The success of a cookout hinges upon the grill. However, even the tastiest steak or grilled chicken served up on a plate by itself will only go so far. And then you'll need a side dish, or several. Some of my favorites:
If I had to pick one side dish to bring to a picnic, it would be a chilled rice salad: It sounds simple, but can be tremendously satisfying, and is also so easy to vary that you'll never tire of it. It's an excellent indoor summer dish too.
Close on the heels of Insalata di Riso comes Insalata Caprese, named after the Island of Capri: It's tomatoes and Mozzarella, seasoned with olive oil and basil, and though purists stop there one can jazz it up nicely. It's perfect for balancing rich meats off the grill, and has a wonderfully refreshing coolness too.
This is a very simple, tomatoey pasta salad that is perfect at picnics, or indoors on a hot day. Its only defect is that the bowl empties very fast.
Panzanella, a refreshing bread salad, is a classic Tuscan means for dealing with stale bread, and is another of those dishes that are open to all sorts of improvisation. Though it can be very elaborate, I prefer simpler renditions, which work perfectly with grilled meats.
Though you might not think to bring a close relative of the omelette to a cookout, a sliced frittata they can be very nice, both to nibble on while the coals are heating, and as an accompaniment. You may find yourself making several.
This is quite refreshing, and also has some tuna, which may appeal to those who want an alternative to meat.
Grilled vegetables have a smoky tang that works wonderfully with mozzarella. This is quite tasty, and thanks to the mozzarella, refreshingly cool as well.
You might be surprised to find a great bowl of boiled vegetables at a picnic, but if they're well seasoned with mayo and olive oil they are quite refreshing, and, unlike a salad, they won't become tired. And the more vegetables you add, the tastier they become!
String beans are one of the most common summer vegetables, and with good reason: they're extremely versatile, and are wonderful either hot or chilled. You needn't go on a cookout to enjoy these.
One of the tastiest ways to serve boiled cranberry beans (borlotti) in the summer is boiled, chilled, and seasoned with tuna and fresh onion (to taste). The miller's tastes are similar, though a little richer, and the result is eminently satisfying.
