Salad ideas

yellow hen

I have a fairly big party next weekend and I need to make several side dishes to accompany meats etc.

Could i get a few tried and trusted salad dishes? Maybe cous cous or pasta dishes? I also adore beetroot so a simple beetroot salad would be great too. I'm doing all the cooking myself so the salads need to be pretty simple to pull together.

dee_mc

This is nice and very simple http://www.abelandcole.co.uk/recipes/beautiful-beetroot-orange-salad
Avoca's Moroccan Cous Cous is gorgeous, and again very simple http://www.mummypages.ie/recipes/avocas-moroccan-cous-cous
Potato salad made with boiled baby potatoes with the skins still on is always a winner - I make a dressing with half mayo, half creme fraiche and some fresh herbs including mint.

cloudatlas

Avoca do another easy one feta cheese, hazelnuts, broccoli google it.

Also tin of chickpeas, mint leaves, chopped tomatoes, red wine vinegar and olive oil is a nice combination.

Dubl07

Farfalle with decent shop-bought pesto (check for basil, pine nuts, parmesan, olive oil and garlic) to dress and garnished with some toasted pine nuts, shaved parmesan and fresh basil leaves. I sometimes throw in quartered cherry tomatoes for colour, depending on what else is on the table.

Dizzyblonde

There are some good ideas in this thread http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057612386

Also, this one from the Cooking Club is really nice when made with pasta instead of chicken http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056991302

..and an amazing Tabbouleh here http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057466612

yellow hen

Thanks for all the brilliant ideas. I'd never have thought of most of them so delighted to try something new. Which of them do you reckon would be suitable for making the day before? Trying to alleviate as much pressures as possible on the day of the party!

VincePP

If you like beetroot then get fresh beetroot and slow roast them them cut up and add shredded carrots and dressing.

Cakerbaker

yellow hen wrote: »

Thanks for all the brilliant ideas. I'd never have thought of most of them so delighted to try something new. Which of them do you reckon would be suitable for making the day before? Trying to alleviate as much pressures as possible on the day of the party!

I've often made the avoca Moroccan couscous mentioned above the day before and it's perfect. Think it's nicer to be honest as the flavours have time to develop. Potato salad should be fine too.

Dizzyblonde

I'd think that anything not containing salad leaves would be okay to prepare the day before.

okedoke

VincePP wrote: »

If you like beetroot then get fresh beetroot and slow roast them them cut up and add shredded carrots and dressing.

+ 1 on the slow roast. I add chopped walnuts, crumbled goats cheese (the crumbly kind) and chopped coriander and a sweetish salad dressing. Tastes even better if made the day before and kept in the fridge. Don't forget to skin the beetroots after roasting (and before chopping)

VincePP

okedoke wrote: »

+ 1 on the slow roast. I add chopped walnuts, crumbled goats cheese (the crumbly kind) and chopped coriander and a sweetish salad dressing. Tastes even better if made the day before and kept in the fridge. Don't forget to skin the beetroots after roasting (and before chopping)

I'm going to try that, sound delish! - herself is veggie and loves her salads. Might treat her this weekend!! (yep, she easily pleased!)