Yea of course..I don't understand the concept of sides really, I have been veg for 15 years. I love making potato bowls. Use them as a base instead of a grain, add avocado, tomato, spinach etc. Or potatoes with beans/chili.
One of my favorite dishes is from Belarus, it is mashed potatoes and you add kidney beans, parsley, salt pepper, garlic powder..I don't know if it has a name.
You can make pierogies from potatoes, add some onion.
Make a vegan sheperds pie with mashed potatoes, lentils and other veggies.
Carrots for a main dish- If you want a savory version simmer whole carrots in veggie broth/Braggs..add some liquid smoke. if you simmer long
enough they will be soft and we sometimes put them on a roll like a hot dog.