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It’s the perfect time to add some fresh and flavorful greens to your meal plans.
Get ready for a lively summer and have fun doing it with these 12 awesome salad recipes!
With summer just around the corner, finding ways to stay energized and refreshed is becoming more important than ever.
Whether you are getting ready for a much-needed beach vaca or looking to add more greens to your diet, salad is a great way to get the filling nutrients you need without feeling dragged down by a heavy meal.
But, for a lot of people, salads seem boring, flavorless, and leave you wanting more. One thing is for certain, those people haven’t tried these recipes!
We are sharing all our best salad recipes and ideas to try just in time for summer, check it out!
Salad Recipes 101: How to Make the Perfect Salad for Every Occasion
Before we dive into our list of salad ideas that are too good to pass up, let’s uncover what it is that makes a salad a salad. And, find out what makes a salad so good you can’t wait to dig in!
Building the Base
First, the most important component of any notable salad is a substantial base. The base could be just about anything you like, but for the most part, people gravitate toward fresh leafy greens like kale, spinach, and lettuce.
Finding the Right Fixings
Next, let’s talk fixings. This is where you get to show off your inner artist and culinary creativity! You can customize your salad to your heart’s content with all kinds of toppings like fresh cucumber, diced apple, roasted seeds and nuts, and more.
But, be warned, it can be easy to get carried away. Some ingredients will work well together while other combinations have the potential to make salads an unappetizing thought.
Not sure what to throw on your salad? Just take a look at our tried and true recipes below!
Donning the Dressing
The final component of a delicious salad is also one of the most flavorful parts: the dressing!
There are so many options to choose from that even if you make the same salad over and over again, just switching up the dressing can turn it into a whole new experience!
Here’s a handy salad dressing recipe to have on hand with the summer months on their way in:
Fresh and Flavorful Salad Recipes for Summer
Since we’ve touched on all the main components of making a salad you will actually want to eat, it’s time to explore these irresistible summer salad recipes!
Salad in a Jar
Perfect for on-the-go!
Ingredients
Romaine or iceberg lettuce
Toppings of choice
Dressing of choice
Directions
Pour your favorite salad dressing into a major jar before adding any vegetables and toppings you prefer.
Layer the lettuce leaves and seal the jar.
Leave the jar in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Then, give it a good shake and either transfer to a bowl for serving or enjoy it right out of the jar!
Fill a large pot with water and a pinch of salt, and bring it to a boil. Add the pasta to the pot and cook until al dente.
While the pasta cooks, make the dressing. In a large bowl, combine the mustard, crushed anchovies, garlic, 1 Tablespoon of lemon juice, and the egg yolk. Then, continuously whisk the mixture as you slowly pour in the olive oil. Once emulsified, taste and add any remaining lemon or salt until satisfied.
Drain the pasta, but do not rinse. Add the beans, olives, pepperoncini, tomatoes, and cooked pasta to a bowl. Top with the Parmesan, chopped shallot, herbs, and dressing. Toss the salad until well-combined and serve immediately or chill until ready.
In a bowl, mix yogurt, mayo, chives, lemon zest, garlic, and juice from half a lemon until smooth, and add salt and pepper to taste. This will be the dressing.
Toast the breadcrumbs in olive oil over medium heat for 3-5 minutes.
While breadcrumbs are toasting, chop your lettuce and put it in a serving bowl. Top with dressing, breadcrumbs, and the Parmesan cheese.
Enjoy!
Prosciutto Salad Cups
Ingredients:
½ cup plain yogurt
2 Tablespoons mayonnaise
Juice of ½ lemon
2 Tablespoons chives, chopped
1 garlic clove
Panko breadcrumbs
Parmesan, grated
Romaine lettuce
Directions:
In a bowl, mix yogurt, mayo, chives, lemon zest, garlic, and juice from half a lemon until smooth, and add salt and pepper to taste. This will be the dressing.
Toast the breadcrumbs in olive oil over medium heat for 3-5 minutes.
