5 Side Dishes That Will Take Your Holiday Dinner to the Next Level

Turkey is turkey and ham is ham. If you want to knock your holiday dinner out of the park, there’s only one thing that can help: sides.

One of the great truths is that the holiday dinner isn’t really about the food, it’s about the friends and family. But while we say no to slaving away for hours in the kitchen, we’re not advocating a complete abdication of cooking duties. So here’s the solution: five amazing side dishes from some of the West’s most exciting chefs that will both wow your guests and give you time to socialize.

5 Side Dishes from the West’s Best Chefs:

1. Roasted Sweet Potato with Charred Scallion Crème Fraîche, Jalapeño and Smoked Bacon —By Phil Scarfone, Nightingale, Vancouver

2. Kale Salad with Lemon Pepper Dressing —By Mark Perrier, Osteria Savio Volpe, Vancouver

3. Gratin Dauphinois —By Dan McGee, Au Comptoir, Vancouver

4. Green Beans with Dill Weed Yogurt and Sumac —By John Jackson and Connie DeSousa, Charcut and Charbar, Calgary

5. Fried Brussels Sprouts with Lemon and Mint —By Daniel Costa, Corso32, Edmonton