A Variety of Vegetables

• Corn on the cob pairs nicely with barbecued sausage because the sweetness of the corn complements the intense seasonings of the sausage. Grill the corn in its husk or boil it on the stove. Squeeze lime juice on the cooked corn and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Kick up the flavor and the heat with a sprinkle of cayenne pepper. Another alternative is to mix hot sauce with sweet butter and slather on the corn. Grilled tomatoes, peppers and onions make an interesting side dish and also can be used with leftover sausages to make sandwiches. Sliced potatoes wrapped in aluminum foil cook on the grill at the same time as the sausages.

A Selection of Salads

• Sausages are somewhat fatty and rich. A crisp green salad with a tart dressing contrasts with the richness of the sausages. Try a fresh kale salad with a lemon and olive oil dressing. Cut the leaves off the tougher kale stems and then dice the leaves into 1/2 inch pieces. Rub the dressing into the kale with your fingers. Cole slaw is a favorite and quick to make, especially if you use packaged shredded cabbage. Another salad possibility is fresh cherry tomatoes with julienned basil leaves sprinkled with Parmesan cheese and dressed with olive oil and red wine vinegar.

A Bounty of Beans

• Beans add sustenance to the dinner. They have another advantage as well. You can dice up the leftover sausage into the beans for dinner the next night. Cowboy beans are spicy and work well with milder sausages such as bratwurst, while sweet and tangy baked beans go with spicier sausages such as andouille or hot Italian sausage. Three-bean salad combines beans, vinegar and a sweetener. Choose from green beans, garbanzo, red kidney, white or great northern beans. The sweetener could be brown sugar, maple syrup or honey. Vinegar choices include apple cider and red or white vinegar.

A Basket of Breads

• Naked sausages could use the cloak of a bun. Wrap them in hot dog buns, hoagie rolls or sourdough bread. Split a baguette and fill it with the sausages. Rye bread goes with Polish sausages such as kielbasa or German sausages such as bockwurst or knackwurst. Offer tortillas with chorizo, a spicy Mexican sausage.