Potluck Ideas to Please a Crowd & Take Care of Yourself
It's summer and that means it's potluck season. I love potlucks. Not only is it fun to share food with friends and loved ones, there's usually lots of options, fun things to try and best of all, it's a great opportunity to make sure your needs are taken care of in a social setting and no one needs to know about them!
So, if you're tired of feeling like you have to explain your dietary choices, or you're in the camp that is used to abandoning yourself because you don't want to be “rude” and end up eating food you know doesn't agree with you and paying for it later, the potluck is the perfect meal sharing experience that let’s you stay in the driver’s seat.
The only thing this takes is a little planning. If you can find out from the host what people are bringing that can help otherwise I say, take care of yourself and go with something that’ll keep you satiated and satisfied.
This is how I strategize on what to bring. Of course I want it to be a crowd pleaser but I also want to make sure I'll be taken care of and won't feel hungry. I usually prioritize veggies and/or protein depending on what I know will be there. While I love making desserts, if I had to pick between a savory or a sweet, I will usually pick the savory as insurance that there will be something satisfying and delicious for me to enjoy. This way, I'm less likely to go overboard on all the tempting goodies because of low blood sugar. I'm also more likely to enjoy myself and won't be feeling like I need a day or two to recover.
Here are some of my favorite ideas and recipes… I hope you love them too.
You can never go wrong with a good Charcuterie Plate with olives or tapenade (I'm loving Trader Joe's Olive Tapenade with Kalamata & Chalkidiki Olives for one that is delicious, budget conscious at $1.99 and doesn't have any funky ingredients like industrial seed oils), hard cheeses and cut up veggies.
Beet Salad with Feta - I make homemade balsamic vinaigrette
Tune Nicoise Salad - need I say more? This one's a beaut. You need to scroll down midway to find the recipe.
Delfina's Spicy Cauliflower - I used to love going to Delfina Pizza in San Francisco back in the good ol days before gluten and I broke up. I have to say, if I was gonna go for it, this would be one place to make it worth it. This cauliflower dish is both delish and satisfying. It's great hot, warm or a room temp. I recommend swapping out the canola oil with avocado oil and omit the breadcrumbs if you're gluten free or avoiding bread.
Loaded Wedge Salad (hold the croutons for me!)
Do you have any favorite potluck picks? I’d love to hear about them. And if you try any of the above, I’d love to hear what you think!