77 Epic Summer Salads (just the best easy recipes!)
As the days get warmer and longer, we’re already dreaming of the healthiest, tastiest al fresco meal: summer salads.
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We’ve rounded up 77 of the best, from summer salads for a crowd to impress at your summer barbecue, to refreshing summer salads for a quick lunch on a warm afternoon.
Salads often get an undeserved bad rap: that they’re boring, tasteless, the sad preserve of people stuck in hopeless diets.
This just isn’t true, and these salads prove it.
These easy salad recipes are full of fresh, seasonal ingredients and are rich in flavour.
There are also loads of salads for weight loss that are as tasty as they are filling (try these Indian-style weight loss salad ideas for more inspo!). No crying into a bowl of lettuce leaves here!
Despite this, we know not everybody loves every salad.
So, we’ve included plenty of different types of salad: from green salad recipes full of fresh veggies like this kale salad, to salads with fruit dressing like this strawberry and rocket salad.
So, without further ado, are our 77 best summer salads for this time of year!
Make sure you scroll right to the bottom if you’re looking for extra high-protein sporty salads! We have an extra section of salads designed for active people with the right amounts of calories and protein.
Green salads
1. Healthy Egg Salad
Bonus: high protein, light but filling
Looking to up your salad game? Try this healthy egg salad recipe with quinoa and beets – the perfect weight loss lunch (more vegetarian lunch recipes for weight loss this way)!
2. Superfood Salad with Kale and Blueberries
Protein: 7g
Calories: 214kcal
Ready in: 15 minutes
Recipe by: HoorahToHealth
Bonus: high in antioxidants, high in fibre
This Superfood Salad with Kale and Blueberries is easy to make and is ready in just 15 minutes! This is the easy way to eat kale. It is loaded with healthy ingredients and is full of flavor.
3. Easy Pear and Walnut Salad Recipe with Orange Dressing
Bonus: vegan, high in fibre
A beautifully crunchy salad with a mix of rocket leaves, dried fruits, pear and walnuts set this salad above the competition. Use the best quality olive oil you can find – it makes all the difference! And it’s vegan too!
4. Avocado Tomato Salad – A perfect summer salad
Bonus: creamy, healthy fats, vegan
This creamy avocado tomato salad is healthy and delicious, perfect for adding to a weight loss meal plan, or just as your new favourite go-to lunch! Heirloom tomatoes or cherry tomatoes work well in this simple salad.
Subscribe to get our FREE 7-Day Vegetarian High Protein Meal Plan for Weight Loss
5. Lemon and Kale Salad
Protein: 8g
Calories: 278kcal
Ready in: 10 minutes
Recipe by: VeggiesDontBite
Bonus: superfood, super flavourful
This lemon kale salad is not your average boring salad. It’s filled with amazing flavors and textures, and absolutely delicious! Lemon zest and massaged kale make this the kind of salad you’ll want to want to eat daily!
6. California Guacamole Salad
Protein: 22g
Calories: 733kcal
Ready in: 15 minutes
Recipe by: VeggiesSaveTheDay
Bonus: vegan, gluten free, nut free
Do you love chips and guacamole? This substantial California Guacamole Salad loaded with black beans, tomatoes, and crushed tortilla chips (all the good stuff) is the perfect way to make it a meal.
7. Raw Zucchini Salad
Protein: 4g
Calories: 157kcal
Ready in: 10 minutes
Recipe by: WentHere8This
Bonus: raw, minimal prep
This raw Zucchini Salad recipe is marinated in fresh lemon juice, olive oil and garlic and chili, and served with crunchy toasted chickpeas, sweet roasted corn and Parmesan cheese. Use veggie parmesan!
8. Hearts of Palm Salad
Protein: 2g
Calories: 136kcal
Ready in: 15 minutes
Recipe by: VeggiesSaveTheDay
Bonus: just 6 ingredients, speedy prep
Easy to make in 15 minutes, light and refreshing Hearts of Palm Salad features avocado, cucumber, and cherry tomatoes in a lemon dressing.
