Crispy Smashed Cauliflower with Pesto for a fun and nutritious side that will make any meal tastier. 01 of 16 Crispy Smashed Cauliflower with Pesto View Recipe Jason Donnelly Cauliflower gets steamed before it gets flattened and flavored with a dollop of pesto. A quick trip under the broiler gives it a satisfying, crispy exterior. 02 of 16 Crispy Smashed Brussels Sprouts View Recipe Jacob Fox Brussels sprouts get crispy and flavorful in the oven when they're "smashed" and seasoned with Parmesan cheese and everything bagel spice. 03 of 16 Crispy Smashed Broccoli with Za'atar View Recipe Jason Donnelly Za'atar spice coats broccoli florets that crisp up under the broiler. A dollop of yogurt adds a creamy finish. Serve as an easy side paired with grilled kebabs or as a light appetizer. 04 of 16 Smashed Carrots View Recipe Jason Donnelly Smashing steamed carrots coated in curry powder then finishing them under the broiler lets the flavor set in and gives the carrots a light, crispy edge. 05 of 16 Smashed Butternut Squash with Harissa & Goat Cheese View Recipe Jason Donnelly Butternut squash is roasted and topped with spicy harissa and creamy goat cheese before sizzling under the broiler. Serve this flavorful dish as an appetizer or as a side paired with roasted chicken or lamb chops. Choose a squash with a long neck if possible. 06 of 16 Smashed Sweet Potatoes View Recipe Jason Donnelly Southwestern spices coat slices of sweet potato that are baked, smashed and then broiled to create a light, crispy exterior. A sprinkle of flaky sea salt finishes the dish. 07 of 16 Crispy Smashed Beets with Goat Cheese View Recipe Cooked beets are lightly pressed and pan-fried for a charred, crispy outer crust--similar to that of smashed potatoes. The herbed goat cheese dip makes this healthy appetizer or easy side dish even more delicious. 08 of 16 Garlic-Rosemary Smashed Potatoes View Recipe A combination of baked, mashed and roasted, these crusty, garlicky smashed potatoes are a healthy and creative alternative. Serve alongside a seared steak or roasted pork tenderloin and green beans. 09 of 16 Smashed Root Vegetables with Mustard Vinaigrette View Recipe Smashing vegetables creates cracks that soak up this savory vinaigrette for an easy and super-flavorful veggie side dish. You can try this technique with other root vegetables, such as parsnips and celery root, as well. 10 of 16 Crispy Smashed Potatoes with Green Horseradish Sauce View Recipe These roasted smashed potatoes show off all the goodness of russets: fluffy insides surrounded by shatteringly crisp skin. The easy horseradish sauce topping adds a delicious flavor boost. 11 of 16 Creamy Smashed Turnips View Recipe Rich in vitamin C, these mashed turnips are flavored with reduced-fat cream cheese and chives. A perfect side dish for any meal. 12 of 16 Smashed Cucumber Salad with Lemon & Cumin View Recipe Don't skip salting the cucumbers in this quick cucumber salad recipe--just 10 minutes pulls out some of their excess moisture, concentrating the flavor and keeping the salad from being watered down. Serve as a healthy side dish at a summer cookout alongside burgers and hot dogs. 13 of 16 Parsley Smashed New Potatoes View Recipe Freshly dug, true "new" potatoes are so creamy and flavorful they hardly need any additional ingredients to make them spectacular. Here we tumble them with a bit of butter, tangy yogurt, scallions and just-chopped fresh parsley. If new potatoes are not available, use any small red potatoes. 14 of 16 Smashed Parsnips View Recipe Instead of serving mashed potatoes for dinner, try this smashed parsnip recipe. Parsnips are higher in fiber and lower in calories and carbs than potatoes. This side dish is ready in just 35 minutes--perfect for dinner after a busy day at the office. 15 of 16 Roasted Herb and Garlic Smashed Potato Casserole View Recipe Roasting garlic gives it a more mild and nutty flavor. In this potato casserole, the roasted garlic enhances the flavor of the herb-roasted potatoes. 16 of 16 Smashed Spiced Sweet Potatoes View Recipe Chile powder, cumin and ginger combined with a touch of maple syrup create a spicy-sweet flavor addition to a traditional Thanksgiving player. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit