Memorial Day is around the corner and grills across the island are being cleaned and prepped in anticipation of the holiday – but this year, think beyond the grill to spruce up your typical Memorial Day barbecue.
Coleslaw, potato salad, corn on the cob and baked beans are old news. This year, try new and unique side dishes bound to impress any backyard guest.
Let’s get out of the typical potato and macaroni salad mindset and explore new options that will still complement your barbecue.
If you want that same creamy, mayonnaise-based salad, try something fresher with a creamy cucumber salad. This is simply sliced cucumbers tossed in any creamy dressing and mix-ins (like pickled red onion, dill, jalapeno or corn, to suggest a few) to your taste. Use your classic mayonnaise-based dressing recipe, or swap it out with Greek yogurt for a lighter flavor.
For something lighter, try a simple watermelon-and-feta salad. This is just cubed watermelon and feta, combined with mint, tossed in a balsamic vinaigrette.
But this salad can be customized to your heart’s desire and be made with any combination you like, swapping the watermelon for tomatoes, peaches, strawberries or corn, the feta for mozzarella pearls, burrata or halloumi, and the mint for basil, dill or cilantro.
Nothing compares to the refreshing snap of a pickle cutting through the savory, fatty flavors of barbecue. It’s why nearly every burger comes with pickles, and why the Chicago dog has become a national favorite (don’t worry, New York, your hot dog styles have a place on the plate as well).
While a store-bought jar of pickles could suffice if you’re in a time crunch, I recommend pickling your own veggies – and seeking alternative veggies to pickle – to really wow your crowd and dazzle their taste buds.
Non-traditional veggies you can seek out are asparagus, daikon radish, carrots, beets, cauliflower, garlic, jalapeno and green beans.
My go-to is escabeche, a Mexican-style of pickled veggies that includes cauliflower, carrots, red onion and jalapeno. It offers a diversity of textures and a great spicy kick!
Source: LI Press
