Give me your best salads please - particularly pasta salad and three bean

[JoshandJamie]

I need ideas for salads for a BBQ we're having this weekend. 30 adults, 30 kids. Last year I did a big green salad with avo, pine nuts and mange tout, plus a big bowl of mini tomatoes with baby mozzarella balls and basil.

Want to do something different this year. Thought of doing a big greek salad but want ideas for others. I've yet to make a good tasting pasta salad, don't know how to do a good coleslaw and have no idea how to make a three bean salad but I know in SA there used to be a lovely curried one that was good.

Any ideas? Thanks

pasta salad with sweet potato and leek. "sweat" leek, garlic and onion in a frying pan on low heat, chop sweet potato into small chunks and roast in the oven, cook pasta till al dente. add pasta and sweet ptato to leeks with a bottle of white wine and cook till most of wine is gone. serve hot or cold

Thanks Naomi. A whole bottle of wine?! Does it all get absorbed? Sounds yum though.

Any other ideas - need to do my online shopping these evening. Please?