Are you bored with the identical outdated lettuce-based salads? Swap issues up with a scrumptious salad that omits the usual base. These recipes use elements like chickpeas, cucumbers, broccoli and recent fruit as the principle ingredient to create a flavorful salad that is something however conventional. Attempt these veggie-packed bowls for lunch, dinner or as a aspect dish. Recipes like our Broccoli-Apple Crunch Salad and Excessive-Protein Caprese Chickpea Salad will make you rethink your salad routine.
Love these recipes? Be part of MyRecipes to save lots of all of them with one click on. It’s really easy—and free!
Buraczki (Polish Beet Salad)
Photographer: Jake Sternquist, Meals Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Gabriel Greco.
Caraway takes middle stage on this Buraczki (Polish Beet Salad), lending its delicate citrusy, peppery notes to a easy bitter cream dressing. The creamy dressing balances fantastically with the tart-sweet mixture of apples and beets, making a refreshing, colourful salad that’s greatest served chilled. Crisp apple varieties like McIntosh or Granny Smith work particularly nicely, including simply the appropriate juicy chunk and brilliant acidity.
Broccoli‑Apple Crunch Salad
Photographer: Jen Causey, Meals Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hausser.
This crisp, colourful broccoli-apple salad proves that broccoli is simply as scrumptious uncooked as it’s roasted. A tangy apple-cider French dressing, brightened with Dijon and honey, softens the chunk of the uncooked florets and shallot as they marinate within the fridge. Simply earlier than serving, skinny slices of Honeycrisp apple, shredded sharp Cheddar and crunchy sunflower seeds be part of the combination for a sweet-salty-crunchy end.
Marry Me White Bean Salad
Photographer: Jen Causey, Meals Stylist: Emily Nabors Corridor, Prop Stylist: Hannah Greenwood.
This Marry Me White Bean Salad is a brilliant, flavor-packed dish that’s exhausting to not fall for and pulls inspiration from Marry Me Rooster. Tender white beans are tossed with sun-dried tomatoes, recent basil and a creamy dressing that soaks into each chunk. It’s fast to throw collectively and ideal for meal prep, picnics or pairing with grilled meats.
Smashed Cucumber & Tomato Salad
Photographer: Robby Lozano, Meals Stylist: Torie Cox, Prop Stylist: Joshua Hoggle
This refreshing salad is a summertime favourite, providing a cool distinction to the warmer dishes it typically accompanies. Chinkiang vinegar, a Chinese language black vinegar with wealthy, tangy depth, provides a complexity to the dressing, however rice vinegar will work nicely as an alternative. This comes collectively in below an hour and delivers large taste with minimal effort.
Excessive-Protein Caprese Chickpea Salad
Photographer: Jen Causey, Meals Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle
This caprese chickpea salad is a recent, protein- and fiber-packed, plant-based twist on the traditional Italian favourite. It combines creamy mozzarella pearls, juicy cherry tomatoes and aromatic recent basil with hearty chickpeas for a satisfying dish. A easy balsamic French dressing ties every part along with a tangy-sweet end. It’s fast to organize, colourful and bursting with summery taste.
Watermelon, Feta & Cucumber Chopped Salad
Photographer: Jen Causey; Meals Stylist: Julian Hensarling; Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen.
This watermelon, feta and cucumber chopped salad is a light-weight and refreshing dish that balances candy and salty flavors. The mix of juicy watermelon, cool cucumber and tangy feta makes it particularly interesting on heat days. Contemporary basil provides a aromatic, natural observe, however strive mint if you would like a cooler taste. This salad pairs nicely with grilled meats, or serve it alongside hummus, pita or falafel for a brilliant, summery meal.
Loaded Bean Salad
Photographer Victor Protasio, Meals Stylist Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist Hannah Grennwood.
This loaded bean salad is a straightforward but satisfying dish that’s filled with creamy texture and all of the traditional fixings. The navy beans function a impartial base, permitting elements like bacon, scallions and Cheddar cheese to shine. A creamy dressing made with mayonnaise and bitter cream ties every part collectively. This salad is wealthy in fiber and plant-based protein, making it the right straightforward aspect dish.
Excessive-Protein Creamy Cucumber Salad
Photographer Victor Protasio, Meals Stylist Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist Hannah Grennwood.
This high-protein cucumber salad options cottage cheese as its creamy base, changing the standard mayonnaise or bitter cream. Crisp cucumber slices are folded into the combination for a light-weight but satisfying texture full of protein. This salad makes an ideal cooling aspect dish for summer time meals.
5-Ingredient Avocado & Chickpea Salad
Photographer: Jake Sternquist, Meals Stylist: Sammy Mila, Prop Stylist: Gabriel Greco.
This avocado-and-chickpea salad is a recent, flavorful dish that comes collectively in minutes. Made with simply 5 elements, it’s so simple as it’s satisfying. Creamy avocado pairs completely with hearty chickpeas for a filling, plant-based meal. With no cooking required and minimal prep, it’s an ideal fast lunch or dinner.
Bang Bang Broccoli Salad
Photographer: Jen Causey, Meals Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle.
