I took a quick trip down google lane and learned the difference between red beans and rice and what I think of when I hear beans and rice. The former makes a lot more sense as a full meal, but even a 'meal-sized' portion of just the latter wouldn't feel like a proper meal to me. I think it's the presence of a sauce/gravy that makes the difference to me.
gdi now i want a whole bowl of the giant white beans in tomato sauce the greek restaurant across from my parents does.
Okay. If you eat [food] by itself and a drink, is that a complete meal? If yes, it can be a main dish. If not, it’s a side. Fries and a drink isn’t a meal, but a good burger and a drink can be.
my extremely sad working-at-a-childrens-attraction lunch breaks disagreed with you (we had 75% discount on food, I could get fries and a lemonade for a dollar, so that was my lunch. every day. for months)
I feel like anything can be had AS a side, like a side salad versus a salad thats a meal bc its made with One Whole Romaine Heart For Me, Specifically
Counterpoint: fries with Stuff On is still very much a meal. Chili-cheese fries in vast enough quantities is a meal for many.
I feel like the interplay of flavour has something to do with it too; one-note dishes aren't a meal. Steamed cauliflower is a side, steamed cauliflower in bechamel and black pepper could be a meal. Similarly, plain chips are not a meal, but a poke of chips drenched in salt, vinegar and sauce of choice is (brown sauce, or for proper nostalgia, a mix of brown and red sauce). Edit to add: Proper British chippy chips, not those limp strings of French fries.
I had to get yogurt today and it brought this to mind but does anyone else go through a period where like. Normal yogurt has an abominable mouthfeel? like I like yogurt but once in a while i will put it in my mouth and immediately feel like 'this is not something that should be in my mouth at all' like i was so 'mmh don't need to go through that today' that i bought the whipped yogurt cause i need to know i will eat it.
That's why I only get whole milk yogurt, the creaminess makes the texture less weird. Doesn't work with the cream on top stuff tho
i'll have to try some! it's not an always thing but better to know what is always a food compared to 'this is only sometimes actually edible.'