Winter finally made the leap and switched to summer on the East Coast. Not sure where Spring was hiding? Nevertheless, Summer is here and its been hot since it arrived. And we love it. But it definitely changes things in the kitchen for us. We try to minimize our oven use as much as possible, because sweating when we are in the kitchen is not ideal. Plus, the more vegetables we can pack into our meals the better. The freshness, crispiness and nutrients found in these recipes makes these meal ideas an even better option for the quick amount of time it takes to whip them up. A lot of these salads can be altered based on your dietary preference, so if you are vegetarian or vegan, subtract ingredients based on your needs or add ingredients based on others. Easy for you to adjust at the end of a long day. Our list below are some delicious, healthful creations by some of our favorite bloggers and the best part is you don’t need to turn on the oven.
1.Creamy Yogurt Cucumber Salad by Foodie Crush – this crunchy, cool salad is perfect every week during summer and is always requested. We’re suckers for the cucumber, yogurt and dill combo.
2.Sun-Dried Tomato, Spinach and Quinoa Salad by Cookie and Kate - sun-dried tomatoes are in our top 10 favorite foods - the acidity from the tomats and oil really do us in. In addition to those sun-dried beauties, this recipe also gives you a protein punch from quinoa and a nice iron, vitamin A and potassium benefit from the spinach.
3.Citrus Salad with Hazelnut Dressing by Carrie Purcell – Oranges, clementines and grapefruit make up the base of this juicy and tart citrus salad. Garnished with a savory dressing, cheese and pea shoots. Yum!
4.Sesame Watercress Salad by Carrie Purcell – Just like cucumbers, celery is another one of those foods that is so enjoyable during the summer months - filled with water and crunch. And this salad is dressed in sesame.
5.Basil Goat Cheese Pasta Salad by Half Baked Harvest – Basil and goat cheese has us sold in this gem. Apparently mixing the cooked pasta with the goat cheese, melts the cheese and makes a creamy consistency – oh my goodness. There is also watercress, beets and summer squash mixed into this recipe.
6.Greek Lemon Roasted Broccoli Pasta Salad by Half Baked Harvest – another awesome salad recipe from Half Baked Harvest – we couldn’t stay away. This one has nutritious broccoli, feta cheese (we’ve been obsessed with sheep lately) and salty olives. Let me tell you Half Baked Harvest knows her stuff.
7.Summer Panzanella by GOOP – This salad is simple, healthy and perfect for a summer night. GOOP suggests a little burrata or fresh mozzarella to make this even better.
8.Jude’s Perfect Potato Salad by Judy Swartz – We couldn’t make this list without adding a dense potato salad. This one takes on creamy, sharp and peppery. Perfect for those dinners out on the deck!
9.Freekeh, Chickpea and Herb Salad by Martha Rose Shulman – This recipe marries the earthy grain, Freekeh, and chickpeas in a delicious, vegan salad.
10.Tomato-Watermelon Salad with Feta and Toasted Almonds by Molly Stevens – We’ve never really understood the tomato and watermelon combination. The acidity and sweetness didn’t fit conceptually. Until we tried it. Everything you thought made sense now doesn’t and everything that didn’t now does. Delicious. This juicy recipe has our hearts singing.
11.Grilled Romaine, Red Onion, Avocado and Bacon salad by Heather Christo – It’s like a BLT without the bread. AND everything has a charred, grilled flavor. Yes, this one you do need to turn on your grill, but trust me it is so, so worth it.
12.Super Green Quinoa Salad with Basil and Pistachios by With Food and Love – Ahh another kale salad to add to your list of kale salads. But this one is a bit different and yummyier still. Check out the dressing and you’ll be sold to make this one again and again.
Let us know your favorite summer salad recipe in the comments below.
*Picture courtesy of: Foodie Crush