9. Green Bean Salad with Tomatoes and Creamy Feta
Protein: 5g
Calories: 162kcal
Ready in: 48 minutes
Recipe by: MarcellinaInCucina
Bonus: serve warm or cold, homemade dressing
This Green Bean Salad with tomatoes and creamy feta is made with fresh green beans, cherry or grape tomatoes, and creamy Danish feta. The salty feta complements the juicy tomatoes! A tangy dressing brings the salad together. Serve it warm or cold for an easy side dish!
10. Creamy Vegan Kale Salad
Protein: 6g
Calories: 165kcal
Ready in: 30 minutes
Recipe by: MyQuietKitchen
Bonus: gluten free, superfood
This creamy vegan kale salad is full of color and nutrition. Enjoy as a side dish or add beans and grains for an entree salad. Free from oil, gluten, and nuts, with savory flavors of lemon, miso, and garlic. Ready in 30 minutes!
11. Crunchy Asian Salad
Protein: 2g
Calories: 289kcal
Ready in: 8 minutes
Recipe by: SmartyPantsKitchen
Bonus: sweet and tangy, picnic perfect
Crisp iceberg lettuce with waterchestnuts, green onion, crunchy chow mein noodles served with a sweet and tangy no mayonnaise dressing.
12. Refreshing Spring Salad
Protein: 2g
Calories: 86kcal
Ready in: 10 minutes
Recipe by: GatheringDreams
Bonus: perfect side, edible flowers
This spring salad is colorful and vibrant, bursting with fresh seasonal ingredients to brighten up your day. Asparagus, lamb’s lettuce, crunchy radishes, and spring onions are brought together by a simple lemon dressing. A perfect elegant and pretty side dish for your table!
13. Roasted Beet Salad with Goat Cheese
Protein: 6g
Calories: 247kcal
Ready in: 60 minutes
Recipe by: UrbanFarmie
Bonus: light and refreshing, meal prep friendly
This refreshing roasted beet salad has goat cheese, arugula, pistachios, and grapefruits drizzled with a refreshing citrus vinaigrette. Perfect summertime salad!
14. Spinach Caprese Salad
Protein: 11g
Calories: 189kcal
Ready in: 10 minutes
Recipe by: TaoOfSpice
Bonus: gluten free, super speedy
This spinach Caprese salad takes a well-loved summer salad up a notch with the addition of fresh greens and a flavorful vinaigrette. Perfect for a weeknight dinner or as a take-along dish to your next gathering, this salad is quick and easy, vegetarian, and gluten-free.
15. Vegan Wilted Spinach Salad with Tahini Dressing
Protein: 6g
Calories: 145kcal
Ready in: 15 minutes
Recipe by: MyVeganMinimalist
Bonus: gluten free, vegan
This wilted vegan spinach salad is the BOMB! Drizzled with the ultimate tahini dressing for the perfect mix of flavours.
Fruit salads and salads with fruit dressings
16. Couscous and Pear Salad with Goat’s Cheese
Bonus: high fibre, wholemeal carbohydrate
After a salad recipe that actually fills you up? Try our Couscous & Pear Salad! It’s high protein, high fibre & low fat! It’s also full of fresh produce, seasonal to summer!
17. Strawberry and Rocket Salad
Protein: 11g
Calories: 389kcal
Ready in: 20 minutes
Recipe by: KnifeAndSoul
Bonus: high in vitamin C, sweet and nutty flavours
A delicious and simple summer salad made with fresh strawberries, rocket/arugula, red onion, and feta served with a balsamic dressing.
18. High Fibre Avocado Citrus Salad with Feta
Bonus: high in fibre, zesty
After something different for lunch? Try this avocado and citrus salad with feta – it’s sweet, sour & packs a punch! If you don’t like grapefruit, try mandarin oranges instead! This is one of our favourite quick lunches in the summer months.
19. Watermelon and Feta Salad
Bonus: seasonal, sweet and tangy
This exceptionally quick and easy watermelon and feta salad is also incredibly tasty – and we even include a guide to picking the right watermelon!
20. Burrata Peach Salad
Protein: 5g
Calories: 246kcal
Ready in: 5 minutes
Recipe by: TheAlmondEater
Bonus: seasonal fruit, seriously speedy
Need to use up ripe peaches? This 5-minutes Burrata Peach Salad is the way to go! Mixed greens topped with fresh peaches, basil, burrata, and a simple balsamic glaze create this light and fresh salad recipe.
