I've left it too late to order salads for the bbq so....

[mckenzie]

I'm going to have to try and copy them and make my own.
Any tips, thoughts, alternative recipes gratefully received. It's for DS's birthday BBQ, approx. 8 teenagers, 14/16 adults. A Good housekeeping entertaining guide suggest I keep it fairly simple so I'm thinking..

strozzapeti pasta salad with cherry toms, rocket, pine nuts (copied from M&S party food website)

roasted sweet potato pieces with roasted peppers and red onion, mixed with kale, pumpkin seed and spring onion. drizzle of soured cream on top(copied from M&S party food website)

lettuce (green and red leaves), santini tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, yellow peppers (coped from M&S party food website)

shop bought coleslaw tub (or should I make my own?)
new potatoes
and of course, the bbq meat which will be whatever DH chooses but usually chicken, ribs and burgers.

thoughts very gratefully received. I'm not good at entertaining; I don't do it enough and so have no confidence in my food choices etc.

TIA

[SuperLoudPoppingAction]

The roast veg salad sounds lovely.

I personally find potato salad easier to make than pasta.

I would be happy with shop coleslaw but asda sells it ready to make as its component parts and that might be a bit different.

I really like being able to make up a salad from buffet style dishes and to choose my own dressing. It keeps for longer than way too.

[WhoKnowsWhereTheW1neGoes]

I think potato salad is nicer than pasta, especially at this time of year with fresh new potatoes. I would be fine with shop bought coleslaw, but it is easy to make if you have a food processor. I think Greek salad (sliced toms, red onion, olives, feta, cucumber, dried oregano and a dash of oil and vinegar) is really hard to beat for a bbq.

[mckenzie]

thanks for the replies.
I'm with you on leaving the dressings on the side Superloud.
What do I add to the new potatoes to make then look (and teste) special?
Would I do the greek salad instead of one of the options above or as well as?

[SuperLoudPoppingAction]

I put capers in my potato salad but not everyone likes them.

Chopped chives are safer.

[WhoKnowsWhereTheW1neGoes]

I love capers in potato salad too, also hard boiled egg and tinned anchovy, but I agree, chives are a safer bet. I recomend Sainsburys French mayo, got a bit more bite than the likes of Hellmans.

[foodiemama26]

For potato salad use really good quality mayo, season well and add a mix of chopped chives and finely diced red onion...delicious! I think a greek salad would work really well too !

[wakemeupbefore]

Cucumber in your green salad would make it 'wet' after a while, love cucumbers but rarely put them in green mixed salads unless eaten immediately.

[Shmithecat]

A bit of dijon mustard in the mayo for the potato salad is lovely. And some chopped spring onion too.

[mckenzie]

Thank you for the extra tips. All duly noted. For once, I’m quite looking forward to entertaining

[mckenzie]

One last question, can I make the potato salad today?

[Shmithecat]

@mckenzie no, don't make it all up but you can cook the potatoes today and refrigerate until needed - then just before you need it, mix with the mayo and whatever else you're throwing into it.

[BiddyPop]

Potato salad made with thinly sliced spring onions (or very finely sliced red or ordinary onions), well seasoned with salt and pepper, dressing made by mixing about 50-60% mayonnaise with 40-50% natural yoghurt, or perhaps a couple of large tablespoons of each and a teaspoon or so of crème fraiche. Makes the dressing much nicer, and lighter, than fully mayonnaise. If at all possible, add the dressing while the potatoes are still hot, as they will absorb some of it and makes them even more nom nom nom!

I also like capers sometimes - but you could put some on the side for anyone who would like to add them themselves.