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Top 10 Healthy, Tasty & Quick Salad Ideas with Recipes to Try

Top 10 Healthy, Tasty & Quick Salad Ideas with Recipes to Try

Salads are such a versatile food category. Warm. Cold. Side dish. Main dish. Colorful and bright with fresh ingredients, crunchy textures, and vibrant dressings. Seasonally rotated depending on ingredient availability or simply to keep things interesting and new, a salad, can go well beyond the classic simple pairing of crisp Iceberg lettuce with a few juicyΒ vineΒ ripened, red tomatoes (although there is absolutely nothing wrong with a classic).Β 

Browsing throughΒ beautifulΒ imagery ofΒ prettyΒ platedΒ salads and reading the recipes can be quite inspiring. Remember, you can and should swap out those ingredients either you cannot eat or simply do not enjoy.Β 

When creating your own salad, swap out ingredients fromΒ similar categoriesΒ toΒ customize toΒ your tastes and dietary needs.Β Β Here are some general groupings to choose from to personalize your salad.Β 

The Base:Β 

Start with a leafy green as the foundation for most salads. BeyondΒ icebergΒ lettuce consider:Β 

  • Romaine (try it grilled)
  • kale with the tough stem removed
  • spinach
  • bibb lettuce
  • arugula
  • raw shredded cabbage
  • shaved brussels sproutsΒ 
  • microgreensΒ 

Herbs:Β 

Add another layer of flavor by including:Β 

  • mintΒ Β 
  • cilantro
  • parsleyΒ 
  • dillΒ Β 
  • arugula
  • basilΒ 

Raw for crunch:Β 

  • radicchio
  • carrots
  • bell peppers
  • cauliflower

Other greens:Β 

  • green beans
  • celery
  • green onionΒ 
  • cucumber
  • broccoliΒ 
  • sugar snap peas
  • asparagus

Cooked vegetables:Β 

  • corn
  • zucchiniΒ 
  • sweet potato
  • butternut squashΒ 

Soft textures:Β 

  • avocadoΒ Β 
  • cheesesΒ 
  • roasted beets

Beans:Β 

  • garbanzo
  • kidney
  • cannellini
  • black beansΒ 

Fruits:Β 

  • strawberriesΒ Β 
  • blueberriesΒ 
  • black berriesΒ Β 
  • orange segmentsΒ 
  • dehydrated cranberriesΒ 
  • pomegranateΒ 
  • sliced applesΒ 

Nuts:Β 

  • slivered almondsΒ 
  • crushed walnutsΒ Β 
  • pecansΒ 
  • cashewsΒ 

Proteins:Β 

  • hardboiled eggΒ 
  • hamΒ Β 
  • turkeyΒ 
  • roast beef or slice steakΒ Β 
  • grilled or crispy fried chickenΒ Β 
  • shrimp chilled or cooked
  • tunaΒ 

Toppings:Β 

  • fried onionsΒ 
  • croutonsΒ 
  • chopped bacon or prosciuttoΒ 
  • tortilla stripsΒ Β 

Grains:Β 

  • couscousΒ 
  • farrowΒ Β 
  • quinoaΒ 
  • riceΒ 

Pasta:Β 

Whole grain, gluten free in medium to small shapes like:Β Β 

  • ditaliniΒ 
  • farfalleΒ Β 
  • small shellsΒ Β 
  • elbowsΒ Β Β 
  • tortelliniΒ 

Some Cooking Involved Salad Recipes

When addingΒ certain proteins to salad, itΒ is often inevitable that some cooking be done ahead of time. Typically, any cooked elements are recommended to cool beforeΒ combiningΒ with the rest of the salad. This prevents the completed dish from wilting into soft mush from carry over heat.Β 

In some cases, the cooking involved is for one ingredient like roast shrimp or burgers.Β Yes, burgers in salad.Β 

Big M Burger Salad

Ingredients:Β 

  • ΒΌ head Iceberg lettuceΒ 
  • 1Β choppedΒ tomatoΒ 
  • 2 tablespoons minced onionΒ 
  • 2 slices American cheese cut in strips.Β 
  • Β Pickle – either chop ΒΌ dill pickle spear or add a few pickle chips.Β 
  • 1 burger broken into bite sized pieces.Β 
  • 2 tablespoons of Thousand Island dressingΒ 
  • 1 tablespoon of sesame seedsΒ 

Directions:Β 

  1. Create a base in a bowl withΒ lettuce.Β 
  2. Layer on tomato, onion, and picklesΒ 
  3. Sprinkle burger pieces over the saladΒ 
  4. AddΒ stripsΒ of cheese.Β 
  5. Drizzle dressing across the salad then sprinkle the sesame seedsΒ on top and enjoy!Β 

Grilled Romaine Cesar Salad

Ingredients:Β 

  • 2 heads of Romaine lettuce, rinsed, dried, and split in half lengthwise (from core to tip)Β 
  • ΒΌ cup of olive oilΒ 
  • Salt and pepper to taste for grilling, more for complete and assembled salad.Β 
  • 1 cup of CroutonsΒ 
  • 2 tablespoons of grated parmesan cheeseΒ 
  • Cesar dressingΒ 

