A collection of summer salad recipes you can make this summer to help you get back in shape and get that summer bod. These healthy summer salad ideas are easy to toss together, perfect for a crowd, delicious for both lunch or dinner, either as an appetizer or full meal.
Summer is around the corner, and that means bringing out the comfy clothes, going to the beach, outdoor parties and most of all, losing weight. We always stay hydrated during this time and eat food that will keep our energy high.
And to keep our body beach ready we exercise and go on a diet most of the time. Eating healthy food like smoothies and salads are on the menu list. That's why today I'll share some of my favorite summer salads. These salads are assembled using seasonal produce - fruits and vegetables that you usually find in the summer.
It is important to eat in season produce during the summer because they are first of all readily available, tastes fresh, cheap and they are in their most nutritious state when they are in season. [Source]
So if you want your summer salad of high nutritional value, make your summer salad recipes with the following seasonal fruits and vegetables. [Source]
- Corn
- Tomatoes
- Watermelon
- Berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries)
- Chard
- Salad Greens
- Chile Peppers
- Stone Fruits (peaches, plums, apricots, and nectarines)
- Aragula
- Herbs (basil, rosemary, thyme)
- Spinach
- Figs
- Cherries
- Cucumbers
- Avocado
- Melons
- Beets
- Sweet Peppers
- Zucchini
What makes a great salad?
Well, for starters, fantastic salads rely on fresh, seasonal ingredients — that’s the most important thing. Summer salad recipes and all salads in general should always be balanced, and I mean they’re well-thought compositions that consider everything, including the color, flavor and texture of the ingredients.
Then there’s the salad dressings. Store-bought dressings don’t make the cut anymore. Being so easy to put together, there’s no reason you should have bottles of salad dressing in the fridge, not even ranch!
A great summer salad looks as it tastes and makes you want to snap a picture for your foodie Instagram. They are interestingly not only bright in colors but also guaranteed to satisfy you. That’s when you know you’re in for a great meal.
What is the best time to eat salad?
Salads are fresh and cooling, so you want to enjoy a colorful salad for lunch before a main dish as a starter or an appetizer or a full complete meal even.
If you’re having dinner alfresco, you’ll find salads to be both a reliable first course and a light main course at a summery dinner. Salad for breakfast? Why not! There are plenty of hearty salads that are up to being the most important meal of the day.
Types of Salad
Salads are difficult to classify since they can be made with literally anything, from grilled chicken to artichoke hearts. Culinary speaking, there are three main categories for salads.
Tossed salads. The most popular type of salad relies on leafy greens such as lettuce, kale or spinach as a base. Then they can be ‘tossed’ with fruits, nuts, cheese or other veggies. The lighter the flavor of the ingredients, the lighter the dressing should be. A Greek salad is a tossed salad.
Composed salads. A composed salad is never tossed but artfully arranged. The distinct elements are placed in a particular order, building the salad from the bottom up. The four elements in a composed salad are the base, body, garnish, and dressing. A Caesar salad is a composed salad.
Bound salads. Bound salads are like tossed salads, but all the ingredients are bound together. They often have some protein and some starch. Think of a macaroni salad with a mayo dressing. A Russian potato salad is a bound salad.
30 Colorful Summer Salad Recipes
May you want any of your summer salad recipes with fruits (like strawberries, corn, peaches, avocado), vegetables (like cucumber, zucchini), protein (like quinoa), orzo or pasta, I got you covered. Browse on each recipe to give you ideas on how to make your very own summer salad. They're actually quite easy to assemble and very tasty, moreover one of the healthiest food ever.
Watermelon Feta Salad
Very refreshing summer salad of sweet watermelon with cucumber and feta in lemon dressing. Choosing the right kind of watermelon makes a great difference.
Caesar Salad
Yummy salad in a beautiful and creamy caesar salad dressing with anchovies. Make sure to make everything from scratch to truly enjoy the crunchiness and creaminess of this salad.
Grilled Zucchini Salad with Corn and Tomatoes
The aromatic lemon dressing with goat cheese crumbs elevates this grilled salad made with zucchini, cherry tomatoes and sweet corn. A great salad that can also be a side dish or a light main course!
Strawberry Spinach Salad with Avocado
With beautiful contrasting colors between ripe strawberries and creamy avocado, this spinach-based salad is delicious on its own. Topped with balsamic strawberry vinaigrette, it’s simply perfect.
Summer Couscous Salad
Couscous is super versatile, and it’s an ideal base for a more satisfying salad. Together with cherry tomatoes, bell peppers, cucumbers, onions, feta and mint, and tossed with a Dijon-honey vinaigrette, this is couscous like you’ve never tried before.
Avocado Salad with Tomatoes, Mozzarella, Basil Pesto
Rolling the small mozzarella balls is the hardest part of this recipe. The rest is tossing cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, and diced avocado. Even the basil pesto dressing is easy!
Healthy Taco Salad
The coolest part here is that shiitake taco faux meat. Tossed with tortilla strips, avocado, jalapeño and other veggies. This salad really has a taco feel to it.
