It’s natural to focus on the meat side of things when you’re preparing for a summer barbecue, but did you know that side dishes like salads are equally important to overall barbecue success?
After all, even the best burgers are sure to fall flat if your guests don’t have something tasty to enjoy them with. While grilling is definitely a skill, these side dishes really give you the chance to show what your kitchen abilities are made of.
All of that said, you’re going to want to avoid one-note rushed salads that hardly make guests’ taste buds sing. Instead, shake it up and make sure people speak about your salads for a long time to come by adding the following memorable recipes to your menu!
# 1 – A Classic Pasta Salad
Pasta salads are fresh, filling, and packed full of flavor. They’re also really easy to get right. Our favorite pasta salads use flavor-catching pastas like farfalle or campanelle, and typically incorporate dressings that include sharply simple ingredients like olive oil and red wine vinegar or a little lemon and Dijon mustard. Once you have those basics right, simply chuck in your salad bits and add a few levels of interest, such as olives, capers, or even crushed nuts.
Do note that, simple as they are, it is possible to get a pasta salad wrong. You’ll especially want to be careful of undercooking your pasta, which should be slightly more cooked than usual to avoid toughness once it’s cooled. You should also prepare your salad as close to serving as possible, and dress it while it’s still warm to ensure maximum flavor.
# 2 – A Fruity Option
From classics to something a little more ‘out there’, fruity salads are another great barbecue hit that’s also uniquely memorable. Obviously, fruit salad itself is a great barbecue dessert option, but putting fruit elements into a savory salad, as seen in our mango and cucumber salad, is also becoming increasingly popular.
These dishes might seem surprising, but there are some very valid reasons why they work. Notably, the sharp acid flavors of many fruits can work perfectly alongside olive oil-based dressing and rich leafy greens. Top fruits to add to your savory salads this summer include –
- Mango
- Watermelon
- Pomegranate seeds
- Peach
# 3 – A Salad to Impress
Forget drooping leaves and a boring side dressing; options like a lobster salad made with freshly delivered lobster from a company like Maine Lobster Now don’t just fill your fresh side quota – they stand to entirely steal the show. This is especially true if you pair lobster with fresh lemon and complementary ingredients like mayonnaise, celery, and lettuce shells.
If you’re not a fan of seafood, iconic ingredients like well-cooked steak or even duck breast could also work well here. In the latter instance, simply make you pair your duck with complementary flavors like hoisin sauce or ginger soy.
It’s time to up your salad game for barbecues this summer, and any one of these ideas can help you achieve that goal.
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