Directions:Β 

  1. Heat grillΒ 
  2. Prepare Romaine by using a pastry brush to lightly coat the outer leaves then sprinkle with salt and pepper.Β 
  3. Grill lettuce until grill marks are visible andΒ turn once to grill the other side.Β 
  4. Arrange grilled Romaine on a platter then drizzle with Cesar dressing.Β 
  5. Add croutons and sprinkle on parmesan cheese to taste.Β 

Roast Shrimp Caprese Orzo SaladΒ 

Salad Ingredients:Β 

  • 1-pound, roasted shrimp thatΒ hasΒ cooled.Β 
  • 8 ounces of cooked orzo pastaΒ 
  • 1 cup of chopped basilΒ 
  • 12 ounces of marinated mozzarella ballsΒ 
  • Β½ pound halved cherry tomatoesΒ 
  • ΒΌ cup olive oilΒ 
  • 3 tablespoons of fresh lemon juiceΒ 
  • Salt and pepper to taste.Β 

Roast shrimpΒ Ingredients:Β 

  • 1-poundΒ raw, deveined shrimp (large or extra-large 26-35 shrimp per pound)Β 
  • ΒΌ cup of olive oilΒ 
  • Salt and pepperΒ 

Directions:Β 

  1. PreheatΒ the ovenΒ to 400 F.Β 
  2. Mix shrimp with olive oil on aΒ roasting pan or cookie sheetΒ then arrange in a single layer.Β 
  3. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste.Β 
  4. Roast for just five minutes – could be 4 – 6 ,Β check for bright red tails and pink shrimp.Β 
  5. Set shrimpΒ aside to cool.Β 

Salad Directions:Β 

  1. Combine cooled shrimp with orzo, basil, tomatoes, and mozzarellaΒ in a large bowl.Β 
  2. Add olive oil, fresh lemon juice, and salt and pepper to taste.Β 

Platter of Cobb Salad with Chicken

Ingredients:Β 

  • 2 sliced avocadosΒ Β 
  • 1-poundΒ crispy bacon, crumbled.Β 
  • 3 hardboiled eggs sliced in half.Β 
  • 1 head of Iceberg lettuce – rinsed, dried, and chopped.Β 
  • 1 pint of cherry tomatoes rinsed and halved.Β 
  • Β½ cup chunks of Bleu CheeseΒ 
  • 1 diced cucumberΒ Β 
  • 2 cups of roast chicken (roast using your favorite recipe or use store bought roast chicken for a no-cook version)Β 
  • Large platterΒ 

Red Wine Vinaigrette Dressing:Β 

  • Β½ cupΒ of oliveΒ oilΒ 
  • 3 tablespoons red wine vinegarΒ 
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustardΒ 
  • 2 clovesΒ of mincedΒ garlic.Β 
  • 1 tablespoonΒ of driedΒ oreganoΒ 
  • Salt and pepper to taste.Β 

Β Directions:

  1. Whisk dressing ingredients together in a small bowl or shakeΒ in a mason jar.Β 
  2. Place each individual ingredient in a section of the platter. When working with a rectangular-shapedΒ platterΒ consider columns while a circular dish could have each component placed in a pie shaped section.Β 
  3. Serve with dressing on the side.Β 

Roast Sweet Potato Salad with Quinoa and Black BeansΒ 

Salad Ingredients:Β 

  • 1 pound cubed and roasted sweet potatoesΒ Β 
  • 1 cupΒ of cookedΒ quinoaΒ 
  • ΒΌ cup diced red onion
  • 1 can of black beans,Β rinsedΒ and drained
  • Β½ cup chopped cilantroΒ 

Dressing Ingredients:Β 

  • 1/3 cupsΒ of olive oilΒ 
  • Juice of two limesΒ 
  • 2 teaspoons of honey or maple syrupΒ 
  • 1 clove of minced garlicΒ 
  • 1 teaspoon of paprikaΒ 
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:Β 

  1. Roast cubed sweet potatoes at 400 F for about 15 minutes on a roasting pan or sheet pan,Β turn potatoes and continue cookingΒ an additional 10 minutes or until tender.Β 
  2. While potatoes roast, combine all dressing ingredients by shaking in a mason jar or whisking together in a small bowl.Β 
  3. Toss all ingredientsΒ in a large bowl and serve warm or at room temperature.Β 

No Cooking Necessary Salad RecipesΒ 

Kale Paired with Pear and Pecans SaladΒ 

Salad Ingredients:Β 

  • Β½ pound of kale – remove stems, rinse, and dry.Β 
  • Β½ cup halved pecansΒ 
  • 1 medium pear – sliced (or substitute one apple)Β 
  • Kosher salt and black pepperΒ 
  • 2 tablespoons of olive oilΒ 