Watermelon Tomato Salad
Heirloom tomatoes are essential here, and they contrast nicely with fresh watermelon chunks. Flavored with the thick Tamari sauce and Thai basil, and with the added crunch of crushed cashews, this is what I mean with a well-thought composed salad.
Butter Lettuce Salad with Honey Mustard Vinaigrette
Butter or bibb lettuce steals the show here. You only need sliced radishes, avocados and chives to make it shine. The citrusy Dijon-honey mustard is lovely too.
Tropical Kale Salad
When Holly and Natalie say tropical, they’re not kidding. Think of mango, mint, macadamia nuts and many other colorful treats over a bed of kale. The coconut curry lime dressing brings it all home.
Early Summer Salad
Farro is a distinctive whole grain that works marvelously here. Especially when tossed with cherry tomatoes, a kale-arugula mix, mint, goat cheese and sunflower seeds. The red wine vinegar dressing is a nice touch too.
Summer Kale Salad
Will we ever get tired of kale? I think not. This dark green salad comes to life with nectarines, corn kernels, tomatoes, almonds and feta. You’ll love the lemon-basil-tahini dressing!
Summer Cobb Salad Recipe
Sommer Collier devised this colorful composed salad to be a wholesome meal. Chicken, romaine, hard-boiled eggs, blue cheese, avocado and berries make this a rich salad that could easily be the main course for lunch.
Thai Summer Salad
Pretty and uncomplicated. This colorful tossed salad relies on bell peppers, yellow squash, carrots and jalapeño peppers to create a crunchy and spicy experience. The dressing is classic Thai with fish sauce, lime juice and garlic paste.
Vegan Summer Salad
Ania’s Vegan Summer Salad puts to work zucchini, radishes, cucumbers, avocado, snap peas and almonds for quite a complex salad. The dressing is sophisticated, too, with chipotle, lime and maple syrup.
Crunchy Salad with Turmeric Cider Tahini
Quinoa is the base here, and it’s the perfect bed for asparagus, corn, zucchini noodles, and much more. Then you have the turmeric, cider and tahini dressing elevating the salad to perfection.
Summer Vegetable Salad
Maria knows her seasonal produce and makes this colorful dish with feta, cucumber, tomatoes, corn, and a lightly charred lime vinaigrette. Nice and simple, just what you needed for an easy salad.
Summer Garden Salad by Weelicious
Bright and vibrant, this tossed salad is all about color. Corn, cucumbers, hearts of palm, beet and some edible flowers are a nice combo. The Dijon-lime dressing is nicely seasoned, too!
Summer Salad with Roasted Strawberry Poppyseed Vinaigrette
The roasted strawberry poppyseed vinaigrette will elevate any salad to new heights. In this one, it works well with more strawberries, almonds, feta, onions and avocado. You want to add some roasted sweet potato in there as well.
Honey-Miso Salad Bowls
A classic Dijon-honey dressing is incredible when whisked with a few tablespoons of white miso paste. Then you use it to coat a combination of spinach, zucchini, sprouts, strawberries, radishes and sesame seeds.
Fruit & Nut Salad
Sarah shows you how to make a nice, composed salad based on berries, tomatoes, peaches, avocado, goat cheese, and nuts. It all comes together with a honey balsamic vinaigrette. Doesn’t it sound lovely?
Chickpea Salad with Honey Garlic Lime Vinaigrette
The trick to make this salad so flavorful is letting the vinaigrette sit. Let that chickpea marinate in the dressing.
Corn, Tomato, and Avocado Quinoa Salad by Baker by Nature
The vibrance of this salad is undeniable against the quinoa. Sweet, juicy and creamy in a plate of in season ingredients.
Honey Lemon Vinaigrette on Peach Bacon Salad
Crispy bacon in a bed of fresh peaches and cucumbers swimming in a delightful vinaigrette of honey lemon, this salad shouts 'hello summer'!
Garbanzo Salad with Creamy Dill Dressing
Any salad is obviously healthy already, but throw in ingredients that are vegan and gluten-free, this salad is three times the yumminess power.
Summer Orzo Pasta Salad Recipe
Looking for a complete meal salad? This salad showcases the salad of summer. Fills you enough to satisfy and very light to the taste.
Green Goddess Quinoa Salad
After a weekend of binge eating your comfort foods, it's good to start the week fresh. This salad may look simple, but it's pretty loaded with you favorite summer vegetables.
Summer Melon Salad
Who said you can't play with you food? Making this melon salad is so much fun! Create and align those cubed melons into a checkerboard, and have your kids help for double the fun.
Berry Fruit Salad With Honey Lime Glaze
Very flexible and adaptable salad! Toss every summery fruits you have and glaze with honey and lime combo.
Summer Breeze Salad with Granola
You'll surely enjoy each crunch in every bite of granolas present in this salad. Eight minutes is all you need to assemble everything and enjoy the delicious plumpness peaches and berries with the contrasting flavor of feta.
Peach Balsamic Caprese Salad
Party of flavors in your mouth is the name of the game! Peaches, almonds, mozarella, and basil in a balsamic dressing. You'll ask for seconds once you have your fill of this salad.
There you have it, my top 30 summer salad recipes. Hope you try all of them and enjoy each flavors this summer.
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