21. Cantaloupe Arugula Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing
Protein: 1g
Calories: 124kcal
Ready in: 15 minutes
Recipe by: FlavourAndSavour
Bonus: fruit dressing, gluten free
This Cantaloupe Arugula Salad is a simple spring or summertime salad of cantaloupe, arugula and red onion, tossed in a creamy sweet Poppy Seed dressing.
22. Quinoa Black Bean Salad with Peaches
Protein: 4g
Calories: 210kcal
Ready in: 35 minutes
Recipe by: FlavourAndSavour
Bonus: sweet peach vinaigrette, vegan
A quinoa black bean salad with a difference! Sweet, juicy peaches with crunchy red pepper, nutty quinoa and creamy mild black beans makes this quinoa salad one you’ll want to make on repeat! Add smoked paprika pumpkin seeds and toss with a sweet peach vinaigrette for extra layers of flavour!
23. Summery Strawberry Cucumber Salad
Protein: 6g
Calories: 378kcal
Ready in: 10 minutes
Recipe by: SomebodyFeedSeb
Bonus: vegan, seasonal produce
When the temperatures are soaring and the days are long, there’s nothing better than a fresh and light salad for lunch served in your garden or balcony!
One of our all-time favourites is a Summery Watercress, Cucumber and Strawberry Salad with Strawberry Vinaigrette. All vegan and using the seasonal watercress and strawberries, this is a brilliant salad that simply screams British summer!
Light and low in calories, we serve this salad with lots of crusty sourdough, which is simply perfect to mop up the leftover dressing!
24. Easy Refreshing Pomegranate Salad
Protein: 3g
Calories: 232kcal
Ready in: 15 minutes
Recipe by: SourAndSweet
Bonus: super speedy, meal prep friendly
A unique delicious side dish that will decorate your dining table alongside your amazing main dishes!
25. Strawberry Spinach Salad
Protein: 5g
Calories: 252kcal
Ready in: 15 minutes
Recipe by: AVirtualVegan
Bonus: oil free, vegan
A simple, super tasty Strawberry Spinach Salad made with soft, deep green spinach, ripe juicy strawberries & buttery avocado all finished off with a fresh, oil-free, strawberry vinaigrette and some optional creamy, salty crumbles of vegan feta cheese or crunchy nuts.
26. Watermelon and Mint Salad
Protein: 5g
Calories: 188kcal
Ready in: 15 minutes
Recipe by: VeggiesDontBite
Bonus: plant based, summer flavours
This sweet watermelon salad with feta and mint is so flavorful and a perfect summer treat! It’s healthy, easy to make and a touch of optional spice. Use fresh mint for optimum flavour!
Pasta and legume salads
27. Moroccan Couscous Salad
Bonus: vegan, metabolism boosting
Want a salad that is more than just leaves? Try our delicious vegan Moroccan couscous salad – real fuel for a busy day! The perfect start of summer salad!
28. Rainbow Orzo Salad
Protein: 5g
Calories: 205kcal
Ready in: 25 minutes
Recipe by: FreshApron
Bonus: fresh summer produce, pasta base
Rainbow Orzo Salad is a bright and colorful salad that’s perfect for warmer weather. It’s crunchy, light and fresh. This easy pasta salad is the perfect side dish or light lunch.
29. Lentil Quinoa Salad
Bonus: creamy, healthy fats, vegan
In this superfood salad red lentils and quinoa are jazzed up with crunchy almonds, tangy olives (kalamata olives also work well) and creamy avocado.
30. Chickpea Avocado Salad
Bonus: high protein, effortlessly tasty
A chickpea avocado salad!? That’s elite level health right there, and a delicious summer salad too! From just one serving you get a great amount of protein and fiber, around 20g of each!
31. Sprouted Mung Bean Salad
Protein: 6g
Calories: 145kcal
Ready in: 10 minutes
Recipe by: MinistryOfCurry
Bonus: vegan, high in fibre
Delicious salad made with sprouted mung beans, diced tomatoes, cucumber, onion, garnished with cilantro and lime juice.
