Just in time for grilling season, here are over 50 delicious and colorful shish kabob side dishes! While the grill is going, toss together a grilled panzanella salad or drizzle creamy tahini sauce over your kabobs.
Summer is here and so are all the grilling recipes! Kabobs always make an appearance during the warmer season, whether it's chicken shawarma skewers or grilled Turkish kofta kebabs and with that, you need some stand out accompaniments to serve with.
Here, I'm sharing over 50 shish kabob side dish recipes to add to your grilling menu. Everything from crisp salads, creamy dips and vibrant vegetable side dishes to serve alongside the main course.
Jump to:
🍢 What is Shish Kabob?
Kabob, also spelled 'kebab" is chunks of meat and or vegetables that are skewered. Shish translates to skewer in Turkish and kebab translates to roasted meat.
🍡 What's the difference between shish kebab and kofta kebab?
Shish kebab usually contains chunks of meat and or vegetables, where as kofta is ground up meat that is formed onto skewers than you can order here.
🥗 Salads
Let me introduce you to the ultimate Greek salad that will be on your table in nearly 20 minutes! Full of crisp vegetables, briny olives and creamy feta cheese and topped with a perfectly seared filet of salmon.
Savory grilled panzanella salad is full of weet charred peppers and grilled onions along with toasted ciabatta, sweet cherry tomatoes and dressed with the most delicious slightly sweet and tangy vinaigrette.
this grilled panzanella salad! Sweet charred peppers and grilled onions are tossed with toasted ciabatta, sweet cherry tomatoes and the most delicious slightly sweet and tangy vinaigrette.
This fresh arugula pear salad features baby arugula, sweet pears and sliced fennel all dressed in a flavorful and tangy Parmesan vinaigrette. The combination of the peppery arugula, sweet pears, and tangy dressing creates a perfect balance of flavors!
When you are in need of colorful dish, this colorful kale salad welcomes the harvest with pops of color and layers of flavor. Massaged kale is tossed with radicchio, roasted beets and sweet orange segments and finished with creamy goat cheese.
If there was a salad I could eat every single day, it would be this kale salad with dried cranberries. The trick is to massage the Dijon dressing into the kale greens to soften. Then toss in crisp apples, salty feta, toasted almonds and sweet cranberries to bring all the flavors together.
This parmesan brussels sprouts salad has been made for years! Shaved brussels sprouts are tossed with nutty pistachios and loads of grated Parmesan cheese and dressed with the most delicious balsamic dijon vinaigrette.
It doesn't get any better or more simple than this sweet summer fruit caprese salad. Full of the seasons best ingredients, including peaches and nectarines, sweet cherry tomatoes, deep red strawberries and topped with creamy mozzarella cheese and fresh basil.
Heirloom tomato fattoush salad is a gorgeous and robust Mediterranean salad that is full of colorful heirloom tomatoes, crispy pita chips and dressed with a tangy pomegranate molasses vinaigrette.
slight twist on the classic salad, this burrata caprese salad boasts colorful wedges of heirloom tomatoes, creamy burrata cheese and a fresh and bright herb oil drizzled on top.
You may not be able to stop once you dive into this bright and fresh Mediterranean watermelon salad. Sweet cubes of watermelon are gently tossed with creamy feta, and pickled sumac onions. Garnish the watermelon salad with a healthy amount of fresh mint for a gorgeous summer salad.
Greek quinoa salad with chickpeas is the perfect recipe for when you are craving something simple, fresh and flavorful. Inspired by bright Mediterranean flavors, the salad is dressed with a bright lemon vinaigrette and tossed with creamy feta cheese, artichoke hearts, olives and loads of fresh herbs.
When you need to whip up a quick salad, this one is a favorite. Chopped kale is massaged with a bright and creamy tahini dressing and savory chickpeas. Also holds up for a day or so very well!
A colorful quinoa salad with roasted yellow beets, tangy blood orange, salty feta cheese and sweet pomegranate seeds all dressed with a simple blood orange vinaigrette.
The perfect accompaniment to any Mediterranean dish, Israeli chopped salad is simple and fresh with tomatoes, cucumbers, fresh herbs and bright lemon.
Quinoa tabbouleh is a healthy and modern twist on the traditional tabbouleh salad with parsley, mint and a light dressing of olive oil and lemon juice.
Kale tabbouleh is a twist on the Mediterranean salad, with nutty quinoa, sweet pomegranate seeds and tossed with a tangy pomegranate vinaigrette.
🥙 Dips and Spreads
Homemade tzatziki sauce is an easy yogurt and cucumber sauce that takes less than 10 minutes to make! Flavored with fresh lemon juice, a touch of garlic and a good amount of mint.
There is nothing quite like a well made hummus. Made with simple ingredients including nutty tahini, fresh lemon juice and my personal touch, a dash of warm cumin and paprika.
The sauce I put on just about anything! This easy and creamy lemon tahini sauce is mixed with garlic, fresh lemon juice and spices that is the perfect addition to drizzle over grilled kabobs and vegetables.
Another use for summers bountiful zucchini harvest is this smoky zucchini baba ganoush. INstead of the traditional eggplant, roast or grill zucchini, then puree with tahini, lemon juice and garlic.
Muhammara is a savory Turkish red pepper and walnut dip flavored with pomegranate molasses and warm spices. Perfect for grilled meats or simple pita bread.
Get ready for a flavor explosion with homemade baked beet chips! These colorful and flavorful oven baked beet chips offer a sweet and earthy taste with just a handful of ingredients. Serve the beet chips with a creamy labneh dip for the perfect bite!
