Have you been asked to bring a salad and need a little inspiration? With barbecue season and end of year catch-ups coming up, these five bring-a-plate salads have you covered. There's a spectacular antipasto salad, a creamy devilled egg potato salad, a hearty Cypriot grain salad, a kale Caesar and a five minute cucumber salad!
1 - Antipasto Salad
If you want to turn up with something that looks like it came from a fancy deli, this is your salad! All you need are fresh tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, salami and pickles and it takes less than 10 minutes to put together. It's barely a recipe but it is so delicious.
2 - Devilled Egg Potato Salad
Can't choose between devilled eggs and potato salad? Dear Reader, you can have both! Tender potatoes, chopped eggs and crispy bacon are tossed in a creamy dressing with gherkin relish, Dijon mustard and a little spicy kick. I like making this a day ahead so the flavours have time to develop. Just leave out the Sriracha and cayenne if you prefer it mild.
3 - Cypriot Grain Salad
This is such a great salad to take to a party because you can dress it ahead of time and it won't wilt! With bulghur, lentils, herbs, currants and plenty of nuts and seeds, there's so much texture in every mouthful. It is hearty enough to eat on its own or serve alongside a barbecue. Just add the toasted nuts and seeds before serving so you get all of that lovely crunch.
4 - Kale Caesar Salad
If you've ever worried about a green salad going limp on the way to a party, try this kale Caesar. Curly kale is wonderfully hardy and actually gets better after a day or two in the fridge with the dressing! With grated pecorino and golden, garlicky pangrattato crumbs, it is so much more than a bowl of leaves. Keep the crumbs separate until serving for maximum crunch.
5 - Asian Cucumber Salad
Only have five minutes? Grab a container and make this cucumber salad! Thinly sliced cucumber gets a delicious dressing of garlic, sesame, soy sauce, fish sauce and chilli crisp. Pop the lid on, give it a shake and you're done. It's fresh, crunchy and particularly good alongside rich meats, and you can make it ahead and keep it in the fridge too.
So tell me Dear Reader, what is your go-to salad when you're asked to bring a plate? And which of these would you take to your next gathering?
And if you're in the mood to bake something sweet this weekend, try my strawberry red velvet cake! The recipe is on my substack xxx
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