32. Mediterranean Bean Salad
Protein: 13g
Calories: 308kcal
Ready in: 20 minutes
Recipe by: TheRecipeWell
Bonus: high protein, packed with veg
Mediterranean Bean Salad is a fresh and healthy side dish, made with three types of beans, a delicious vinaigrette, tons of vegetables and fresh herbs. It’s perfect for potlucks and as a side dish during grilling season. Enjoy it on its own for a vegetarian meal!
33. Easy Quinoa Black Bean Salad
Protein: 8g
Calories: 262kcal
Ready in: 30 minutes
Recipe by: TheRecipeWell
Bonus: meal prep friendly, high protein
This easy quinoa black bean salad is a hearty and refreshing salad that comes together in just 30 minutes! Quinoa and black beans are tossed with fresh vegetables like cucumber, bell pepper and carrot and topped with a zesty chili lime dressing.
Perfect for meal prep, potlucks and as a side during grilling season!
34. Sesame Soba Noodle Salad
Protein: 8g
Calories: 231kcal
Ready in: 15 minutes
Recipe by: ServedFromScratch
Bonus: gluten free, meal prep friendly
This cold soba noodle salad is packed full of veggies and flavor!
35. Summer Farro Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette
Protein: 8g
Calories: 734kcal
Ready in: 15 minutes
Recipe by: CleanGreenSimple
Bonus: seasonal produce, high fibre
For a nutritious lunch, make this summer farro salad with lemon vinaigrette. It features chewy farro tossed with sweet blueberries and crunchy seasonal veggies. Top it off with the tangy and light lemon dressing for an easy vegan meal.
36. Spicy Thai Spaghetti Salad
Protein: 6g
Calories: 189kcal
Ready in: 15 minutes
Recipe by: TheViewFromGreatIsland
Bonus: twist on a pasta salad, spice to taste
This yummy Spicy Thai Spaghetti Salad is an delicious twist on a potluck classic ~ quick to prepare using common ingredients, the Asian flavors in this colorful pasta salad really pop.
A flavourful twist on other pasta salads, this easy summer side salad recipe will be your go to for barbecues this season!
37. Red Lentil Pasta Salad
Protein: 8g
Calories: 201kcal
Ready in: 17 minutes
Recipe by: InspiredEpicurean
Bonus: vegan, gluten free
A refreshing pasta salad that is both vegan and gluten-free. Packed full of fresh vegetables, spices, and ready in a flash, you’ll love the full flavor of this plant-based pasta salad.
38. Asparagus Pasta Salad
Protein: 8g
Calories: 306kcal
Ready in: 25 minutes
Recipe by: BeyondTheChickenCoop
Bonus: seasonal asparagus, meal prep friendly
Orzo pasta with fresh asparagus and tomatoes with a light lemony vinaigrette.This one of the easiest, speediest of all pasta salad recipes!
39. Vegan Couscous Salad with Tofu
Protein: 13g
Calories: 295kcal
Ready in: 15 minutes
Recipe by: TwoCityVegans
Bonus: vegan, eat warm or cold
This light and fluffy vegan couscous salad with tofu is loaded with fresh and flavorful salad ingredients and a simple lemon juice dressing – perfect as a refreshing side dish or light main meal.
40. Marinated Cucumber and White Bean Salad
Protein: 6g
Calories: 116kcal
Ready in: 10 minutes
Recipe by: ThePowderedApron
Bonus: perfect meal prep, great textures
Crunchy cucumbers and creamy white beans are tossed with feta, capers, sun-dried tomatoes, and tons of fresh herbs and coated in a light dressing of sun-dried tomato oil, balsamic, and honey. This creamy cucumber salad takes just 10 minutes to prep!
41. Black Lentil Salad
Protein: 18g
Calories: 340kcal
Ready in: 50 minutes
Recipe by: MyQuietKitchen
Bonus: vegan, oil free
With arugula, cucumber, and tomatoes plus satisfying farro, lentils, and dairy-free feta, this zesty vegan salad is a lovely lunch or light dinner any day of the week.
42. Crunchy Thai Quinoa Cabbage Salad
Protein: 10g
Calories: 215kcal
Ready in: 30 minutes
Recipe by: MyPlantifulCooking
Bonus: vegan, super flavourful
This light and refreshing crunchy quinoa salad is paired with a flavorful creamy peanut dressing. Naturally vegan, healthy yet utterly delicious.
43. Peruvian Lima Bean Salad
Protein: 17g
Calories: 148kcal
Ready in: 50 minutes
Recipe by: BeyondMereSustenance
Bonus: dairy free, gluten free, high protein
Lima beans and healthy vegetables marinated in a zesty leche de tigre style sauce. It’s something of a vegan “ceviche,” a gorgeous side dish or a stand alone light meal!
44. Balinese Urab Sayur
Protein: 7g
Calories: 226kcal
Ready in: 20 minutes
Recipe by: VeganPunks
Bonus: vegan, warm salad
Urab Sayur is a fragrant, warm vegetable salad with toasted coconut. It’s lovely and light, and slightly spicy. All you need is 9 ingredients and less than 25 minutes. Plus, you can switch out the cabbage and spinach for any other seasonal greens.
45. Israeli Couscous Cucumber Salad
Protein: 5g
Calories: 181kcal
Ready in: 25 minutes
Recipe by: ServedFromScratch
Bonus: high in fibre, vegan
A refreshing summer salad that’s bright and light with fresh herbs and summer garden vegetables!
46. Carrot Greens Pesto Pasta Salad
Protein: 9g
Calories: 383kcal
Ready in: 15 minutes
Recipe by: OurPlantBasedWorld
Bonus: homemade pesto, perfect for picnics
Not only are carrots delicious and nutritious, but their greens are also edible! If you have some carrot greens kicking around, put them to good use in this cold pasta salad recipe. The pesto is flavorful and the pasta salad is perfect for a summer picnic or potluck. Give it a try!
47. White Bean Caprese Salad
Protein: 12g
Calories: 227kcal
Ready in: 10 minutes
Recipe by: MrsJonesKitchen
Bonus: perfect side or main, seasonal produce
This healthy white bean caprese salad with tomatoes, basil and cannellini beans is fresh and delicious, and perfect in lunchboxes. Use fresh basil for maximum flavour!
Vegetable salads
48. Halloumi Tomato Salad
Protein: 30g
Calories: 504kcal
Ready in: 15 minutes
Recipe by: HappyVeggieKitchen
Bonus: seasonal tomatoes, high protein
Whether you’re in need of a lunch, a light dinner, or an appetizer to impress… This tomato halloumi salad is here for you (and if you want more like this, check out our best light vegetarian dinner recipes!)!
By using fresh, deliciously ripe tomatoes you will not need much effort to make this soar. The herbs are flexible and there are endless ways to serve this to make it work for you! Use seasonal, sweet tomatoes for the best flavour.
49. Wedge Salad with Creamy Cashew Dressing
Bonus: meal prep friendly, high protein
Fresh, easy and delicious vegetarian wedge salad with creamy cashew dressing makes a perfect high protein lunch in a jar. Packed full of crunchy veggies, sweet corn and fresh ingredients.
Try it right away! 🙂
Ingredients
- 2 ½ tbsp quinoa (uncooked)
- 4 tbsp cashews
- ¾ cup low fat Greek yogurt
- 2 tbsp nutritional yeast
- 1 tsp onion powder
- ¼ tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp oregano, dried
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp sugar
- 2 tbsp chives (chopped)
- 1 cup corn, cooked (yellow or white, 140 g)
- 3 oz cherry tomatoes (halved)
- 1 iceberg lettuce (about 300g, cut into wedges)
Instructions
- In a small pot boil quinoa with salted water until the grains puff and are fully cooked, about 8-10 minutes. Then drain and reserve.2 ½ tbsp quinoa
- Meanwhile, add to the food processor the cashews, yogurt, nutritional yeast, onion powder, garlic powder, dried oregano, salt, sugar and ¼ cup of water. Process until you have a creamy and uniform dressing. If the dressing is still too thick, add a little extra water until it has the optimate thickness for you.4 tbsp cashews, ¾ cup low fat Greek yogurt, 2 tbsp nutritional yeast, 1 tsp onion powder, ¼ tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp oregano, dried, ½ tsp salt, ½ tsp sugar
- Prepare chopped chives, halved cherry tomatoes, and iceberg lettuce wedges.2 tbsp chives, 3 oz cherry tomatoes, 1 iceberg lettuce
- If eating right away, place the lettuce wedges in a plate and sprinkle with a little salt. Drizzle wedges with dressing and then top with quinoa, corn, tomatoes and chives.1 cup corn, cooked
- If using a mason jar, in two big mason jars add in the following order: dressing, chives, cherry tomatoes, corn, cooked quinoa, lettuce wedges with a pinch of salt. Close with a lid and reserve, preferably in a cool place, until ready to eat.
NOTES
Nutrition
50. Papaya Salad
Protein: 10g
Calories: 254kcal
Ready in: 15 minutes
Recipe by: VeganPunks
Bonus: vegan, twist on a Thai classic
Vegan Papaya Salad, in our opinion, sums up the taste of Thailand. It’s fresh, zesty, zingy, spicy and basically a true taste sensation. Plus, it only takes 15 minutes to make!
51. Easy Mexican Street Corn Salad
Protein: 4g
Calories: 147kcal
Ready in: 20 minutes
Recipe by: VeggiesDontBite
Bonus: healthy twist on street food, vegan
This Mexican street corn salad is so easy to make and the perfect dish to share with others. The flavor in this summer corn salad is amazing and goes with anything! This fresh corn salad is ready in a flash, too!
52. Summer Sweet Potato Salad
Protein: 14g
Calories: 465kcal
Ready in: 15 minutes
Recipe by: TheAlmondEater
Bonus: high in protein and fibre, speedy to prep
This Summer Sweet Potato Salad is a welcome addition to any barbecue or backyard party. This homemade potato salad uses sautéed sweet potatoes, avocado, black beans, and a homemade spicy dressing.
53. Roasted Sweet Potato Salad with Lemon Tahini Dressing
Protein: 11g
Calories: 312kcal
Ready in: 25 minutes
Recipe by: AlwaysUseButter
Bonus: meal prep friendly, homemade dressing
This Sweet Potato Feta Salad is the ultimate warming salad – peppery, salty & crunchy, with a Lemon Tahini Dressing you will want to have by the spoonful. This quick & easy salad is great as a side or main course, and perfect for your lunchbox.
54. Creamy Vegan Potato Salad
Protein: 3g
Calories: 198kcal
Ready in: 55 minutes
Recipe by: AlwaysUseButter
Bonus: gluten free, dairy free
Try the best easy, homemade Vegan Potato Salad! Without mayo, eggs or any dairy products it’s made creamy the traditional French way with a Dijon mustard dressing – which makes it naturally vegan, gluten free and dairy free, and full of delicious produce.
55. Arabic Salad
Protein: 2g
Calories: 103kcal
Ready in: 15 minutes
Recipe by: MakeItSkinnyPlease
Bonus: zesty, gluten free
Zesty and bright, this Arabic salad is a chopped salad made with fresh vegetables and classic herbs and spices. Tossed in a light olive oil and lemon vinaigrette, it’s the perfect salad to serve with a heavy dinner or as a refreshing main dish.
56. Charred Corn Avocado Salad with Red Onions
Protein: 3g
Calories: 142kcal
Ready in: 45 minutes
Recipe by: TheDevilWearsSalad
Bonus: vegan, homemade dressing
This Charred Corn Avocado Salad with Roasted Red Onions combines all the fresh flavours of summer in a salad bowl. Sweet, smoky charred corn mixed with avocado, cherry tomatoes, roasted red onions and a lemon Dijon dressing makes it a perfect side salad for any barbecue or potluck gathering.
57. Greek Spinach Salad
Protein: 7g
Calories: 192kcal
Ready in: 5 minutes
Recipe by: HealthfulBlondie
Bonus: homemade vinaigrette, twist on a classic
This super fresh Greek spinach salad is dressed in a light homemade vinaigrette and topped with feta, tomatoes, bell pepper, onion, and cucumber. A fun and healthy twist on a classic!
58. Mediterranean Cucumber Salad
Protein: 2g
Calories: 160kcal
Ready in: 10 minutes
Recipe by: MarcellinaInCucina
Bonus: simple yet sophisticated, loads of veg
A refreshing combination of cucumber tomato and onion plus parsley and a tasty Italian dressing.
59. Fig and Goat’s Cheese Salad
Protein: 10g
Calories: 459kcal
Ready in: 15 minutes
Recipe by: JarOfLemons
Bonus: sweet and savoury, seasonal fruit
Craving something sweet and savory? This Fig & Goat Cheese Salad is the perfect balance for a healthy lunch or dinner recipe!
