Grilling is a great way to get the most flavor from your vegetables, so when I picked up my first little “new” potatoes and beets at the Newburyport Farmers Market along with a beautiful bunch of basil, I couldn’t wait to get home and start my favorite potato salad. This is a versatile side dish (you can grill your fish or meat at the same time) or vegetarian main course, paired with a green salad, a rustic French country sourdough loaf from Annarosa’s at the Tannery Marketplace, in Newburyport…and for a refreshing change, try one of the hard ciders from Russell Orchards Winery.

Grilled Vegetable Potato Salad

Serves 4

6 small New Potatoes(skin on)
2 medium Beets
1 Red and 1 Yellow Pepper
1 large Red Onion
1/4 cup Olive oil
Sea salt and Pepper
1/2 cup olives (pitted)

Dressing:
1/2 cup Olive oil
3 Tablespoons  Vinegar
2 Tablespoons fresh Lemon Juice
1 Tablespoon Dijon Mustard
2 teaspoons Sea Salt
1 teaspoon Pepper
1/2 cup Goat Cheese (try the Black Pepper Chevre from Essex Cheese Co.)
1/2 cup Basil, julienned and packed tight
 fresh Chives

Cut potatoes in half, beets in thick slices, peppers quartered and onion in thick slices. Place in bowl with olive oil and toss to coat. Place on hot grill and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook until tender and browned on all sides. Remove to a large salad bowl. Add olives.  For dresseng: whisk olive oil, vinegar, lemon juice, mustard, salt and pepper together until thick and smooth. Fold dressing into vegetables and add the goat cheese and basil. Top with chives (best snipped with scissors).

If you’re interested in learning more about Natural Foods Cooking techniques, as well as how to plan delicious, healthy meals for yourself, family and friends, my business is called Food For Life, and I give individual or small group cooking classes, usually in your kitchen…so invite a few friends over, we’ll plan a great menu, have a hands-on cooking experience together and then sit down (with a glass of wine) and enjoy the fruits of our labor. For more information please call 978 807-1805. Too busy to cook? Delicious, healthy meals delivered to your door!