While theres something about the idea of salad for dinner that seems particularly groan-worthy, thats only because all too often our idea of a salad doesnt match up with what salad, as a category of food, actually has to offer. The 15 options below not only represent some of the best salad recipes Serious Eats has developed, they also pull from a range of countries, cultures, and cooking techniques. In addition to the dressing-on-greens rendition were all familiar with youll find crunchy shaved winter vegetables, flaked fish, crispy fried eggs, plump beans, beautifully dressed noodles, rich mayo-bound sandwich fillings, and all kinds of herbs. Forget salads you need; these are salads you want.
50 Salad Recipes: Best Chopped Salad & More!
This chopped salad recipe will amaze everyone around the table! Italian dressing, crunchy veggies and Parmesan combine into something greater than the sum of its parts.
Prep: 15min
Total: 15min
Yield: 4
Nutrition Facts: servingSize None, calories 111 calories, Sugar 1.3 g, Sodium 49.6 mg, Fat 11.3 g, Saturated Fat 1.9 g, Trans Fat 0 g, Carbohydrate 2.2 g, Fiber 0.7 g, Protein 1.5 g, Cholesterol 1.8 mg
Ingredients:
- 1 recipe Homemade Italian Dressing
- 1 Romaine heart (3 cups)
- 5 cups leafy lettuce
- 1 large shallot
- 1 English cucumber (2 cups chopped)
- 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes
- 1/2 cup ripe green olives, halved
- 1/2 cup jarred sliced pepperoncini
- 1/4 cup Parmesan shavings or shreds, plus more to serve
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional
Instruction:
- Make the Homemade Italian Dressing.
- Chop romaine and lettuce. Thinly slice the shallot. Peel and chop cucumber. Slice tomatoes and olives in half.
- Mix together all the ingredients for the salad, including the dressing, and toss to combine. If making in advance, refrigerate the components separately; bring the dressing to room temperature before serving.
Best Salad Recipes: Easy Greek Salad
One of our favorite salad recipes! This easy Greek salad recipe is a flavorful, refreshing side dish!
Prep: 10min
Total: 15min
Ingredients:
- ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1 garlic clove (minced)
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano (more for sprinkling)
- ¼ teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 English cucumber (cut lengthwise, seeded, and sliced ¼-inch thick)
- 1 green bell pepper (chopped into 1-inch pieces)
- 2 cups halved cherry tomatoes
- 5 ounces feta cheese (cut into ½ inch cubes)
- ⅓ cup thinly sliced red onion
- ⅓ cup pitted Kalamata olives
- ⅓ cup fresh mint leaves
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
Instruction:
- In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, vinegar, garlic, oregano, mustard, salt, and several grinds of pepper.
- On a large platter, arrange the cucumber, green pepper, cherry tomatoes, feta cheese, red onions, and olives. Drizzle with the dressing and very gently toss. Sprinkle with a few generous pinches of oregano and top with the mint leaves. Season to taste and serve.
40 Best Salad Recipes
Browse over 40 best most popular salad recipes including classic summer salads, salad with fruit, Mexican salads, Asian salads, and fall and winter salads.
Prep: 5min
Total: 5min
Yield: 4
Nutrition Facts: calories 120 calories
Ingredients:
- Refer to each post for required ingredients.
Instruction:
- Make ahead instructions: Almost all of these salads can be made ahead of time. My biggest suggestion is to store the ingredients separately from the dressing, and toss when ready to serve. To prep ahead of time, you can chop up all the ingredients and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
- How to store: If you do have leftovers, most salad can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Refer to the specific recipe post for complete storing instructions.
- How to customize. Most salad recipes are versatile and completely customizable. You can add in different vegetables or add in extra protein such as grilled chicken, grilled shrimp, salmon, or tofu.
An easy guide to EPIC salads » + 3 recipes
FAQ
What are the 5 basic types of salads?
What ingredients to put in a salad?
- Chopped Raw Vegetables. A typical salad starts with raw greens, such as lettuce, spinach, kale, mixed greens or arugula. …
- Nuts and Seeds. …
- Dried Fruit. …
- Whole Grains. …
- Beans and Legumes. …
- Fresh Fruit. …
- Baked Tortilla or Pita Chips. …
- Shredded Hard Cheeses.
What type of salad is best?
They have the most nutrients. Case in point: Kale and spinach have over 10 times more immune-boosting vitamins A and C than iceberg lettuce. Not a fan of those? Turn over a new leaf: Boston, bibb, and romaine lettuces have a mild flavor, while arugula and watercress have a peppery bite.
What is a simple salad?