Wholesome greens and roasted asparagus topped with sweet, fresh apples, figs, goat cheese, walnuts, and drizzled with the best creamy balsamic dressing!
60. Japanese Chuka Wakame Salad
Protein: 1g
Calories: 31kcal
Ready in: 15 minutes
Recipe by: MyPlantifulCooking
Bonus: vegan umami taste, perfect side
This Japanese inspired wakame salad is bold, savory and umami-tasting! It is ready in 15 minutes and super easy to make. Plus, this seaweed salad is naturally vegan, and makes a great appetizer or side dish!
61. Italian Green Bean Salad
Protein: 6g
Calories: 199kcal
Ready in: 30 minutes
Recipe by: TheRusticFoodie
Bonus: super simple, crowd pleaser
This marinated Italian Green Bean Salad recipe is fresh and easy (and if you like this, you need to check out our other veggie Italian meals here)! It’s tossed in a balsamic vinaigrette, cherry tomatoes, almonds, and cheese. Remember to use vegetarian parmesan!
62. Grilled Corn Salad with Feta Dressing
Protein: 4g
Calories: 138kcal
Ready in: 45 minutes
Recipe by: TheRusticFoodie
Bonus: perfect for BBQ, twist on a classic
This Grilled Fresh Corn Salad recipe is fresh and easy (and great with these vegetarian barbecue dishes)! It’s made with roasted corn, avocado, tomatoes and tossed in a lemon feta cheese dressing.
63. Asian Cucumber Salad
Protein: 1g
Calories: 59kcal
Ready in: 15 minutes
Recipe by: IHeartUmami
Bonus: perfect side salad, seasonal veg
Asian Cucumber Salad Ding Tai Fung style with honey garlic chili vinaigrette is the best Chinese cucumber salad for a hot summer!
64. Egg Zucchini Noodle Salad
Protein: 10g
Calories: 391kcal
Ready in: 14 minutes
Recipe by: NataliesHealth
Bonus: high protein, super speedy
Zucchini Noodle Salad with hard-boiled eggs and spicy mustard flaxseed oil vinaigrette is perfect Summer salad (learn how to make zoodles here!). This beautiful salad is easy to make with just a few simple ingredients. It’s a delicious, healthy way to enjoy raw spiralized zucchinis!
65. Roasted Asparagus Caesar Salad
Protein: 12g
Calories: 298kcal
Ready in: 20 minutes
Recipe by: Salads4Lunch
Bonus: high protein, twist on a classic
This Roasted Asparagus Caesar Salad recipe made with a light Greek Yogurt Caesar Dressing is the perfect healthy salad! A healthy twist on a creamy caesar dressing!
66. Pineapple Cucumber Salad
Protein: 1g
Calories: 256kcal
Ready in: 5 minutes
Recipe by: NataliesHealth
Bonus: perfect side salad, sweet and sour
Juicy and refreshing Pineapple Cucumber Salad is a super HEALTHY way to cool down this summer! Perfect side that goes so well with any dinner or BBQ!
67. Grilled Fennel Salad with Halloumi
Protein: 14g
Calories: 364kcal
Ready in: 21 minutes
Recipe by: KetoVegetarianRecipes
Bonus: high protein, keto friendly
A grilled fennel salad with slices of grilled halloumi makes a delicious warm salad.
68. Tomato Salad with Gremolata
Protein: 2g
Calories: 164kcal
Ready in: 45 minutes
Recipe by: EndOfTheFork
Bonus: vegan, seasonal tomatoes
A refreshing tomato salad made with summer tomatoes and a simple dressing, garnished with gremolata.
69. Mushroom Larb
Protein: 5g
Calories: 72kcal
Ready in: 20 minutes
Recipe by: VeganPunks
Bonus: warm salad, authentic Thai recipe
This is a vegan and vegetarian friendly mushroom larb. A delicious mix of mushrooms, fresh herbs and the crunch of toasted rice!
