side dish

American  

noun

1. a serving of a portion of food in addition to the principal food, usually on a separate dish.

2. the small additional dish used for such food.

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side dish British  

noun

1. a portion of food served in addition to the main dish

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Etymology

Origin of side dish

First recorded in 1715–25

Example Sentences

Indeed, as in other Lawrence projects — which typically feature divorced or separated characters — romance is a sort of side dish, less the issue than whether people are managing to treat one another well.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 8, 2026

“I’ll typically prepare them as a side dish, maybe alongside roasted chicken,” Matijevich says.

From Salon • Feb. 20, 2026

Boiled Swiss chard, simply seasoned with salt and pepper, is a staple side dish in my kitchen in autumn.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 3, 2025

I ate with gusto, going back for seconds of a "side dish" that completely outshone the main course.

From Salon • Dec. 9, 2024

For a side dish, sweet corn was a no-brainer.

From "The Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollan