Summer is the season of outdoor barbecues and koozied cold beers. A season where we ignore sweat and bug bites just to soak in the warm air and patio lights. A season where stoops transform effortlessly from steps into one long continuous, lazy, sun soaked party.
While I love the simplicity of grilled food and the ease of a hot dog, there's often a dire lack of, how can we say this, not-pure-sodium at these things. So if my friends are grilling I usually try to throw together something simple and sweet, like say this blueberry buttermilk cake, and bring a side dish that allows me to sneak a serving or two of vegetables onto my plate. I have a few summer cold salads or slaws up my sleeve for this very purpose, because they're endlessly versatile, satisfying, and often fill a food group hole on the backyard picnic table.
This slaw is downright addictive, and has made me love broccoli raw. It's simple to throw together and deeply satisfying, plus it's tangy, crunchy, and bright enough to pair beautifully with grilled chicken thighs and kielbasa alike. And bonus, if you have buttermilk left over you can make this cake, these biscuits, or even marinate chicken in it! There's really no reason not to keep some around in summer.
Get the recipe here, over on Smitten Kitchen!