Forget boring side dishes: We present you with 30 varied recipes that give every barbecue evening that certain something, from crispy salads to sophisticated dips. Click through our gallery.
What are delicious side dishes for barbecue fun?
Grilling is not just about the meat, but also about the delicious side dishes that top it off. There are numerous ways to enrich your barbecue evening with delicious side dishes. Classics like Potato salad, grilled vegetables or fresh salads are always a good choice. But also more unusual side dishes like stuffed mushrooms, Corn on the cob or grilled halloumi cheese add variety to the plate. It is important that the side dishes are well prepared and appropriately seasoned to complement the taste of the grilled food. With a variety of side dishes, grilling becomes a culinary experience for all the senses.
How many side dishes should you grill per person?
The golden rule for a relaxed barbecue is: Plan a total of around 400 to 500 grams of side dishes per person if you also serve meat or fish. For the classics such as potato or pasta salad, you can expect around 150 to 200 grams per head. There are also fresh leaf salads or vegetable variations, where 100 to 150 grams per guest is ideal to ensure lightness on the plate.
Don’t forget the bread and dips: two to three slices of baguette and around 50 grams of sauces per person complete the menu. If you have a lot of vegetarians at the table, consider increasing the amount of grilled vegetables and filling salads by about 20%. This way you can ensure that the variety on the table exactly matches your guests’ appetites and that everyone finds their personal highlight.
What is the “three element rule” for grill side dishes?
This rule states that a perfect selection of side dishes should always consist of three different categories to cover all taste buds and satiety levels:
- The Saturating One (The Base): These include classics such as potato or pasta salad, couscous or fresh bread. This component ensures that your guests are really full and forms the solid foundation of the meal.
- The Freshness (The Contrast): A crisp lettuce, a tomato and cucumber mix or a fruity component (like the strawberry and asparagus salad). This element brings lightness to the plate and perfectly balances the heaviness of grilled food and sauces.
- The warm/refined one (the eye-catcher): This is a side dish that comes straight from the grill or has a special touch – for example grilled corn on the cob, stuffed mushrooms or warm zucchini skewers.
