Serve a fresh salad at a summer gathering.
Salads make refreshing side dishes during hot summer months. If you're planning a warm weather event, such as picnic, barbecue, outdoor birthday party or Fourth of July bash, tempt guests' taste buds with a garden-fresh salad. Serve pasta, fruit or vegetable salad as a side to your favorite meat, fish or vegetarian dish. The light salad will balance out hearty or rich meals, while also serving as a palette cleanser.
Honey-Infused Fruit Salad
If you're looking for a light and sweet side salad to accompany an outdoor meal, prepare a honey-infused fruit salad. The sweetness of the honey complements the tart, crisp fresh fruit. To make the salad, fill a large bowl with a variety of melon balls, such as honeydew, watermelon and cantaloupe. Include additional seasonal fruit, such as kiwi, grapes and strawberries. Toss the fruit with several tbsp. of honey and a squirt or two of fresh-squeezed lime juice for freshness and balance.
Garden Potato Salad
Put a fresh spin on traditional rich potato salad by incorporating other garden vegetables into the dish. Create a creamy side salad by slicing boiled red potatoes, carrots, radishes, tomatoes and cucumbers and placing them into a large mixing bowl. Make a tasty dressing by mixing mayonnaise, balsamic vinegar, crushed garlic and a variety of fresh herbs, such as dill and rosemary. To finish the salad, pour the dressing into the bowl of vegetables and stir to thoroughly coat.
Grilled Vegetable Salad
If you're firing up the grill to cook meat and fish for barbecue or picnic guests, throw on a few vegetables to create a side salad as well. Clean and trim or peel garden-fresh leeks, zucchini, eggplant and carrots, brush them with olive oil and grill them until they are tender. Toss the grilled vegetables with a homemade or store-bought pesto sauce featuring fragrant basil and pine nuts.
Savory Watermelon Salad
Shake up your summer dinner party menu by making a sweet and savory watermelon and cucumber salad. To create this refreshing summer side salad, combine diced seedless watermelon, chopped fresh mint and thinly sliced and peeled cucumber in a bowl. Drizzle the mixture with olive oil and freshly squeezed lemon juice as a simple dressing. Toss the salad to coat and sprinkle the top with crumbled goat cheese if you wish.
Tags: side salad, meat fish, with olive