Five Summer Salad Recipes You Should Try

A few weeks ago I decided it was summer salad week. I shared a number of different salads I love to make as sides or even a main dish, but I wanted to do a wrap up post so they were all in one place and easier to access for future reference. So here you are – five summer salad recipes you should try this summer. They call for almost all seasonal summer ingredients and you will find an accompaniment to any meal.

1. Grilled Watermelon Salad with Yellow Heirloom Tomatoes: Watermelon and Tomatoes are at their peak in the summer when the sun, earth, temperature and summer rains all combine to make the most delicious of flavors. This is great to eat on its own for a light lunch or as an accompaniment to Grilled Flank Steak.
   Photo Credit: Stephanie (Creative Commons)
2. Grilled Salmon and Asparagus Salad: This salad is perfect for family dinner because it’s hearty enough for the men (or anyone who complains there aren’t enough carbs) and light enough for anyone who doesn’t like eating heavy food in the heat of summer.
   

   Grilled Salmon over Asparagus, Radish, Baby Red Potatoes and Mixed Greens

3. Kale and Brussel Sprout Slaw with Sweet and Tangy Dressing: I cannot get enough of this coleslaw. 1. I love how healthy I feel when I eat it – so many raw cruciferous vegetables, yes please. 2. yum 3. It goes with all my favorite summer meals (like pulled pork and hamburgers). To note: cruciferous vegetables are grown in winter/early spring so typically I would recommend you make this in the winter. However, it just goes so nicely with all things barbecue it’s one recipe for which I make an exception.
   

   Kale and Brussel Sprout Coleslaw with a Tangy Vinaigrette

4. Asparagus Salad with Poached Eggs and Citrus Vinaigrette: I love asparagus for so many reasons. Some of those reasons are because it’s so good for you (all that chlorophyll) and they taste so yummy. But one of my favorite reasons is because they are so sustainable. One asparagus plant will produce for 10-15 years. It’s a very efficient food. And local asparagus paired with a local farm fresh egg. Stop.It.
   

   Asparagus Salad with Poached Egg and Citrus Vinaigrette

5. Thai Crab, Mango and Avocado Salad: If you’ve been a consistent reader of this blog you’ve probably figured out I love all asian flavors. So this might be one of my favorite salads of all. You can make smaller portions and serve them as an amuse-bouche or as a salad course. Either way, it’s a simple yet impressive summer salad recipe.
   

   Thai Crab, Mango and Avocado Salad

    

What are your favorite summer salad recipes?