Fresh Summer Salad

Use fresh veggies to create a new Summer salad every meal! I love a simplified salad with fresh greens, pops of colorful and crunchy veggies, cheese, a handful of seeds or nuts, and then dressed in a light vinaigrette dressing.

A Simple Summer Salad

Healthy salads are the ultimate supper recipe. Serve them as side dishes or add proteins like cooked chicken or bay shrimp and serve them as an entrée salad.
The dressing comes together with 5 ingredients in less than 5 minutes! Use this Dijon-based vinaigrette as a marinade, too.
Save time with a prepackaged ‘Spring Mix’ blend and ready-made prepped veggies. Make ahead and chill until ready to dress and serve!

Mix it Up

Just like when building a tossed salad, try to incorporate different flavors, textures, and colors into a salad!

Add crunch (seeds/nuts), something rich or salty (bacon/cheese), fresh and juicy (tomatoes/cucumbers), bold (onions/herbs/olives). Mix it up with each meal (and find our best salad dressing recipes here).

Ingredients

GREENS: Leafy, curly, and colorful salad varieties like arugula, baby spinach, kale, endive, and romaine can be mixed and matched for flavor and visual appeal.

VEGETABLES: Cucumbers, radishes, onions, and tomatoes give this salad color, crunch, and texture. Add other veggies like corn, green beans, beets, alfalfa sprouts, broccoli, or cauliflower florets.

DRESSING: Vinaigrettes always start with a base of acid (like vinegar or lemon juice) and oil. Lemon juice and Dijon mustard give this one a tangy flavor. Switch it up by adding other seasonings like garlic powder, onion powder, or even this easy DIY Italian blend.

PRO TIP #1: For the best flavor, toast seeds (or nuts) in a dry sauté pan until fragrant. This burns off extra oil, intensifies their flavor, and makes them extra crunchy!

PRO TIP #2: Tear lettuce instead of cutting to prevent the edges from browning.

Variations

Summer salad can be different every time with tasty add-ins!

Nuts & Seeds: Sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, or slivered almonds bring the crunch.
Fruits: Summer salads are great with the addition of peaches, berries,
Cheese: Crumbly cheeses like bleu cheese, feta, Cotija, and gorgonzola give Summer salad a creamy element.
Protein: Try grilled shrimp or chicken or sprinkle the salad with any combo of drained black beans, garbanzo, kidney beans.
Other flavorful Additions: Garnish with croutons, olives, herbs (like fresh basil).

How to Make Summer Salad

Summer just wouldn’t be the same without a crisp and veggie-filled salad.

Combine greens, cucumber, radishes, and red onion in a large bowl.
Add the desired amount of dressing & toss (as per the recipe below).
Sprinkle the remaining ingredients on top and serve immediately.

Storing Salad

Keep leftover Summer salad covered in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Toss well before serving.

Fresh greens will renew the salad! Keep the dressing separate in a salad dressing cruet or a mason jar for up to a week.

More Favorite Summer Salads

From watermelon salad to a fresh pasta salad recipe, there is no end to fresh meals in the summer months!

Veggie Salads: Great for enjoying produce from the garden or a local farmer’s market. Try a Caprese salad, cobb salad, summer corn salad, Greek salad, or Cucumber Tomato Salad.
Pasta Salads: These are hearty and can be enjoyed as a potluck side dish or a cool summer meal! Favorites include my famous dill pickle pasta salad, orzo salad, Greek or Italian pasta salads.
Potato Salads: The perfect side to burgers, hot dogs, or bbq chicken.
Sandwich Salads: Great to put in a picnic basket on bread or serve over a bed of lettuce. Try our fave egg salad, a classic chicken salad, or a ham salad sandwich (these are mayo-based, be sure to keep them chilled)!

Did you make this Simple Summer Salad? Be sure to leave a rating and a comment below!