This article was updated on the 9th of August 2023 for clarity and freshness.
If you’re wondering what to serve with your quail, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, I list 33 of the most popular side dishes for quail. There are filling options, light options, rich options, refreshing options… you get the idea.
In a rush? Here’s the short answer.
The best side dishes for quail include Greek lemon potatoes, coleslaw, and curried Waldorf salad. For a more Asian-themed side dish, go for dishes like miso aubergine, Thai noodle salad, or Yangzhou fried rice. If you want a healthier side dish, try serving the quail with a simple citrus salad.
Slow-roasted Greek lemon potatoes
This is a classic dinner party staple with a Greek twist. It involves roasting the potatoes with a lemony broth, which infuses them with a bright, savory flavor that goes well with the gamey notes of quail.
This cooking technique also ensures the spuds develop perfectly fluffy insides and crisp, golden exteriors, making each bite oh-so-satisfying.
Finish off these spuds with a sprinkling of freshly chopped herbs (I like parsley) for an Insta-worthy side dish.
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Slow-roasted Greek lemon potatoes
Make it decadent
Duck fat roasted potatoes
Make it fancy
Fondant potatoes
Stuffed portobello mushrooms
Stuffed portobello mushrooms are easy to make and pack a ton of flavor.
You can stuff the mushrooms with all sorts of things, but I like Eatwell101’s version with breadcrumbs, scallions, cherry tomatoes, and of course – lots of cheese. This combination is simple, but the contrast between the juicy mushrooms and crunchy breadcrumbs is irresistible.
You can serve these stuffed portobellos as a starter, but I prefer enjoying them alongside my roasted quail.
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Stuffed portobello mushrooms
Make it saucy
Garlic mushrooms and bacon
Add starchy element
Baked mushroom rice
Creamy coleslaw
Coleslaw is an excellent side dish for quail if you’re looking for something light and easy to make.
You simply have to chop the veggies and toss them with the dressing. Valentina’s recipe features a classic mayo dressing, which gives this slaw a creamy, sweet bite. But if you want a lighter slaw, you can opt for a vinaigrette.
Another great thing about slaws is that they become tastier over time, so they’re candidates for preparing in advance.
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Coleslaw
Make it dairy-free
Apple cider vinegar slaw
Skip the cabbage
Jicama and green apple slaw
Cheesy asparagus bake
This dish is an excellent option if you’re going to have some fussy eaters at the table. The asparagus spears are smothered with cream and topped with three different kinds of cheese, then roasted.
And after 20 minutes in the oven, you have perfectly tender asparagus with a decadent, gooey cheese sauce. Who could say no to that?
This dish is so indulgent that you could eat it on its own, but it’s even better alongside some roasted quail for a restaurant-worthy meal.
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Cheesy asparagus bake
Keep it simple
Asparagus with lemon butter sauce
Keep it fresh
Greek asparagus salad
Miso aubergine
If you’ve never had miso-glazed aubergine before, you’re in for a treat. This Asian-inspired side dish boasts a blend of sweet, smoky, and umami notes that complement the rich undertones of your quail.
And lucky for you, making this side dish is a breeze because it’s baked. Once you have the aubergines glazed, the oven does the rest of the cooking.
Psst… not an aubergine fan? No worries, you can use other veggies like zucchini or carrots for this recipe.
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Miso-glazed aubergine
Go Italian
Eggplant caponata
Make it hearty
Eggplant lasagna
Simple citrus salad
Getting bored with leafy green salads? Try this easy recipe instead.
The bright, citrusy flavors combined with the anise notes of fennel and the creaminess of the avocados create a wonderful contrast to the gaminess of your quail.
Recipe creator Marcie uses a combination of grapefruit, navel, and blood oranges for this recipe, but you can use simpler citrus fruits like tangerines or clementines too.
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Citrus salad with fennel and avocado
Add leafy greens
Strawberry and arugula salad
Make a classic
Caesar salad
Truffle mashed potatoes
Mashed potatoes are a must if you’re serving gravy or sauce with your quail. The buttery, smooth mask will soak up all the quail juices and the gravy, making each bite oh-so-delicious.
Recipe creator Danielle takes her mash a step further by adding truffle oil and truffle zest. You’ll likely have to visit a specialty store to get these, but they’re worth it. They add an earthy, musky aroma that perfectly balances the mash’s creaminess.
She suggests using Yukon gold potatoes to achieve a fluffy mash, but you can also use russet potatoes. These potato varieties have a higher starch content, which prevents them from getting gummy.
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Truffle mashed potatoes
Make it low-carb
Mashed cauliflower
Another low-carb option
Mashed rutabaga
Ratatouille
Off the top of my head (Disney movie pun intended) this French classic is one of the prettiest and tastiest side dishes I’ve tried.
The combination of creamy bechamel and tomato sauce creates a decadent, lightly acidic mixture that jazzes up the veggies and pairs well with the earthy flavors of quail.
All you need is a slice of crusty bread on the side so you can wipe your plate clean.
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Ratatouille
Make it Greek
Briam
Make it straightforward
Balsamic roasted vegetables
Thai noodle salad
Bring a delicious Asian twist to your roasted quail with a serving of this colorful noodle salad. And despite the name, there are actually more veggies than noodles here, making it extra healthy.
But what truly makes this special is the luscious peanut sauce, which has a sweet-savory flavor that will keep you coming back for more.
Feasting At Home uses rice noodles for this salad, but don’t worry if you don’t have them. I’ve made this recipe with linguine noodles before, and it turned out great.
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Thai noodle salad
Make it Japanese-inspired
Soba noodle salad
Make it low-carb
Garlic lime cashew zoodles
Yangzhou fried rice
Whole fried quail is a popular dish in China and it’s typically served with a side of Yangzhou fried rice. What sets it apart from your regular takeout fried rice is it uses oyster and hoisin sauce instead of only soy sauce. But when it comes to the add-ons, there’s no strict formula.
Devour Asia’s recipe includes sausages, sweet peas, mushrooms, chopped shrimp, and carrots. Scallions and corn are great options too – but keep in mind not to add too many extra ingredients to the point that there’s more veggies than rice!
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Yangzhou fried rice
Skip the add-ons
Supreme soy sauce fried rice
Make it healthier
Quinoa fried rice
Curried Waldorf salad
This recipe is a fun twist on the classic Waldorf salad. It sounds odd, but it works. The curry powder adds an earthy twist to the creamy dressing, which helps offset the sweetness of the fruits and veggies.
You can serve this as an appetizer before the quail (it will certainly wake up your tastebuds), or you can swap the chicken in the recipe for quail and enjoy it as a main dish instead.
Pro-tip: reduce the amount of mayo and use Greek yogurt for a lighter dressing that’s equally creamy.
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Curried chicken Waldorf salad
Make it basic
Waldorf salad
Add leafy greens
Apple spinach salad
What To Serve With Quail [33 Ideas]
Ingredients
- 1 portion creamy coleslaw
- 1 portion slow-roasted Greek lemon potatoes
- 1 portion thai noodle salad
- 1 portion curried Waldorf salad
- 1 portion cheesy asparagus bake
- 1 portion simple citrus salad
- … and more
Instructions
- Prepare your quail according to your favorite recipe.
- In the meantime, choose one of the following sides to serve alongside it.
- Side dishes include: slow roasted Greek lemon potatoes, stuffed portobello mushrooms, creamy coleslaw, cheesy asparagus bake, miso aubergine, simple citrus salad, truffle mashed potatoes, ratatouille, thai noodle salad, yang-zhou fried rice, curried Waldorf salad.
- Serve immediately and enjoy.