Can I have some salad inspiration please?

[Hoolahoophop]

We are having friends over at the weekend 10 adults 4 children. We are planning on cooking a paella (have one of those catering size kits) but haven't decided between seafood or mixed meat and seafood. Some grilled meat maybe spatchcocked chicken or filleted lamb leg plus burgers/sausages for fussy children.

But I have no idea what salads to do a I'm hoping for quick and easy but not boring. As I'll be doing all the food prep myself and looking after my energetic toddler and non sleeping baby.

Thanks.

I would probably do a big green salad with a mix of leaves, then a tomato and onion salad and would also put out some chargrilled veg (aubergine, pepper, courgette) and olives - plus something like a couscous salad for the people not having paella

To make it really easy we do what we call (with amazing originality) a "fruity salad" - not to be confused with a fruit salad. It is really simple, takes about 5 minutes tops, looks great and always go down well - this amount does four good salad eaters but you can easily up the amounts:

• 1 bag mixed salad leaves
• 1 punnet mixed cherry tomatoes (the different coloured ones)
• carrot - grated
• celery, fined chopped
• radishes, thinly sliced
• cubed cucumber (with the skin on)
• 1 red grapefruit, peeled and cubed
• 1 orange - peeled and cubed
• grapes, strawberries, raspberries - whatever you want to add.

Mix well (then cheat and move bits around for maximum attractiveness), garnish with cress if you can be bothered. You can also add small chunks of cheese if you like but add those at the last minute in case they go sweaty

Salad faves here when we’re hosting for a few people are:
tomato, mozzarella and basil
coleslaw
greek salad
harissa spiced cous cous
potato salad
rocket, pear and parmigiana
caesar salad
potato and egg salad
roasted veg bulghar wheat salad
mixed leaves, sundried tomatoes and finely diced red onion

Next one I’m trying when we host is a fenel and orange one.

Watermelon, feta, red onion, black olive and mint. Dressed with extra-v olive oil.

Just chop it all up and bung it together.