70. Horiatiki Greek Peasant Salad
Protein: 8g
Calories: 265kcal
Ready in: 5 minutes
Recipe by: MrsJonesKitchen
Bonus: traditional Greek salad, meal prep friendly
This Greek peasant salad is a quick and easy salad that not only makes a delicious side, but is a special lunch enjoyed on it’s own. A winning combination of creamy feta and crunchy vegetables with briny olives and capers, it takes less than 10 minutes to make.
71. Green Papaya Salad
Protein: 5g
Calories: 129kcal
Ready in: 20 minutes
Recipe by: TheFlavourBells
Bonus: vegan, sweet and sour
This is a vegan version of the regular Green papaya salad recipe. Green papaya salad is a delicious Thai salad made of shredded raw papaya as the key ingredient. It is spicy, garlicky, sweet, sour, and crunchy, all in a single bite!
Health benefits of these easy summer salads
The best part about all of the salads in this compilation is that they are substantial and nutritionally balanced, so you won’t feel peckish or dissatisfied an hour after lunch.
Salads like this healthy egg salad and this halloumi and tomato salad contain 24g and 30g of protein, respectively.
That make them perfect choices for those looking to gain muscle or lose weight as they’ll keep you feeling full all afternoon.
Salads are also a great way of getting plenty of fibre into your diet since they contain so many fresh fruits and veg. Fibre is important for healthy digestion and helps cultivate good gut bacteria.
The easy summer salads in this compilation are packed full of fresh fruits and vegetables, with a special focus on seasonal summer produce, such as the watermelon in this watermelon and feta summer salad.
For more meals that have been nutritionist checked and approved have a look at our free Vegetarian 7-Day High Protein or 7-Day Weight Loss Meal Plans!
FAQs
What are the five types of salad?
The main types of salad are: green salads, pasta salads, vegetable salads, salads with fish or meat and fruit salads.
Given that there are so many different types of salad in the world, it’s easy to incorporate a variety into your diet. As you’ve seen we’ve split this compilation by type of salad so you can search by the type you want to make!
What are the most popular salads?
Classic salads like the Caesar salad, the Nicoise salad and the Waldorf Salad remain ever popular on menus and in family cooking, but contemporary salads, such as those that incorporate fruit or vegan protein, like this citrus salad with feta are delicious alternatives!
What are healthy salads?
The healthiest salads are those that primarily consist of fresh fruit and vegetables, with a healthy balance of protein and fibre.
Try to avoid pre-made salad dressings as these are usually chock full of sugars, saturated fats and preservatives. Use a simple homemade vinaigrette or dressing instead, like this creamy cashew dressing.
A Short History of Salads
While researching salads for this compilation, I started wondering about their origin.
Apparently, the ancient Greeks, Romans, Persians and Indians all had the same idea of mixing green leaves with dressings, so perhaps the earliest salad will forever remain a mystery.
Did you know that the Waldorf salad was created for a charity ball at the eponymous hotel in New York way back in 1896?
Try this updated take on the classic: it’s vegan and uses a balsamic and mustard dressing rather than the traditional mayo.
I also discovered that resistance to salads has a long history: in 1699 a man called John Evelyn published a whole discourse on salads to encourage his fellow Britons to eat more fresh, leafy greens.
The book was largely ineffective at the time, and it seems that salads still have plenty of detractors today.
But given that you’re here, reading about some of the best summer salad recipes, we trust that you’re already familiar with how great salads can taste.
Which is your favourite summer salad? Weigh in on the best summer salad recipes the comments!
Dave Bell
I’m not a foodie, although I do love eating. I believe food should serve us and our goals, not hinder. Taking control and responsibility for what I eat is important to me. Lots of veggie protein is my way forward.
This article has been medically reviewed by James LeBaigue MSc Learn More
James LeBaigue MSc
James has a Masters Degree in Sport and Exercise Nutrition, as well as an Advanced Diploma in Human Nutrition.
He loves combining his scientific knowledge along with food in the real world, and these recipes are the result.
He’s on top of all the latest evidence and guidelines to make sure our nutrition advice on the website is as accurate as it can be.
By day he works as an Advanced Clinical Practitioner in a busy NHS GP Practice.
Each recipe is tested and then eaten (much to James’ delight), many times before it is deemed worthy to be published. Bon appetit!
Comments
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2 comments
Oh, wow, what a beautiful collection of delicious salads. During the summer it’s my favorite dinner dish, thank you!
Same here! :-))