No matter how delicious a main course is, if it doesn’t have great side dishes, it’s like a king without a kingdom. Even if the side dishes are relatively simple, the meal will still be a hit with the loyal subjects — your family.

For many people, side dishes are the real stars of a meal. Sometimes it’s more enjoyable to just serve a simple roast or grilled meat entrée and then pull out all the stops to create memorable side dishes.

Here are few ideas for creative side dishes that break out of the potato, green salad and vegetable box. These side dishes highlight ways to use rice or other grains, pasta and fruits. Best of all, they’re all easy to make.

You can make couscous in less than five minutes, and there are lots of flavorful boxed varieties. Or make a couscous salad with chilled couscous, halved grape tomatoes, diced cucumber, chopped onion, chopped fresh mint, lemon juice and olive oil.

Wild rice makes another great side dish that can work as a hot side dish or cold salad. For a wonderful hot side dish, sauté a mixture of sliced, fresh cremini and button mushrooms with chopped fresh garlic in butter or olive oil. Add hot, cooked wild rice and heat through.

Make a flavorsome wild rice or brown rice salad by combining chilled, cooked wild or brown rice and chopped bell peppers — a mix of yellow, red and green is pretty — chopped green onions, kalamata olives, dried tomatoes and fresh herbs. Dress with your favorite oil and vinegar dressing.

Pasta salads are an all-time favorite side dish. They give the cook lots of possibilities for creativity and they’re a great way to use up cooked pasta. For an all-year-round pasta salad with a summer fresh flavor, toss cooked small pasta shells or ziti with chopped fresh tomatoes, fresh basil and fresh mozzarella cheese. Mix in a balsamic vinaigrette.

To make quick-and-easy antipasto-style pasta salad, toss cooked chilled pasta, such as bowties, with chunks of mozzarella or provolone cheese, salami and pepperoni. Add roasted red peppers, olives and onions and any other vegetables or deli items you like. Toss with Italian dressing.

Sure you can make a wonderful fruit salad with seasonal fruit, but why not try something new? Try orange and avocado salad drizzled with sesame ginger dressing and topped with toasted sliced almonds.

Or make a tropical fruit salad with ripe mango, papaya and pineapple. Dress with a citrus vinaigrette and top with toasted coconut.

It’s easy to come up with great new side dishes that are out of the ordinary and sure to please your family and guests. Use these ideas to get you started on creating your own signature side dishes.