While breadcrumbs are toasting, chop your lettuce and put it in a serving bowl. Top with dressing, breadcrumbs, and the Parmesan cheese.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk to combine the lemon juice, minced garlic, olive oil, and salt and pepper.
Add the kale leaves a handful at a time to the bowl and toss or stir to coat in the seasoning oil. If necessary, tear the leaves into smaller, bite-sized pieces.
Set the bowl aside. Heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat and add the breadcrumbs. Stir and toast the bread crumbs for 3-4 minutes before adding to the bowl of salad.
Add the parmesan to the salad and toss to distribute the toppings evenly.
Serve immediately and enjoy!
Tarragon Chicken Salad (on toast)
Ingredients
1 teaspoon salt
½ cup mayonnaise
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
3 Tablespoons lemon juice, fresh
1 rotisserie chicken
3 scallions, sliced
¾ cup celery, diced
¼ cup tarragon leaves, chopped
½ black pepper
½ teaspoon smoked paprika
Sliced bread of your choice
Directions
Toast the bread slices and set aside.
Use a fork to shred the meat of the rotisserie chicken and place the shredded chicken in a large bowl.
Combine the remaining ingredients to the shredded chicken and mix well.
Spoon the mixture onto the toast and top with fresh scallion slices to serve!
Peel and slice your citrus fruits, and then place them onto a plate. Layer with sliced or shredded cheese and set aside.
Roughly chop the pistachios and over medium-heat using the olive oil. As they roast, stir the pistachios for approximately 5 minutes.
Once roasted, remove from heat. In the pan, add the honey and rice vinegar, and stir.
Pour the nut mixture over the citrus as evenly as possible. Top with fresh cracked black pepper, and enjoy by itself or pair with an appetizing charcuterie board!
Cracker Salad
Ingredients
1 sleeve of Saltines
⅔ cup mayo
2 tomatoes, diced
½ shallot, minced
2 Tablespoons of fresh chives, plus more for garnish
Salt & pepper to taste
Directions
Add minced shallot, diced tomatoes, chives, mayo, salt, and pepper to a medium bowl. Stir until well combined.
Using your hands, crush saltines into different sized chunks and sprinkle into the bowl. Once the entire sleeve is crushed up, stir the mixture until the crackers are coated. To serve, scoop into a bowl and top with more chives. Serve immediately to keep the crunchy texture of the crackers.
Combine softened cream cheese and sour cream in a large bowl until smooth. Then, slowly add sugar and vanilla extract and mix well.
Fold in the grapes until they are evenly dispersed and place the mixture into the refrigerator for about 30 minutes or until you are ready to serve.
Remove from the refrigerator and sprinkle brown sugar and chopped pecans on top. Enjoy!
Grilled Corn Salad
Ingredients
4 ears of corn
2 Tablespoons chives, minced
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
½ cup crumbled feta
Juice of 1 lime
1 Tablespoon olive oil
Salt & pepper
Directions
Grill your corn until charred, and let it cool. Once the cobs are cool, slice the kernels off and place them in a medium bowl. Add the chives, tomatoes, and feta. Add salt and pepper to taste.
In a small bowl, mix the lime juice and olive oil to make a dressing. Pour it over the corn mixture, then stir until combined.
Mix it up by using fresh basil instead of chives, or by adding avocado chunks.
Combine all the ingredients for the vinaigrette in a mason jar, seal, and shake to mix. Adjust the flavor with additional salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes to your liking.
Place the tomatoes, sliced peaches, and cherries in a large mixing bowl. Pour ⅓ of the dressing into the bowl and toss the fruit to coat.
In a large bowl toss the tomatoes, peaches, and cherries with 1/3 of the dressing. Let sit 15 minutes at room temperature or up to 4 hours in the fridge.
Transfer the fruit to a serving plate and top with the burrata, remaining dressing, and sunflower seeds. Enjoy!
Find More Salad Recipes and All New Favorites with Table & Thyme
If you liked these must-try salad recipes and ideas, you will love our other content!
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