Simple salads to make in bulk - suggestions please

I am catering for approx 40 people on the weekend for MILs 60th birthday. Just a BBQ, finger foods plus salads and bakes.

I'll be doing all the prep by myself and don't want to spend heaps of $ on ingredients either.

So hit me with your suggestions for easy & quick-to-prepare salads & sides that have some simple ingredients and that can be made in bulk fairly easily, but might still have an extra twist for something interesting. I know there is the standard coleslaw, potato, green salad etc. but would like some other ideas & inspiration.

Thanks in advance.

Definitely go Turk's tabouli its something that can be made in bulk and is VERY easy! It's also not a mouthful of parsley its mostly bulgar wheat which is divine!

How about a big ceaser salad, or the chinese noodle salad (cabbage etc the recipe's on the back of Changs Crispy noodles), pasta salad, or make a vege salad...pumkpin, roasted beetroot, green beans, chick peas - all thrown together with a dressing of olive oil and balsamic.

I'm hungry now!!

Ooh yes def TDs Tabouli *drool*
Bean Salads, pasta salads and rice salads can all be made in bulk a day ahead ... if you want specific recipes let me know

Good luck and have fun! :)

Thanks ladies.

Where do I find TDs tabouli recipe? Is it already on BB somewhere? Sounds yummo Rouge.

Limeslice - what do you do for your bean salad & rice salad. I'd love the recipes if you can.

Hummingbird - I do love the changs noodle & cabbage salad, I was thinking of not doing it but it might be a good idea. Now that I think about it, the ingredients are easy, its just a matter of dressing it right before its served.

Keep em coming ladies!

pasta salad - packet of pasta, cooked. 2xtins 4-bean mix. large tin supersweet corn. capsicum, diced. Salad or spanish onions x 2 - finely diced. 2 tins flavoured tuna (I like the sundried tomato flavour). Mix all together ;)

Couscous & roast veg salad - roast a pan of chopped colourful veg - spanish onion, pumpkin, carrot, potato with some rosemary & sea-salt. Cook couscous, fluff with butter. toss veg (including rosemary) through gently.

good luck ;)

Edit: dress up simple garden salads by adding rockmelon cubes.

watermelon salad- so tasty and easy. Cubed watermelon, diced red onion & fresh mint.......mmmmmmmm

Blanch green beans in boiling water and then refresh in cold water to keep them green and stop them from over cooking. Toss in pesto and place on platter. Sprinkle with persian fetta and finely chopped sundried tomato (or slithered almonds or anything you like).

Potato salad, Rice salad, Pasta salad. A great quick and cheap pasta salad is sweet and sour pasta salad. Buy homebrand pasta and stir in a sweet and sour sauce. It's yummy.