Dressing Ingredients:Β 

  • ΒΌ cupΒ of olive oilΒ 
  • 2β€― tablespoonsΒ apple cider vinegarΒ or freshly squeezed lemon juice.Β 
  • 1 β€―tablespoonβ€―Dijon mustardΒ 
  • 2β€― teaspoonsβ€―honeyΒ 
  • Generous pinch ofβ€―kosher saltΒ 
  • black pepper to taste

Β Directions:Β 

  1. Massage the kale in a large bowl with a bit of olive oil and Kosher salt,Β and setΒ aside.Β 
  2. Combine dressing ingredients in a small bowlΒ with a whiskΒ or shake in a small mason jar.Β 
  3. Add pecans and pear slices to kale and toss.Β 
  4. Pour dressing over salad and toss again to coat well.Β Β 

Spinach Strawberry Salad with Poppyseed DressingΒ 

Ingredients:Β 

  • 5 ounces spinach or baby spinach,Β rinsed and dried.Β 
  • 2 cups of rinsed, hulled, and halved fresh strawberriesΒ 
  • 3 tablespoons of slivered almondsΒ 

Dressing Ingredients:Β 

  • ΒΌ cup of olive oilΒ 
  • 3 tablespoons of distilled white vinegarΒ 
  • 1/3 cup of granulated sugarΒ 
  • 2 teaspoons of poppy seedsΒ 

Directions:Β 

  1. Whisk dressing ingredients together in a small bowl or shake well in a mason jar.Β 
  2. Toss salad ingredientsΒ in a large bowl.Β 
  3. Option to dress entire salad or serve individually with dressing on the side.Β 

One Step Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad

Ingredients:Β 

  • One poundΒ shaved, raw Brussels sprouts.Β 
  • Β½ cup pine nutsΒ 
  • Β½ cup dried cranberriesΒ 
  • ΒΌ cup of grated pecorino cheeseΒ 
  • 2/3 cup of olive oilΒ 
  • Β½ cup of fresh lemon juiceΒ 
  • Salt and pepper to taste.Β 

Combine all ingredients together in a large bowlΒ and enjoy!Β 

Vegetarian Friendly Taco Salad

Ingredients:Β 

  • 1 – head of Iceberg lettuce, rinsed, dried, and chopped.Β 
  • 4 chopped tomatoesΒ 
  • 8 ounces of shredded cheddar cheeseΒ 
  • 4 ounces of drained and sliced black olives.Β 
  • ΒΌ cup of diced onionΒ 
  • 2 cubed avocadosΒ Β 
  • 1 sliced Jalapeno pepper* (optional)Β 
  • 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro* (optional)Β 
  • Tortilla strips and sliced lime for garnishΒ 

Dressing Ingredients:Β 

  • 1 cup of sour creamΒ 
  • 1 cup of salsaΒ 
  • 1 packet of taco seasoning mixΒ ORΒ 
  • Mix your own taco seasoning mix usingΒ 1 tablespoon chiliΒ powder, ΒΌΒ teaspoon garlic powder. ΒΌ teaspoon onionΒ powder. Β½Β teaspoon paprika and 1 Β½ teaspoons ground cumin.Β 

Directions:Β 

  1. Combine all salad ingredientsΒ in a large bowl. Garnish as desired.Β 
  2. Stir dressing ingredients together separately in a medium sized bowl and serve on the side.Β 

Tossed Italian Charcuterie Salad

Ingredients:Β 

  • 1 head of Romaine lettuce, cleaned, dried and chopped.Β 
  • ΒΌ cup of arugulaΒ 
  • ΒΌ pound marinated mozzarella ballsΒ 
  • ΒΌ pound cubed cured meat like salami,Β soppressata, pepperoniΒ 
  • ΒΌ pound of marinated roasted red peppersΒ 
  • ΒΌ pound of marinated mushroomsΒ 
  • 2 tablespoons sliced olives (black, green, or both)Β 
  • One loaf of crusty Italian bread on the sideΒ 

Optional Ingredients:Β 

  • 2-4 tablespoons of olive oilΒ 
  • Juice of one lemonΒ 
  • Salt and pepperΒ 

Directions:Β 

  1. Combine allΒ the saladΒ ingredients in a big bowl.Β 
  2. Add a few drops of olive oilΒ andΒ lemon juice if desired. Salt and pepper to taste.Β 
  3. Enjoy!Β 

These 10 easy recipe ideas can be served as side dishes, simple lunches, and delicious dinners. Keep in mind, all salads are versatile and easy to make just the way you like them with just a fewΒ tweeks. I bet you even help yourself to seconds!Β 

About The Author

Sharon MacGregor

Writing from her desk in New York, Sharon MacGregor is a contributing reporter, freelance writer, and blogger with a passion for human interest stories as well as meals shared with friends and family. Her blog, Fed Well includes recipes with upcoming tips to prepare foods for infants and toddlers, simple and seasonal cocktails, and easy modifications to create dishes respecting dietary restrictions including dairy and gluten intolerances. She loves entertaining for the ones she loves including her new grandbabies!

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