Favorite Sides for a Cookout – Simple Summer Salads

Also, a note on the quantities:  you may want to double or triple the quantities here depending on how many people you need to feed as we gave you the version we use in our weeknight meal plans for a family of five. Here are three of our favorite simple summer salads:

1. Watermelon & Feta Salad

This is so simple and such a refreshing salad for hot nights!  The flavor combo of watermelon, feta, and scallions is intense!  The addition of some sea salt puts this one over the top.  I made a very large portion and it was all gone in one sitting with my family.  We did use red wine vinegar but it would also be delicious with balsamic vinegar in its place.

Ingredients:  About half of watermelon, 3 to 4 scallions, 2 tbsp each red wine vinegar and olive oil, 1 lemon, 1 cup of feta cheese, sea salt/black pepper to taste

Instructions: Cut up watermelon (we used 2 quarters already cut from store) into cubes and place in bowl.  Add 3 to 4 chopped scallions. In small bowl mix 2 tbsp red wine vinegar, 2 tbsp olive oil, 1 tbsp lemon juice, 1 tsp sea salt, and black pepper to taste.  Pour over watermelon until coated.  Sprinkle top with feta cheese (about 1 cup).  Taste and adjust salt and pepper.

2. Corn & Avocado Salad:

 

Again, this is so so easy and I make this salad year round.  It goes great with any type of meat and we just had it the other night with grilled pork tenderloin.  I think we had one or two stray little kernals left in the dish!  You can also use fresh corn from the cob but for the convenience factor I typically use frozen.  If you want to do the work of removing the corn from the cob,  go with fresh! Ingredients:  1 avocado, peeled & roughly chopped, 10 to 12 oz of frozen corn (or about 2 cups fresh), 2 shallots, chopped, 1 tbsp olive oil, juice of 1/2 lemon, and 2 cloves garlic Instructions: Heat oil in small skillet.  Add garlic & shallots & cook for 2 to 3 mins until golden.  Add corn to pan & cook for 5 to 8 mins until heated thru & just starting to brown. Transfer to bowl & stir in  avocado & lemon juice. Season w/ salt & pepper.

3. Healthy Potato Salad:

Lastly, it really would not be a summer cookout without the good old trusty potato salad.  We love this staple summer salad too but gave it a healthy makeover by adding some other veggies and significantly reducing the mayo. The addition of the fresh lemon juice and mustard gives it a bit of a kick!  My 15 year old son LOVES this recipe and whenever I make this I always think I should have made more. TIP:  I buy the small gourmet potatoes with the thin skins to save a ton of time. No peeling or chopping!  Just rinse them in the colander and boil them as is. When they are done, cut them in half and into the bowl they go!  This is the brand I recently bought at Market Basket and they were perfect!

Ingredients:  1.5 lbs of baby potatoes, 2 roma tomatoes, chopped, 3 to 4 scallions chopped, 2 large handfuls of baby spinach or arugula, chopped, 2 tbsp mayo, 1 tsp dijon mustard, and juice of half lemon

Instructions: Boil potatoes until fork tender. Drain, cool and cut into halves. Place in large bowl with chopped tomatoes, scallions, and baby spinach.  In small bowl mix the mayo, lemon, and mustard with fork or whisk until well blended. Pour over potatoes and toss to coat.  Season with sea salt and black pepper.

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