Simple, Summer BBQ Salads
Fresh, fragrant salads are the perfect accompaniment to counteract and balance the indulgence of a BBQ feast. Meat is fantastically filling and particularly so when it is pre-marinated and chargrilled on a BBQ - it becomes deliciously flavoured and powerful. It doesn't need anything too complicated as an accompaniment.
When cooking an al fresco barbecue dinner for friends recently, I experimented a little and created two really simple salads based purely on complementary flavours and lovely summery colour. For me, a salad that includes some elements of sweetness or fruit in it is key; so the dates, blueberries and pomegranate work perfectly to satisfy my ever-present sweet tooth.
These dishes also have a nice balance of textures - you could of course add some nicely toasted nuts to both of these dishes for added texture, or perhaps some soft cheese, like goats cheese or buffalo mozzarella for another creamy texture. I have listed the ingredients of both salads below, they were simply put in salad bowls and dressed with just a bit of balsamic and vinegar.
Tomato, Date & Pomegranate Salad
Ingredients:
Yellow & red tomatoes
Mixed lettuce leaves
Coriander leaves
Spring Onion
Dates
Pomegranate Seeds
Balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil to dress
Blueberry, Radish & Avo Salad
Ingredients:
Mixed Lettuce Leaves
Avocado
Radish
Spring Onion
Blueberries
Balsamic vinegar & extra virgin olive oil to dress