When summer finally arrives after a long winter, it brings with it a huge bounty of fresh produce. One of the best ways to show this produce off is with a fresh, bright salad. We've rounded up 30 of our favorite salad recipes to highlight the best of summer’s fruits and vegetables.
Tomatoes are available year-round in American supermarkets, but good tomatoes are distinctly a summer treat. One of the best ways to show them off is in a caprese with burrata, basil, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar. Cherry or plum tomatoes pair with sweet corn—another summer treat—in our summer succotash. Or pair them with toasted bread to make panzanella.
Summer also brings fruit. Sweet watermelon and briny feta are a natural combination—add olives to double down on the briny pungency or jalapeños to add a spicy kick. Sweet-tart citrus works well in salads, too. Place honey grilled chicken on a bed of cilantro, grapefruit, and three kinds of orange for a refreshing main. Pomelo serves as an excellent base for a Thai salad with chiles, peanuts, and mint.
Thailand is home to many salads. The best known is som tum, or green papaya salad. This vibrantly flavored salad is packed cabbage, cucumber, dried shrimp, peanuts, fish sauce, and more. A variation can be made by substituting the green papaya for green mango and pairing it with green beans and grape tomatoes.
Find all of these salads and more in our collection of 30 summer salad recipes.
Chickpea Tofu Salad (Burmese Salad with Shan Tofu)
Chickpea Tofu Salad (Burmese Salad with Shan Tofu)
Iceberg Wedge with Lemon-Parsley Dressing
The classic wedge with a zesty upgrade. Get the recipe for Iceberg Wedge with Lemon-Parsley Dressing »
Homemade Crème Fraîche and Preserved Lemon Salad Dressing
Homemade Crème Fraîche and Preserved Lemon Salad Dressing
Charred Cabbage Slaw
In this offbeat slaw from chef Chris Shepherd of Underbelly in Houston, raw red cabbage adds a textural contrast to the grilled green cabbage, and a zippy, spicy-sweet-salty dressing goes well with the charred bits. Get the recipe for Charred Cabbage Slaw »
Watermelon, Feta, and Jalapeño Salad
For a Southeast Asian spin, add fish sauce, chile, and Thai basil to the classic combination of watermelon and feta. Get the recipe for Watermelon, Feta, and Jalapeño Salad »
Blueberry, Nectarine and Shiso Salad
Bright shiso leaves and a touch of earthy sesame oil enhance this stone fruit and berry salad. Get the recipe for Blueberry, Nectarine and Shiso Salad »
Thai Green Papaya Salad (Som Tum)
Crusted dried shrimp add an umami boost to this papaya salad. Get the recipe for Thai Green Papaya Salad (Som Tum) »
Thai Pomelo Salad (Dtam Som Oo)
Sweet pomelo pairs beautifully with chiles, peanuts, and mint in this recipe for a classic Thai salad from Talde in Brooklyn, New York. Get the recipe for Thai Pomelo Salad (Dtam Som Oo) »
Avocado-Mango Salad (Saladu Awooka ak Mango)
Creamy avocados and sweet mangoes are marinated in a citrus dressing, composing a bright and refreshing salad that’s the perfect counterpoint to rich and savory stews.
Watermelon, Feta, and Olive Salad »
In this summer salad, watermelon is a sweet counterpoint to the briny pungency of feta and olives. Get the recipe for Watermelon, Feta, and Olive Salad »
Summer Panzanella
Sweet, ripe, summer tomatoes dressed in olive oil, vinegar, and basil are tossed with garlicky, toasted bread cubes to soak up the delicious juices in this classic Italian salad. Get the recipe for Summer Panzanella »
Fava Bean, Herb, and Pomegranate Fattoush
Fava beans add protein to this take on the Levantine bread salad from Australia-based chef Matt Wilkinson. Get the recipe for Fava Bean, Herb, and Pomegranate Fattoush »
Sautéed Crab with Avocado, Grapefruit, and Herb Salad
Crabmeat is rubbed with a smoky chile paste, then sautéed and tossed in this refreshing salad of creamy avocado, tart grapefruit, and herbs.
Blue Cheese Wedge Salad
Both blue cheese and Italian dressings adorn the classic iceberg wedge salad. Get the recipe for Blue Cheese Wedge Salad »
Red Leaf Salad with Ranch Dressing
Light, tangy yogurt replaces rich mayonnaise in the herb-laced dressing for this salad.
Greek Salad (Horiatiki)
This refreshing salad takes on various guises in Greece depending on what vegetables are in season, but it almost always features feta and a dusting of dried oregano. Get the recipe for Greek Salad (Horiatiki) »
Caesar Salad
This classic salad is easy to make from scratch at home. Get the recipe for Caesar Salad »
Creamy Potato Salad with Red Onion
This cool, creamy, classic potato salad is spiked with pickle relish and red onion.
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