Garlic Cheese Scallop Potatoes: What Salads Make A Perfect Pair?

Garlic cheese scalloped potatoes are a rich, creamy dish that pairs well with a fresh, crisp salad to balance out the meal. A simple garden salad with mixed greens, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, and red onion works well as a versatile side. For something more substantial, a quinoa salad with cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, and feta cheese is a great option. If you're looking for something tangy and refreshing, a Greek salad with feta cheese, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, olives, and bell peppers is a perfect choice. To complement the garlic in the potatoes, a spinach salad with red onion and a warm bacon vinaigrette is an excellent option.

Greek salad with feta cheese and cherry tomatoes

A Greek salad with feta cheese and cherry tomatoes is a vibrant, refreshing dish that pairs well with rich and hearty meals. This salad brings a burst of freshness and colour to the table, making it an excellent choice to serve alongside garlic cheese scalloped potatoes. Here's a guide to help you create this delicious Greek salad:

Ingredients:

• Feta Cheese: Feta is a crucial ingredient in a Greek salad, adding a salty and creamy flavour. You can buy feta already crumbled or chop it into 1/2-inch cubes yourself.
• Cherry Tomatoes: Cherry tomatoes are preferred over regular tomatoes as they provide sweet and juicy bursts of flavour. They are also less watery, ensuring your salad stays crisp.
• Vegetables: The classic Greek salad vegetables include cucumbers, red onions, green bell peppers, and romaine lettuce. You can chop them into bite-sized pieces to ensure every bite is a tasty mix of veggies, cheese, and dressing.
• Olives: Kalamata olives are commonly used in Greek salads for their salty and briny flavour, which pairs wonderfully with feta cheese.
• Herbs: Fresh herbs like mint and parsley add a pop of colour and a boost of flavour. You can chop them finely or leave them as whole leaves, adding them just before serving for an extra fresh touch.

Dressing:

A simple Greek salad dressing can be made by whisking together the following ingredients:

• Olive Oil
• Red Wine Vinegar or Lemon Juice
• Garlic (minced or crushed)
• Oregano (dried or fresh)
• Salt and Pepper, to taste

Instructions:

• Chop and prepare all the vegetables, cheese, and herbs.
• In a large bowl, combine the cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, red onions, green peppers, romaine lettuce, olives, and feta cheese.
• In a separate small bowl, whisk together the dressing ingredients: olive oil, vinegar or lemon juice, garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper.
• Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently to combine.
• Add the fresh herbs just before serving, giving the salad a final toss.
• Season to taste and serve!

This Greek salad is an excellent choice to serve with garlic cheese scalloped potatoes as it provides a refreshing contrast to the rich and creamy dish. The salty feta cheese and briny olives also complement the flavours of the garlic and cheese in the scalloped potatoes. Enjoy your delicious meal!

Spinach salad with red onion and bacon

A spinach salad with red onion and bacon is a great side dish to serve with garlic cheese scalloped potatoes. This salad is simple to make and can be customised with a variety of ingredients.

Ingredients:

• Fresh spinach
• Bacon, preferably thick-cut and nitrate-free
• Red onion, thinly sliced

Optional Ingredients:

• Hard-boiled eggs
• Dried cranberries
• Blue cheese
• Button mushrooms
• Avocado

Dressing:

Bacon vinaigrette: bacon drippings, olive oil, apple cider vinegar, sugar, red wine vinegar, water, pepper

Method:

First, macerate the red onions in apple cider vinegar for at least 15 minutes. Fry the bacon in a skillet until crispy, then remove and reserve the bacon drippings. Add the onions and vinegar to the skillet and stir. Place the spinach in a bowl and pour the dressing and onions over the top. Toss to combine and serve immediately.

Caesar salad with romaine lettuce and croutons

A Caesar salad is a great pairing with garlic cheese scalloped potatoes. The crisp romaine lettuce, crunchy croutons, and salty Parmesan cheese create a refreshing contrast to the warm, comforting flavours of the scalloped potatoes.

To make a Caesar salad with romaine lettuce and croutons, you'll need the following ingredients:

• Romaine lettuce
• Croutons (preferably homemade)
• Parmesan cheese
• Caesar salad dressing (also preferably homemade)

First, make the croutons by cutting a baguette into 1/4-inch thick slices and tossing them with olive oil, garlic, and Parmesan. Bake them in the oven until golden and crisp.

Next, prepare the Caesar salad dressing by whisking together olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper. You can also add an egg yolk and anchovies for a more traditional, savoury dressing.

Finally, assemble the salad by tossing the romaine lettuce with the croutons, Parmesan cheese, and dressing.

This Caesar salad is a classic side dish that will complement the garlic cheese scalloped potatoes perfectly. The crisp, tangy flavours and crunchy texture of the salad provide a refreshing balance to the rich, creamy potatoes.

Arugula salad with Parmesan cheese and cherry tomatoes

Arugula, also known as rucola, Italian cress, or rocket, is a wild herb with long dark green leaves. Its flavour is nutty, bitter, and peppery. It is a delicate herb that can wilt easily.

A simple arugula salad with Parmesan cheese and cherry tomatoes can be made in the following way. In a large bowl, combine the arugula, halved cherry tomatoes, and grated or shaved Parmesan cheese. Add lemon juice, olive oil, and salt to taste. Toss the salad and serve immediately.

This salad is a great side dish to garlic cheese scalloped potatoes. The peppery arugula leaves, paired with the Parmesan cheese and cherry tomatoes, create a simple yet sophisticated salad. The slight bitterness of the arugula can highlight the savoury flavours of the garlic cheese scalloped potatoes.

To make the salad more substantial, you can add toasted pine nuts. The balsamic vinegar reduction can also be drizzled over the salad for a sweeter touch.

Quinoa salad with cherry tomatoes, cucumber and red onion

Quinoa salad with cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and red onion is a refreshing and delicious dish that pairs well with garlic cheese scalloped potatoes. Here is a recipe for this tasty salad that serves 4-6 people:

Ingredients:

• 1 cup uncooked quinoa
• 1 can (15 ounces) chickpeas, or 1 ½ cups cooked chickpeas
• 1 medium cucumber
• 1 medium red bell pepper
• ¾ cup chopped red onion (from 1 small red onion)
• 1 cup finely chopped flat-leaf parsley (from 1 large bunch)
• ¼ cup lemon juice (from 2 to 3 lemons)
• 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
• 2 cloves garlic, pressed or minced
• ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
• Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• Olive oil

Method:

First, cook the quinoa by combining it with 2 cups of water in a medium saucepan. Bring it to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for about 15 minutes, or until the quinoa has absorbed all the water. Remove from the heat, cover, and let it rest for 5 minutes to fluff up.

In a separate bowl, combine the chickpeas, cucumber, bell pepper, onion, and parsley. Set this aside.

For the dressing, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, vinegar, garlic, and salt in a small bowl.

Once the quinoa has cooled down, add it to the bowl with the other ingredients. Drizzle the dressing on top and toss until everything is well combined.

Adjust the seasoning with black pepper and additional salt if needed. For the best flavor, let the salad rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. This salad can be served chilled or at room temperature and will keep well in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

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