9 Salads for the Summer
Julie Daly had asked me to blog about side dishes or salads for the summer. I was going to work on this, but then realized Pampered Chef had beat me to it. So here is their collection of 9 salads for this summer -- https://blog.pamperedchef.com/food-drink/9-salads-made-for-summer/
Salads are much more than just a bowl of lettuce. This summer, spice up a lunch or dinner salad with mixed textures, fresh herbs, and creative touches like grilled fruit. Make a light but filling salad for an easy office lunch or a quick dinner when the family’s busy schedule brings everyone home late.
1. Grilled Peach Salad
Pork is meant to be paired with fruit, and this recipe lets you grill both the tenderloin and sliced peaches for a lovely contrast. Sweet butter lettuce is the perfect backdrop for chopped pecans and crumbled goat cheese. The salad is finished with a light honey, thyme, and red wine vinaigrette that has depth from browned butter and is quick to shake together at home.
2. Skinny Caesar Salad With Grilled Romaine
Crunchy romaine lettuce gets two treatments in this salad: Half the lettuce is served cold and fresh while the other half gets flash-grilled to a charred finish. Top with a light dressing, add asparagus and zucchini, and garnish with homemade croutons.
3. Mediterranean Salad With Hummus Dressing
Packaged hummus mixed with lemon juice and fresh chopped parsley make a great dressing for this warm salad. Grill and press the chicken for a perfect sear, then mix it with sliced red peppers, onion, Greek seasoning, and a melange of hearty greens including kale, chard, and baby spinach. Canned artichoke hearts and cannellini beans add heft to this perfect main dish salad.
4. Chicken Avocado Caprese Salad
Creamy avocado, spicy arugula, and easy sliced deli smoked chicken come together for a light but satisfying spin on a caprese salad. You’ll recognize the tomatoes, snipped fresh basil leaves, and mozzarella balls as the classic components of caprese. Here, they’re reimagined as a summery main dish.
5. Summer Fruit & Spinach Salad
Enjoy the flavors of summer with this easy and delicious salad. Studded with fresh berries and citrus, this light dish is the perfect addition to any brunch or bridal shower, or quick and easy dinner.
6. Power Kale Salad
Super healthy kale meets spiralized zucchini noodles in this big salad, which has lots of options for toppings, including grilled chicken or salmon, seasonal tomatoes, or pomegranate seeds. Shake up a quick dressing—a lighter, lemony take on the classic Caesar— and let it sit on the hearty greens for a minute to soften them before serving.
7. Strawberry Spinach Salad
This sweet summer salad is the perfect combination of fresh spinach, strawberries, sliced almonds, and cucumber tossed in a creamy poppyseed dressing! It has all the flavor, texture, and deliciousness you need for a potluck in one bowl. You can quickly make it in the morning in an on-the-go serving bowl and bring it to your friend’s backyard barbecue or family picnic later in the day.
8. Barbecue Chicken Chopped Salad
This restaurant-worthy salad is chock full of delicious steamed summer vegetables like corn, zucchini, tomato, and sliced green beans. Season the grilled chicken with a smoky barbecue rub, and chop crispy bacon for added texture. Arrange the ingredients in a large serving bowl for a lovely presentation before drizzling it with a creamy buttermilk dressing and tossing it together.
9. Southwestern Salad
This salad gets a creamy kick from ranch dressing whisked with lime juice, fresh jalapeño, and taco seasoning. Blend the dressing with the classic ingredients of Tex-Mex—black beans, corn, red pepper, grilled chicken, and black olives—for a satisfying salad that’s easy to like.
