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

Or as one scribe put it, the school didn’t want to be dwarfed by “a gigantic breakfast side dish.”

From MarketWatch

For food, families often gorge themselves on special "Party Barrels" bursting with chicken, an array of side dishes and a dessert -- such as ice cream or cheesecake -- stored at the bottom in a separate compartment.

From Barron's

I love putting cranberry sauce on my stuffing and potatoes for more flavor, but if you’re someone who wants to maintain the integrity of individual side dishes, try your hand at making a dinner roll.

From Salon

A clinical pharmacist from Wilmington, Del., Martin once enjoyed taking generous tastes of the potato salad and other side dishes she was preparing for her family.

From The Wall Street Journal

Garten’s Sautéed Shredded Brussels Sprouts are a quick yet hearty side dish that can be made just hours before serving.

From Salon