This bang bang broccoli salad options the traditional creamy, candy and spicy bang bang sauce—made with mayonnaise, candy chili sauce and Sriracha—for a daring taste that balances warmth with a touch of sweetness. It’s usually used as a dipping sauce; right here we use it as a dressing as a substitute to coat crispy veggies, delivering a satisfying kick.
Excessive-Protein White Bean Salad with Feta & Lemon-Garlic French dressing
Photographer: Jen Causey, Meals Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen
This white bean salad with feta and lemon-garlic French dressing is fast and requires no range time. White beans carry plant-based protein and fiber to assist hold you full. Creamy feta cheese supplies a tangy, salty distinction to the brilliant French dressing. Tossed with recent herbs and toasted walnuts, this salad is ideal for a light-weight lunch.
Broccoli Crunch Salad
Photographer: Jen Causey, Meals Stylist: Renu Dhar, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle
From the crunchy nuts and Parmesan crisps to the chewiness of sun-dried tomatoes, this broccoli salad has a satisfying medley of textures. The red-wine French dressing brings a briny taste that’s balanced by the nuttiness of the cheese. Serve this salad as a aspect or flip it right into a meal-prep-friendly lunch—simply go away the Parmesan crisps out till serving in order that they don’t get soggy. Search for Parmesan crisps within the dressing aisle close to croutons.
Cucumber, Tomato & Avocado Salad with Lemon-Shallot French dressing
Ali Redmond
Crisp cucumbers, juicy tomatoes and creamy avocado create a scrumptious distinction on this straightforward salad. Tossed with a zesty lemon-shallot French dressing, this salad is brilliant, tangy and completely balanced. It’s greatest served straight away, because the cucumbers are inclined to launch water over time, which may dilute the French dressing.
Inexperienced Bean Caesar Salad
Photographer: Robby Lozano, Meals Stylist: Amanda Hostein, Prop Stylist: Keoshia McGhee
This inexperienced bean Caesar salad is a crisp and flavorful twist on the traditional Caesar. Blanched inexperienced beans change the standard romaine, bringing a recent snap and vibrant colour to the dish. Crispy panko and shaved Parmesan add taste and texture, making this salad the right pairing for grilled or roasted meat, seafood or grain bowls.
Carrot-Cucumber Salad
Photographer: Brie Goldman Meals Stylist: Annie Probst Prop Stylist: Breanna Ghazali
Carrot salads are refreshing, and this one—with cucumber, purple onion and a zesty cilantro-chile French dressing—is certain to develop into a brand new favourite. It’s glorious served with grilled fish.
Honey-Mustard Bean Salad
Photographer: Stacy Allen, Meals Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
This honey-mustard bean salad is the right mixture of candy, tangy and downright scrumptious flavors. Creamy cannellini beans and hearty chickpeas create the perfect base to take in the zesty honey-mustard dressing. For those who don’t have cannellini beans or chickpeas readily available, black beans, kidney beans and even pinto beans work nicely, providing flexibility to fit your pantry. Serve this salad as a light-weight important course with crusty bread or alongside grilled rooster, salmon or tofu for a heartier meal.
Strawberry Caprese Salad
Photographer: Jen Causey, Meals Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle
This strawberry caprese salad is a fruity twist on the traditional Italian dish, with juicy, ripe strawberries standing in for tomatoes. The sweet-tart taste of strawberries goes fantastically with recent mozzarella, basil and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar. This colourful salad is ideal as an appetizer, aspect dish or mild lunch. To make it a important dish, prime it with roasted rooster or add white beans.
Shaved Cauliflower Salad with Lemon French dressing & Parmesan
Photographed by Nico Schinco/Courtesy of Clarkson Potter Publishers
In her new cookbook, Carolina Gelen writes: “Some youngsters grew up with fruit plates as a snack; I grew up with crisp, salted cauliflower to nibble on. My mother would at all times purchase an even bigger cauliflower than wanted for a recipe since we’d munch on just about half of it earlier than cooking. Closely impressed by my mom’s cauliflower snacking plates, this straightforward shaved cauliflower tossed in a lemon French dressing was born. In a world the place cauliflower appears to get relegated to changing one carb or one other, there’s one thing refreshing in letting cauliflower be its true self. Thinly shaved to focus on its nice crunch, the cauliflower might have a modest taste nevertheless it’s completely paired with the punchy French dressing on this stylish, monochromatic salad.”
Zucchini Salad with Burrata
Photographer: Robby Lozano, Meals Stylist: Emily Nabors Corridor, Prop stylist: Lindsey Decrease
This zucchini salad is a style of peak-season bliss, combining sun-kissed zucchini with the creaminess of burrata cheese. Pink peppercorns provide a candy, fruity and barely floral style that pairs properly with the citrus flavors within the dressing; nevertheless, freshly floor black pepper can be utilized of their place.
Carrot Salad
Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Meals Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster
Impressed by the French carrot salad typically present in bistros, this zesty carrot salad includes a sweet-and-savory French dressing that provides punch to each chunk. Serve it by itself, combine it with greens, or use it as a part of a sandwich or wrap filling. Let it stand for at the very least 10 minutes earlier than serving to let the flavors meld. Freshly grated carrots work greatest right here. Grate them utilizing the big holes on a field grater, or use the shredding disk to your meals processor when you’ve got one.
