Kabobs are on everyone’s minds when enjoying outdoor cooking.
But with something as savory and fatty as pork kabobs, you might want to rethink your side dishes to eat healthier.
Side dishes can make or break your pork kabobs.
And if you wish to avoid disappointing guests with a bad meal experience, you’ll have to make an effort to bring together a rounded meal.
So, here’s everything about what to serve with pork kabobs so you always make the most out of your meal prep.
Why Consider Serving Side Dishes for Pork Kabobs?
Like many meaty kabobs, pork kabobs are savory and introduce a lot of flavors to your palate.
The spice from the seasonings and the fatty grilled meat may please your taste buds, but it leaves a greasy feel in your mouth.
The simple answer to making pork kabobs healthier and easier for your palate to take in is to serve side dishes with complementing flavors.
So, the next time you prepare these kabobs, visit the local produce section and include as many refreshing veggies as possible.
Or, you can include items from different categories, like seafood and healthy dairy products.
What to Serve with Pork Kabobs? 10 BEST Side Dishes
Salads, soups, and seafood are excellent options you can serve with pork kabobs.
Scroll on to find out which ones can best satisfy your palate.
1 – Mango Avocado Salsa
If you’re serving pork kabobs in summer, mangoes should make side dishes for all your meaty meals.
And what better way to enjoy the season’s juicy and refreshing fruits than by making a salsa?
Avocadoes are one ingredient that will add a new flavor to the salsa.
They are earthy and buttery and help bring more dimension to the dish.
In addition, they also introduce more color to the bowl of yellow mango salsa.
To make the salsa more put-together, squeeze fresh lemon juice as a dressing, and you’ll have a summer treat that complements the savory pork kabobs.
2 – Renkon Soup
Renkon (lotus root) is one of the most celebrated foods in Asian cuisine.
They are versatile and make plenty of dishes that help enhance the flavor of meaty dishes.
So you’ll find renkon soup as a suitable side dish for pork kabobs.
Lotus root is low in calories, and adding them to your diet will greatly boost your digestive system.
Its soup is downright comforting and has a mixture of textures and flavors that contrast the meaty pork.
The renkon is crunchy and starchy, while other ingredients like veggies and tofu add subtle tenderness.
This soup tastes best when you simmer it for a long time; this helps the renkon absorb the seasonings better while retaining its nutrients.
3 – Stuffed Peppers
Filling large peppers with minced food and cheese is one way to use up bell peppers left in the pantry for too long.
They are delicious, nutritious, and crowd-pleasers, especially when you have something savory on the entree.
You can stuff the peppers with anything from minced meat and veggies to grains and nuts.
But if you’re looking for a healthier and more filling option, consider using quinoa or similar high-protein and gluten-free grains.
Whatever filling you choose, don’t forget to include some veggies, as they give more texture to the dish.
As regards cheese, you want to include cheeses that melt easily, like mozzarella and cheddar.
4 – Honey Garlic Shrimp
You cannot go wrong with serving seafood with pork kabobs; they make a delightful combination of umami and savory flavors.
And if you’re uncertain which seafood to look for, start with shrimp; they’re easily accessible and versatile.
Marinating the shrimp in a garlicky, sweet sauce gives it a depth of flavor.
In addition, adding the leftover marinade sauce while sauteing the shrimp provides a golden glaze packed with aroma.
This side dish has an effortless preparation and comes together in under 20 minutes, so it makes a suitable option for weeknight dinners and last-minute meal preps.
5 – Baked Bean Salad
There are more ways to serve baked beans than heating the canned product.
This salad will make change your opinion about canned baked beans.
The process is as simple as draining the excess liquid from the baked beans and adding chopped veggies and feta.
The beans are packed with protein, while the veggies provide essential vitamins and minerals to complete your meal.
A baked bean salad complements the savory pork kabobs by introducing earthy and refreshing flavors with tender and crunchy textures.
You can make the salad more exciting by refrigerating it before serving.
6 – Raita
Raita is to Indians what tzatziki is to Greeks.
It is essentially diced cucumbers immersed in yogurt with an herby and spicy garnish, and it tastes tangy and refreshing.
The creamy texture of this side dish makes it a suitable option to dip pork kabobs in.
Meanwhile, the cucumber gives an exciting bite to the meal.
Raita is healthy on its own, but you can substitute regular yogurt with Greek yogurt to make the dish even healthier.
This dish tastes best when you serve it chilled, so you might want to prepare it ahead or use chilled yogurt instead.
7 – French Onion Soup
If you’re looking for soups that require minimal effort yet deliver outstanding flavor, you’ve got to try a French onion soup.
It is cheesy, creamy, aromatic, and downright comforting.
Best of all, you need just onions, cheese, and a few seasonings to bring this soup to life.
The trick to mimicking the authentic ‘French’ soup is to use caramelized yellow onions.
As regards other ingredients, olive oil, white wine, and black pepper make some of the best seasonings for an onion soup.
You also want to include melting cheeses like Gruyere and Swiss, which make the cooking process easier and leave you with gooey and aromatic cheese.
8 – Buttery Corn Rice
Corn is another summer food that makes cooking a lot more exciting; it tastes even better when you cook it right after picking it.
And a buttery corn rice dish is one of the best ways to enjoy this summer produce.
The directions for preparing this dish require no more than cooking the corn and rice together, removing the cob, and sauteing them in butter.
Once the rice and corn are cooked, you can add as many or as few veggies to enhance its flavor.
Cooking this side dish will leave your kitchen covered in a buttery aroma, and preparing it will be as exciting as eating the final dish.
9 – Mushroom Spaghetti
Spaghetti dishes never fail to impress us.
But if you need something delicious yet meat-free, you can count on mushrooms to do the job.
It has a meaty texture and delivers umami flavors that make your meals more complex.
The best way to cook mushroom spaghetti would be to saute the mushrooms separately and combine them with the spaghetti and pasta sauce in the last step.
As regards garnish, shredded feta will add tangy accents that complement the rich flavors of mushrooms and pork kabobs.
10 – Hasselback Potatoes
No list of side dishes is complete without a potato dish, so here’s one that you can customize to fit your dietary restrictions: Hasselback potatoes.
Most recipes include a high amount of cheese and cream, but you can make it healthier by using olive oil and herbs instead.
The tender potatoes contrast the meaty pork and give a mild sweetness that balances the savory meat.
They also contain a decent amount of dietary fiber and help with digestion.
Hasselback potatoes are visually appealing and flavorful, which will help you earn many compliments.
Moreover, you don’t require much skill to cook them to perfection, even on your first try.
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