Now that the heat is back and both the sun and the grill are out again, you may be looking for some inspiration on how to make the most of this year's grilling season - and you have come to the right place.
If you have read our guide to succeeding with grilling different meats and our grilling tips Have you already laid the foundation for many successful barbecue evenings ahead of you this summer? All that is missing now is that you have something to serve alongside what is on the grill and your barbecue evening is complete!
In this guide, we go through our favorite side dishes and what we think goes well with grilled food. Here you will find tips on side dishes for the barbecue evening, whether you want a hearty summer salad or a dip to complement the meat.
Summer salad with strawberries and feta cheese
In many cases, a lighter salad may be enough with a piece of grilled meat or grilled cheese. We recommend a summery salad with fresh Swedish strawberries and feta cheese - fresh and a little sweet, a perfect complement to warm summer evenings with a glass of refreshing drink. Feel free to mix in your favorite vegetables, but we recommend the following ingredients in the salad (your preferences determine the amount):
- strawberries
- cherry tomatoes
- feta cheese
- walnuts
- honey
- balsamic vinegar
- olive oil
Creamy potato salad
A potato salad is a classic feature on the midsummer table but works excellently during the rest of the summer as an easy-to-make side dish for grilled food that also satisfies. It pairs perfectly with grilled salmon.
Ingredients:
- 1 kilo boiled potatoes
- 2 spring onions
- 1 dl whipped cream
- 1 dl mayonnaise
- 2 dl light crème fraîche
- 1 bunch of radish
- 100 g sugar snap peas
- salt and pepper
Here's how to do it:
1. Cut the potatoes into desired pieces and slice the spring onions, and cut the radishes and sugar snap peas.
2.Whip the cream and mix it with crème fraiche and mayonnaise.
3. Finally, mix everything together and add salt and pepper.
Pasta salad with mozzarella and pesto
A quick and easy side dish for grilled food that is also filling is a classic pasta salad. We recommend mixing the pasta with mozzarella, pesto, and cherry tomatoes. Just cook your favorite pasta and then mix it with pesto and mozzarella cut into smaller pieces as well as halved tomatoes. Top with salt and pepper and possibly some pine nuts and parmesan cheese.
Dips for grilled food
Chimichurri with cilantro
A fresh herb oil is always a hit with a slightly fattier meat. Chimichurri is a flavorful sauce that works just as well with beef as it does with fish and corn on the cob, and it's not difficult to make at all.
Ingredients:
- 1 pot of fresh parsley
- 1 pot of fresh coriander
- 1/2 fresh chili
- 3 garlic cloves
- 1 lemon
- 3-5 dl olive oil
- salt and pepper
Here's how to do it:
1. Chop fresh herbs, garlic, and chili and mix with about 3 dl olive oil and juice from half a lemon.
2. Then taste with salt and pepper and add more lemon juice or olive oil if needed. Quick and easy and above all incredibly delicious!
Feta cheese cream with yogurt
For a salty and tangy accompaniment to grilled meat and vegetables, a creamy feta cheese dip is an excellent option. This dip is also perfect for dipping freshly baked bread in - a delicious addition to the barbecue evening! Just mix the ingredients together and serve.
- 250 g feta cheese
- 2 dl Turkish yogurt
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 grated garlic clove
- 1 dl shredded mint
- black pepper
- salt
Homemade hummus
Hummus is a classic accompaniment to grilled meat, and works excellently as a dip for bread and vegetables. Making your own hummus gives you the advantage of being able to customize the mixture according to your own preferences and doesn't have to be complicated at all! Water instead of oil makes the hummus extra creamy and the amount can be adjusted according to the desired consistency.
Ingredients:
- 500 g cooked chickpeas
- 4 tbsp light tahini
- 1 garlic clove
- 1-2 lemon
- 1 tsp salt
- Approximately 0.5-1 dl of water
Here's how to do it:
1. Mix all the ingredients with an immersion blender or blender.
2. Garnish with olive oil and parsley and you have a beautiful and flavorful mixture ready to serve!
Grilled vegetables
Vegetables also work great to throw on the grill, and a vegetable skewer is a classic side dish to grilled food that always works. Another classic is of course grilled corn on the cob, which goes with just about anything. Also try grilling zucchini and broccoli as a bit more substantial sides on the grill!
With the help of our grilling guides, you now have a good starting point for many lovely evenings in the summer warmth ahead. Check through our grill sets if you are missing any tools for the summer - and good luck with the grilling!