Ah summer! The time of year where almost every other weekend, someone is throwing a BBQ Potluck or hosting an event and you have no clue what to bring. Amongst all of the scrumptious burgers and dogs, and all the not so healthy sides that go with them, here are some ideas for healthy refreshing salads to even out the fun party foods!
Fortunately for you, we have found several yummy salad recipes that are light and will be a kick at any party. The best part? They are super easy to make and don’t take up a ton of time!
Southwestern Chopped Salad – Cilantro Dressing
The first one is a vegan and gluten-free dish that is bright and colorful! It is a Southwestern Chopped Salad with Cilantro Dressing. This salad has so many delicious summer veggies and is packed full of vitamins to boot! The best part is that a lot of the ingredients can be found in your own cabinet and fridge! You can find the recipe at The Garden Grazer.
Warm Cranberry Vinaigrette Kale Salad
The second recipe is for those (like our very own Jolene) who live off of kale. This is a warm cranberry vinaigrette salad where the star of the show is, surprise, Kale! It is super easy, takes ten minutes to do and is perfect for summer! In this recipe, it gives a fantastic tip that if you massage the kale with a little bit of salt and oil, you can darken and soften the leaves. This doesn’t make it so bitter on your tongue. Check out this yummy dish at Gimme Some Oven!
Berry Orange Spinach Salad – Citrus Balsamic Vinaigrette
The next salad is for what summer is all about: fresh, yummy berries! I personally love berries in my salad. It adds a nice refreshing flavor you can’t really achieve during those cold, winter months. On Yay! For Food, their Berry Orange Spinach Salad with Citrus Balsamic Vinaigrette is the perfect way to welcome those yummy summer berries in! With blackberries, raspberries and oranges paired with the salty feta cheese, you will be begging for more. Yay! for Food
Farro and Spinach Salad
Our last salad is for those who love to take a little more time on their salads. Once again, Yay! For Food comes through on the summer eats. This Farro and Spinach Salad with dried fruits and nuts is one for the books. The author was inspired by her chef husband’s “fancy” salad and decided to make it herself in their own home. Farro is a grain that is nutty, a little sweet and chewy, as well as soft when it is cooked. It is full of fiber and a good source of protein and iron, so if you are looking for added value to your salad, this is the one for you!
And there you have it! Four delicious and super easy salads that you can do any time during this summer- or maybe even throughout the year. What makes these recipes so fun is how you can customize all of them to your own liking. Don’t like a certain ingredient? Exchange it for something you love. There really are no rules for salads, and they don’t have to be boring either. Try these out and leave us a review in the comments! What did you like? What did you hate? Did you change anything? Let us know!