What Goes With Cannelloni?

Maybe you’re getting ready for a spectacular dinner gathering. Your legendary cannelloni will be the star of the show. Yet you’re stumped as to what to serve with cannelloni. Not to worry, we’ve compiled a list of 8 delicious side dishes to accompany your cheesy pasta meal.

Cannelloni is a kind of pasta that comes in long tubes. Cannelloni is an Italian term that means “huge pipes.” It’s a baked spaghetti dish that many believe to be the ultimate in comfort food.

These tubes are often filled with delectable ingredients such minced meat, poultry, veggies, and cheese. Before baking, they are put in a rich tomato sauce and topped with a creamy Italian bchamel sauce and grated cheese.

Cannelloni has been around since 1907, when it was originally made at Sorrento, Italy’s La Favorita Restaurant. By World War II, the meal had progressed beyond its basic simplicity and had gained popularity in other areas of Italy.

Cannelloni is now on the menu at almost every Italian restaurant. And it’s a favorite in many households as a filling family supper or the centerpiece of a special occasion.

What to Serve with Cannelloni: 8 Scrumptious Side Dishes

If you’re wondering what to serve with cannelloni, we’ve got you covered. Cannelloni is frequently fairly satisfying since it is loaded with cheese and meats or veggies. It’s also a really creamy and cheesy meal, so it’s rather rich.

As a result, it is preferable to serve your cannelloni with a light side dish. You’ll also want a side with a more refreshing taste profile to break through some of the heaviness. These 8 delectable side dishes should suffice.

1. Garlic Bread

A frequent companion to pasta recipes is simple, crisp garlic bread. Ciabatta and French loaves are excellent choices for preparing your own garlic bread.

The crunchy, buttery richness of garlic bread complements the creamy, cheesy cannelloni. And what better way to soak up the tomato-bchamel sauce mixture than with soft, garlicky bread?

If you don’t have time to prepare your own garlic bread, you may always purchase it at the supermarket. Garlic bread is easy to get and may be topped with cheese, chiles, or herbs.

2. Fresh Garden Salad

Salad is most often the first thing that springs to mind when considering what to serve with cannelloni. It’s also a terrific side dish since it’s light and healthful.

A fresh, crisp mixture of lettuce, cucumber, and tomatoes will do the job. In contrast to the rich and creamy cannelloni, the cool salad will give balance.

Be creative and add any additional raw veggies you prefer. To mention a few, common salad components include shredded carrots, sliced avocado, and spring onions.

Since cannelloni is an Italian meal, an Italian salad with a vinaigrette is a natural fit. Salad with olives, crisp lettuce, croutons, and grated parmesan will complement your cheesy cannelloni main course.

3. Creamy Mushrooms

Sautéed mushrooms are a delicious addition to any pasta recipe. They provide a natural, earthy taste to the dish. And if you’re eating veggie cannelloni, they’ll give your meal a meaty feel.

Sautéing mushrooms with butter, garlic, and fresh herbs like thyme takes less than ten minutes. The butter will accentuate the smoothness of your cannelloni. But, the garlic and fresh herbs will create a welcome counterpoint.

Make your side dish more intriguing by using various varieties of mushrooms. Button, Portobello, and Shiitake mushrooms are all excellent choices.

4. Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Garlic

Bacon may be the last item that comes to mind when considering what to serve with cannelloni. Nonetheless, Brussels sprouts and bacon are often served as a warm and hearty vegetable side dish with cannelloni.

It simply takes a few minutes to fry your parboiled Brussels sprouts with bacon, shallots, and garlic. The crispy, salty, caramelized bacon will season your sprouts and give umami flavor to the whole dish.

Brussels sprouts with bacon and garlic complement chicken cannelloni well. This is why these components are often combined. Some people claim that leftover Brussels sprouts with bacon and garlic are delicious on toast. But, we doubt that there will be any leftovers.

5. Creamed Spinach

Creamed spinach is a well-known and popular side dish seen on many restaurant menus. It’s also a wonderful accompaniment to beef or chicken cannelloni.

You may create your own creamed spinach by combining cooked spinach with ricotta or cream cheese. You may also purchase heat and eat creamed spinach at your local supermarket.

In any case, the creamed spinach will complement the smoothness of the cannelloni. Nonetheless, it will offer the fresh earthy taste of spinach, a lush green superfood. You may also add cayenne pepper or paprika to your creamy spinach.

6. Zucchini Noodles

Zucchini is a mellow and sweet vegetable that goes well with practically any recipe, including cannelloni. Zucchini noodles, sometimes known as zoodles, are simple to prepare. To make zucchini noodles, use a spiralizer or julienne peeler. Instead, you may purchase precut zoodles at your local grocery shop.

Since their taste is delicate, they make an excellent fresh vegetable side dish that complements the cannelloni ingredients. If you want to add some flavor to your zoodles, sprinkle them with crispy bacon pieces for additional salty goodness. Parmesan cheese is a fantastic addition to zucchini noodles.

7. Stuffed Sweet Peppers

If you’re wondering what to serve with cannelloni, consider stuffed sweet peppers. Stuff green, red, yellow, and orange peppers with your favorite stuffing. You’ll have a delicious and satisfying side dish to go with your cannelloni.

Rice, onions, garlic, tomato, and herbs are common ingredients in stuffed peppers. Other people, on the other hand, load their peppers with ground meat, cheese, and other veggies. In fact, you could load the peppers with nearly anything before baking them.

Just keep in mind how your stuffing will go with your cannelloni. For example, if you’re cooking beef cannelloni, don’t fill the peppers with ground meat. Alternatively, for a more balanced lunch, use a vegetable and grain filling.

8. Eggplant Parmesan

Still stumped on what to serve with cannelloni? Eggplant parmesan is another great vegetable side dish to offer with cannelloni. Grilled eggplant and tomato will provide a flavorful, salty, and acidic counterpoint to the luscious cannelloni tastes. And roasted parmesan will give your dish a crunchy texture.

Just slice and bake your eggplant before layering it with a tomato, garlic, and basil sauce in a casserole dish. Bake until the cheese is barely browned, then top with mozzarella and parmesan.

Conclusion

Cannelloni is the ultimate in comfort food. It’s also a great meal to offer during a family dinner or a supper with friends. And you now know what to serve with cannelloni. If you serve your cannelloni with any of these 8 side dishes, your friends and family will shower you with accolades.