Side Dishes for Summer BBQ!
Don't get stuck with the old BBQ side dishes this summer - these 5 dishes are just what you need to mix things up!
Sawaddee ka! 🙏🏼
My last email to you shared several Thai recipes for the grill, but I can’t leave you hanging without some side dishes, which, let’s face it, can really break or make the BBQ.
Most people have a thing in mind they want to grill, and it’s usually meat, but the side dishes often get forgotten, and we end up resorting to the same-old, same old. So here are some new dishes to try, whether your BBQ is Thai style or not!
Sticky Rice - 7 Ways!
If you're having Thai BBQ in Thailand, there will be no jasmine rice, only sticky rice! Jasmine rice is a little too fluffy and light for all of the grilled meats, while the dense, chewy sticky rice is perfect, not to mention you can eat it with your hands! Here are 7 ways to make sticky rice. One of these will work for you no matter your situation.
San Francisco Garlic Noodles
These San Francisco Garlic Noodles are a great side dish if you’re barbecuing meat or seafood. They’re incredibly easy to make and extremely satisfying to eat. I think of them as kind of like the Asian version of garlic bread - buttery, garlicky and satisfyingly chewy! Your noodle choice is key but I give you some great tips in the video and the written recipe to help you with that.
Garlic Fried Rice
Garlic Fried Rice actually originates in Japan but is really popular as a side dish in a lot of “self-barbecue” restaurants in Thailand (you know, where you grill your own meats at the table). And seeing as you’re probably the one grilling your meats on your backyard BBQ, this is a perfect fit 😉 ! It’s so good too - really full of flavour which is just what you need if you’re grilling plainer seasoned meats!
Green Papaya Salad - Som Tum
Green Papaya Salad is to Thai BBQ what potato salad is to Western BBQ (or however the saying goes 😂) It's a classic, must-have dish that's light enough to cut the heavy meats. Hot tip: if you don’t have green papaya, sub a mix of shredded cabbage and carrots for an amazing Thai slaw!
Chayote & Apple Salad - Tum Fakmeaw Apple
If you don't have green papaya, this style of salad works with many other ingredients, including apples. Here I'm making an Apple and Chayote Squash Salad, but you can do an all-apple one too. Just like the papaya salad, it’s a really refreshing, crunchy dish that pairs well with heavier meats!