5 Mouth-Watering Side Dishes to Serve with Pork Stew

Pork stew is a delicious and hearty meal perfect for cold weather or a cozy night in. While the stew is the show’s star, choosing the right side dishes can elevate the meal to a whole new level.
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From mashed potatoes to roasted vegetables, there are many options to choose from when it comes to pairing with pork stew.
In this blog post, we’ll explore some of the best side dishes to serve with pork stew and provide tips for preparing and storing them.
Whether you’re cooking for a crowd or just for yourself, these side dishes will help make your pork stew meal even more satisfying and delicious.
What are the best side dishes for pork stew?
The best side dishes for pork stew include mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, rice, bread, salads, beans, grains, potatoes, noodles, and soups. Each side dish can be prepared with herbs and spices to enhance flavor, and adding vegetables and dressings can provide additional flavor and texture. Your pork stew meal will be complete and satisfying with the right side dishes.
What Is Pork Stew?
Pork stew is a hearty dish made with pork, potatoes, and other vegetables. It can be served as a main course or as a larger meal. The ingredients are usually cooked in liquid until the meat is tender and the vegetables are soft enough to eat easily with a fork or spoon.
Pork stew can be made with different types of pork cuts, including shoulder roast (also called Boston butt), ribs, and loin chops; however, it’s most commonly made with ham hocks because they add flavor to the broth without being overly fatty like bacon would be if added directly to the pot during cooking time.
The Best Side Dishes for Pork Stew
Mashed Potatoes
This classic side dish is a great choice to serve with pork stew because it’s hearty, comforting, and easy to make. The creamy texture of the mashed potatoes pairs well with the rich flavors of the stew, making it a perfect way to soak up any leftover broth.
You can also add some chopped chives or garlic to the mashed potatoes for an extra kick of flavor.
Roasted Vegetables
Another great side dish to serve with pork stew is a medley of roasted vegetables. You can use any combination of vegetables you like, such as carrots, parsnips, sweet potatoes, and onions.
Simply toss them in some olive oil, season with salt and pepper, and roast in the oven until they’re tender and caramelized. Roasting the vegetables brings out their natural sweetness, which complements the savory pork stew.
Crusty Bread
A loaf of crusty bread is a must-have when serving pork stew. You can use any bread that you like, such as French bread, sourdough, or even a baguette. Simply slice the bread and serve it alongside the stew.
The bread is perfect for sopping up any leftover broth and adds a nice contrast in texture to the tender meat and vegetables.
Coleslaw
If you’re not a fan of cabbage, you can try making coleslaw with shredded carrots instead. The carrots add a nice crunch and sweetness to the slaw.
Whisk together some mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, honey, and Dijon mustard to make the dressing. Toss the shredded carrots with the dressing and let it chill in the fridge for at least an hour before serving.
Green Salad with Vinaigrette Dressing or Caesar Salad
If you’re looking for something lighter to serve with your pork stew, a green salad is a great option. You can use any greens that you like, such as mixed greens, arugula, or spinach.
To make the vinaigrette dressing, add olive oil, balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, and salt and pepper.
Toss the greens with a creamy dressing made from mayonnaise, anchovy paste, garlic, Parmesan cheese, and lemon juice for a Caesar salad. Top with croutons and more Parmesan cheese for added texture and flavor.
Overall, these side dishes are all great options to serve with pork stew. They each bring something different to the table in terms of flavor, texture, and nutrition, making for a well-rounded and satisfying meal.
Tips for Serving Pork Stew
When serving pork stew, it’s important to choose side dishes that complement the flavor of your main dish.
You also want to ensure that they can be cooked at the same time as your stew so that you don’t have to worry about keeping everything warm while you’re eating.
Finally, try to create a balanced meal with various types of foods–this will help keep things interesting and prevent boredom from setting in!
Side Dishes to Avoid with Pork Stew
While pork stew is a hearty meal, you can make it even better by serving it with the right side dishes. The following are some of the best options:
- A baked potato topped with sour cream and chives or butter and cheese
- Green beans sauteed in olive oil and garlic
- A salad made with tomatoes, cucumbers, and onions dressed in balsamic vinegar (or any other type of vinegar)
Tips for Preparing Side Dishes for Pork Stew
- Choose side dishes that can be prepared in advance.
- Use fresh ingredients and season the dish to complement the stew.
- Consider slow-cooker-friendly ingredients, such as beans and potatoes, which will cook along with your pork stew.
How to Store Leftover Side Dishes for Pork Stew
Once you’ve made your pork stew, it’s time to think about what side dishes you want to serve with it. The best way to store these leftovers is in an airtight container in the refrigerator. If you plan on using them within two days, they can be stored directly on top of one another without extra containers or bags.
If you’re looking at longer storage times (upwards of three or four days), then it’s recommended that you use Ziploc bags or other food-safe plastic containers with tight lids so that no moisture gets into them and causes molding issues.
If any of these side dishes are left over after serving up some delicious pork stews, don’t worry–they’ll keep well enough until next time!
How to Reheat Side Dishes for Pork Stew
How to Reheat Side Dishes for Pork Stew
Reheating side dishes is simple. You can use the oven or stovetop as long as you have enough time and space. When reheating on the stovetop, add some liquid (water or broth) to prevent drying out. Covering the dish while reheating will help keep in moisture as well!
Recipes for the Best Side Dishes to Serve with Pork Stew
Mashed potatoes
Mashed potatoes are the quintessential side dish to serve with pork stew. They’re creamy, comforting and easy to make.
Roasted vegetables
Roasted vegetables are a great way to add flavor to your meal without adding too many calories or carbs!
You can use any kind of vegetable that you like–make sure it’s cut into bite-sized pieces so it will cook evenly in the oven.
Crusty bread
This is an obvious choice for any soup or stew meal because it’s an easy way to ensure you don’t go hungry while waiting for dinner!
Just slice up some French bread (or whatever kind you prefer) into thick slices and bake until golden brown on both sides–it’ll smell amazing while cooking too!
Coleslaw
Coleslaw is one of those things that everyone loves. Still, no one knows how much they love it until they try making their version at home with fresh ingredients instead of store-bought dressing mix packets that contain preservatives and chemicals that aren’t good for anyone’s health!
You can even get creative by adding different types of dressing depending upon what flavor profile suits your tastes best; ranch dressing works well, but blue cheese also makes quite an impactful statement when paired correctly with other flavors such as applesauce-based dressings Honey Mustard Dressing Recipe.
Conclusion
Pork stew is a delicious and comforting meal. The right side dishes can make it even better. With these tips and recipes, you can create a balanced and flavorful meal that everyone will love!