Need Ideas for Sides to Go with Dinner Tonight!

a GREAT recipe to go with any mexican food is Calabacitas... A fantastic mix of squash, corn, green chile, cheese, and cilantro. We love it. Try this recipe next time you cook mexican! You won't be sorry. :)

3-4 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup finely chopped onion
2-4 cloves of garlic, minced
2 1/2 cups diced summer squash
2 1/2 cups diced zucchini
2 cups corn kernels, fresh or frozen

6 scallions, chopped (3/4 cup)

1/2 cup chopped hot green chile, roasted, with skin removed (wear gloves when handling chiles)
1/2 cup chopped mild green chile, roasted, with skin removed
1 cup diced ripe Roma (plum) tomatoes
1/2 cup firmly packed coarsely chopped fresh cilantro leaves
1/2 cup cream or grated Jack cheese (optional)
1/2 teaspoon salt

1. Heat 2 tablespoonos of the oil in a large skillet and saute the onion for about 4 minutes over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and saute 2 minutes longer.

2. Add the squash and zucchini and saute 5 minuts longer, until softened. Mp>

3. Add the remaining 1 to 2 tablespoons of oil with the corn, scallions, and chiles and saute 3 minutes longer.

4. Stir in the tomatoes, cilantro, and cream (if desired) and heat through, about 5 minutes.

5. Season with salt. Serve hot or warm.

Spicy Black Beans, Corn, Tomatoes and Rice

1 Tablespoon Olive Oil, Or Vegetable
2 cloves Garlic, Minced
½ whole Small Onion, Finely Chopped, (or You Can Use Onion Powder, Which You'll Add Later)
1-¾ cup Chicken Stock
¾ cups White Rice
1-¼ teaspoon Ground Cumin
⅓ teaspoons Cayenne Pepper
¼ teaspoons Chili Powder
¼ teaspoons Paprika
2 pinches Of Salt, Or To Taste
2 pinches Black Pepper, Or To Taste
1 can (15 Oz. Can) Black Beans, Rinsed And Drained
1 can (15 Oz. Can) Corn, Drained
1 can (14.5 Oz. Can) Diced Tomatoes. (you'll Need The Juice)

Preparation Instructions:

1. Heat the oil in a large sauce pan. Saute the garlic and onions for a minute or until the onion turns translucent.
2. Add the chicken stock and rice. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer on medium-low for 20 minutes.
3. Add the rest of the ingredients, tweaking to your taste buds (this is where you’d add onion powder if you didn’t use an onion), and stir. Continue to cook for 5 minutes and then serve!

Basic Mexican Rice

2 Tablespoons Canola Oil
½ whole Large Onion, Chopped
3 cloves Garlic, Minced
2 cups Long Grain Rice
1 can Rotel (10 Ounce)
1 can Whole Tomatoes (14.5 Ounce)
2 cups Low Sodium Chicken Broth (more If Needed)
1 teaspoon Cumin (more To Taste)
1 teaspoon Kosher Salt
Fresh Cilantro, Chopped

Preparation Instructions:

Heat oil in a large skillet. Add onions and garlic, then cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Reduce heat to low and add rice and garlic. Stir constantly, making sure the rice doesn’t burn. Cook over low heat for 3 minutes. Add Ro-tel and tomatoes. Stir to combine and let cook for 2 minutes. Finally, add broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 10 to 15 additional minutes or until rice is done. Add more liquid as needed; rice shouldn’t be sticky.

Just before serving, sprinkle lots of freshly chopped cilantro over the top. Serve immediately.

I know you were looking for dinner last night but here's a recipe for the future. I hate the typical mexican/spanish red rice. Here's an easy alternative.

1 package of white rice (minute rice, bagged rice, whatever you like)
1/4-1/2 cup mayonaise
1 small can diced green chiles
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup shredded pepper jack cheese

Prepare white rice as directed on the package. Mix cooked rice with mayonaise, green chiles, and half of each kind of cheese. Spread mixture into glass baking dish. Cover top with remaining cheese. Bake at 350 degrees about 20 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly.

spanish rice, salad and cornbread and something special for dessert...sorry I don't have recipes...sounds like fun...enjoy!!!

I would keep it simple, just add chopped lettuce, olives, and pico de gallo on the side..
For Pico de gallo recipe:
chopped tomatoes (3-4 Romas)
fresh squeezed lemon juice
S&P
chopped fresh cilantro
chopped green or white onion

I have a black bean salsa recipe that is awesome.. but I know it's too late to make for tonight. (it actually tastes better when it can sit for a few hours before being served anyway).
If you are interested, let me know.
It has (obviously black beans), de-seeded cucumbers, red bell pepper, onions, lime juice, red wine vinegar.......

Simple....Box of Rice-A-Roni Spanish Rice and when it says add a can of tomatoes, instead add a can of Rotel. Simple but so good!!

mexican rice goes good

Something with a salsa.... pineapple salsa, mango salsa etc.
Yummmm.....

Good luck,
Susan

Whenever I make enchiladas I serve them with beans and spanish rice. For a different bean you could do black beans with lime and cilantro. You could also saute zucchini, onion, tomato, and maybe corn for a yummy veggie. Hope it goes well!

guacomole and fried corn tortillas
spanish rice with olives
southwest type salad
you can look at the web site called all recipes

You could start out with tortilla soup.

I like the idea of a salad to cool things off.