This creamy avocado hummus starts with the classic homemade hummus recipe and made even creamier with the addition of ripe avocado. Add a generous sprinkle of za'atar and sumac on top for a pop of zesty flavor!
Grab the pita bread because this loaded hummus is a true showstopper of flavors! Creamy homemade hummus is generously garnished with all the fresh and flavorful toppings including chopped salad, creamy feta cheese, olive oil and bold spices.
This will be your new favorite hummus! Sweet roasted beets and smoky cumin are added to homemade hummus creating the most stunning, vibrant and delicious creamy hummus.
🍚 Rice and Pasta
20 minutes is all you need for the most flavorful and easy side dish! Greek rice pilaf with orzo is flavored with fresh lemon zest, loads of fresh dill and toasted pine nuts and pistachios for extra crunch.
This light lemon orzo salad comes together in a breeze! Cooked orzo is tossed with a simple lemon vinaigrette, grilled corn, creamy feta and lots of fresh basil. Easy, quick, light and fresh is what I look for in the perfect pasta salad.
Full of vibrant colors and layers of flavors, this simple recipe for Israeli couscous salad with roasted vegetables is warm and satisfying. Serve the warm Mediterranean couscous salad alongside your favorite protein or alone as a vegetarian main course.
Persian jeweled rice is a gorgeous dish with specks of candied orange, pistachios, dried fruit and saffron. A feast for both the eyes and pallet and a stunning centerpiece for any dinner celebration.
If you have ever been to Hawaii and had a "plate lunch", you know how creamy and delicious Hawaiian macaroni salad is! Creamy and slightly sweet, Hawaii's mac salad is a comfort food favorite!
Adas polow is a gorgeous Persian rice dish that is studded with lentils, tart barberries and crispy potato tahdig.
Persian rice with dates , chopped pistachios and aromatic cardamom is steamed together with an additive and crunchy saffron crust called tahdig.
This simple and bright lemon couscous salad is the perfect light and bright side dish. Lemony couscous is tossed with tender asparagus, savory chickpeas, lots of fresh herbs and a bright and citrusy vinaigrette.
A simple four ingredient recipe for lemon herb couscous that takes nearly 15 minutes and is a fantastic side to Mediterranean dishes.
Learn how to make perfect Persian rice called Tahdig with step by step instructions. Tah-dig is a Persian rice dish with a crispy bottom and saffron and turmeric.
🍆 Vegetable Sides
Fragrant vegetarian stuffed grape leaves filled with basmati rice, chickpeas, tomato and fresh aromatic herbs.
Greek Fries with Tzatziki will be your favorite side dish to date! Thick potato wedges are generously seasoned with spices and roasted to a perfect golden brown. Then finished with crumbles of tangy feta cheese and drizzled with a fresh lemon vinaigrette and served with a bright tzatziki sauce to dip into, for the perfect bite!
Roasted eggplant halves are flavored with warm spices of cumin and topped with crispy chickpeas, creamy tahini and sweet roasted beets. I also like to add thinly sliced lemon to caramelize with the eggplant.
Turkish borek is a staple in Turkish cuisine! These savory pastries are filled with a mixture of spinach, feta and herbs that are layered between phyllo that is brushed with a tender buttery glaze.
Jeweled Cauliflower Rice, with all the flavors of the traditional dish including saffron, turmeric, dates and pistachios, but low-carb!
Full of zesty flavors and smoky vegetables, this no mayo potato salad is inspired by the light and flavorful German potato salad. Grilled potatoes and asparagus are tossed in a tangy mustard vinaigrette along with briny capers and loads of fresh herbs.
An easy and impressive side dish. Roasted cauliflower seasoned with fragrant spices of cumin and curry along with fresh rosemary and sweet raisins.
Pesto broccolini is the ultimate side dish! Though, I will happily enjoy this as a main course too! Roasted broccolini is tossed with an herbaceous homemade pesto and garnished with toasted almonds, fresh lemon zest and a healthy drizzle of olive oil.
These sautéed brussels sprouts may be my favorite way to cook up these baby cabbages! Shredded brussels sprouts are sautéed with olive oil and garlic and finished with a drizzle of complex aged balsamic, sweet dried cranberries and savory toasted pine nuts.
This roasted acorn squash with pomegranate may be one of my all time favorite vegan recipes! Maple and cinnamon are brushed onto wedges of acorn squash and roasted until tender and caramelized. Then the squash wedges are topped with a sweet creamy maple tahini sauce, tart pomegranate molasses and fresh pomegranate seeds. This one is a true feast for both the eyes and palate.
This Parmesan roasted delicata squash recipe is loaded with crunch and texture and is a perfect side side for your holiday dinners! Sweet roasted delicata squash is topped with a crisp and flavorful panko breadcrumb mixture that is seasoned with aromatic sage, loads of fresh Parmesan cheese and a touch of savory garlic to bring it all together.
Cinnamon and allspice are whisked together with sweet maple syrup and tangy pomegranate molasses and lathered on top of rainbow carrots and sweet anjou pears. Once caramelized, the roasted carrots and pears are finished with pomegranate seeds and Aleppo pepper.
Acorn squash is stuffed with a Lebanese rice mixture called hashweh that is layered with warm spices of cinnamon, ground beef and tart cranberries.
Savory round borek are filled with wilted greens, sautéed shallots and cheese all rolled up in a delicious savory pastry.
Savory Turkish zucchini pie with ricotta and updated with the addition of shredded gruyere. Also called almodrote, this easy Turkish casserole will become everyone's favorite dish.
Colorful vegetables are tossed with tangy pomegranate molasses and honey before being roasted and caramelized, then finished with a good drizzle of creamy tahini sauce, pomegranate seeds and almonds.
Leave a Reply