Summertime is a foodie paradise with all of the fresh ingredients available. The number of dishes that can be made with all this bounty is innumerable. But what’s any good main course without the perfect salad to complement it? This list these summer salads will help ensure your table is always set with something light that tastes like summertime.
Fresh Watermelon Salad with Feta, Arugula & Mint
Speaking of summer flavors, there’s truly nothing like that first, totally ripe summer watermelon. Adding feta cheese with arugula and mint gives every bite a pleasing burst of flavor.
You need: 400 g watermelon, 100 g feta, rocket, mint, 2 tbsp olive oil, 1 lime.
- Cube watermelon and feta.
- Toss with rocket and mint.
- Dress with oil and lime.
Lemon Orzo Salad With Grilled Vegetables
Orzo may look like rice, but it’s actually a type of pasta. Adding in fresh lemon and grilled vegetables makes a salad that is guaranteed to disappear quickly.
You need: 200 g orzo, 1 courgette, 1 pepper, 1 lemon, 3 tbsp olive oil, 50 g feta.
- Cook orzo.
- Grill sliced vegetables and chop.
- Toss with lemon, oil and feta.
Mediterranean Cucumber Tomato Salad
This is a classic tomato-cucumber salad recipe with a twist. It is almost a pasta salad. The Israeli couscous and the extra mystery spice give it tons of appeal.
You need: 2 cucumbers, 3 tomatoes, 1/2 red onion, 50 g olives, 2 tbsp olive oil, 1 tbsp vinegar, oregano.
- Chop vegetables.
- Add olives.
- Dress with oil, vinegar and oregano.
Marinated Vegetable Salad
Crispy, tangy, and oh-so-easy! Discover the secret to keeping your vegetable spears perfectly crunchy with this quick pickling technique. This vibrant salad bursts with bright flavors.
You need: 2 courgettes, 2 peppers, 200 g mushrooms, 4 tbsp Italian dressing, red onion.
- Slice vegetables.
- Toss with dressing.
- Marinate 2 hours.
Melon Salad
One thing about a great summer salad is that it should look just as good as it tastes. This melon salad definitely checks both boxes, with watermelon, cantaloupe, and honeydew, accented lightly with fresh mint.
You need: 1 melon, 100 g prosciutto or feta, mint, 1 lime, olive oil.
- Cube or ball the melon.
- Toss with mint and lime.
- Top with prosciutto or feta.
Nectarine Salad
Picture juicy nectarines mingling with radishes, red onions, feta, walnuts, and a symphony of other delicious ingredients. This summer salad recipe is a true taste sensation.
You need: 3 nectarines, rocket, 100 g mozzarella, 30 g almonds, 2 tbsp olive oil, 1 tbsp balsamic.
- Slice nectarines.
- Combine with rocket, cheese and almonds.
- Dress with oil and balsamic.
Grilled Chicken Salad with Berries and Blueberry Maple Balsamic Vinaigrette
Sometimes, salads can be a whole meal instead of a side dish. Marinated grilled chicken combined with berries, toasted nuts, and tangy goat cheese is a perfect lunch salad option.
You need: 2 chicken breasts, mixed leaves, 150 g berries, 30 g walnuts, 3 tbsp olive oil, 1 tbsp balsamic, 1 tbsp maple syrup.
- Grill and slice the chicken.
- Whisk balsamic, oil and maple with a few crushed berries.
- Toss leaves with chicken, berries and nuts.
Cucumber Shrimp Salad
Chicken isn’t the only protein that finds its way into salads, though. This option adds shrimp to a cucumber salad for a unique taste.
You need: 300 g cooked shrimp, 2 cucumbers, 2 tbsp mayo, 1 tbsp lemon juice, dill.
- Slice cucumbers.
- Mix shrimp with mayo, lemon and dill.
- Combine.
Everything Bagel Cobb Salad
This wild recipe idea turns the standard lox bagel on its ear. Making a cobb salad flavored with everything bagel seasoning, lox, and bagel chips is sure to please.
You need: romaine, 2 boiled eggs, 4 bacon rashers, 1 avocado, 2 tomatoes, everything bagel seasoning, dressing.
- Chop and arrange everything on lettuce.
- Sprinkle with seasoning.
- Dress.
Chopped Vegetable Salad
With all the wild and crazy (but delicious) options out there, it’s easy to forget about the salad that started it all. This basic veggie salad takes the original concept and perfects it for a side that will go with anything.
You need: 2 cucumbers, 2 tomatoes, 1 pepper, 1 carrot, 1/2 red onion, 3 tbsp olive oil, 1 lemon.
- Chop all vegetables small.
- Dress with oil and lemon.
- Season.
Pear Pecan Salad
This pear and pecan salad has a light and elegant taste with just a touch of sweetness. The homemade dressing really sets it off, and it features one very unusual ingredient: grape juice concentrate.
You need: 2 pears, mixed leaves, 40 g pecans, 50 g blue cheese, 3 tbsp olive oil, 1 tbsp vinegar.
- Slice pears.
- Toss with leaves, pecans and cheese.
- Dress with oil and vinegar.
Summer Corn and Chickpea Salad
Fresh corn and chickpeas take center stage in this offering. Cilantro and lime round out the flavor profile, making this a light and pleasing summer dish.
You need: 2 corn cobs, 400 g chickpeas, 1 cucumber, 2 tomatoes, 1 lime, 3 tbsp olive oil, parsley.
- Cook corn and cut kernels.
- Mix with chickpeas and vegetables.
- Dress with lime and oil.
Grilled Peach Blackberry Salad
Grilled peaches are one of those ingredients that may sound odd, but only to those who haven’t tried them yet. This tangy, sweet salad will quickly become a new favorite, especially due to the honey dijon vinaigrette.
You need: 2 peaches, 150 g blackberries, rocket, 50 g goat cheese, 2 tbsp olive oil, 1 tbsp balsamic.
- Grill peach slices.
- Toss with berries and rocket.
- Top with cheese and dress.
Carrot Cucumber Salad
This carrot cucumber salad offers two major strengths. The first is that it’s delicious and has a simple recipe. The second is that the spiral-cut carrots and cucumbers make it look so fun—more like a plate of pasta than veggies.
You need: 3 carrots, 1 cucumber, 1 tbsp sesame seeds, 2 tbsp rice vinegar, 1 tbsp sesame oil, 1 tsp honey.
- Ribbon the vegetables.
- Whisk vinegar, oil and honey.
- Toss and sprinkle with seeds.
Summer Panzanella (Italian Bread Salad)
This unique salad concept is an absolute game changer. Bread salad is a classic Italian dish, and the sourdough cubes taste absolutely perfect in this summer recipe.
You need: 200 g stale bread, 4 tomatoes, 1 cucumber, 1/2 red onion, basil, 4 tbsp olive oil, 2 tbsp vinegar.
- Toast bread cubes.
- Toss with chopped vegetables and basil.
- Dress and rest 15 min.
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