Next to a hearty grilled cheeseburger, steak, or rack of ribs, leafy green salads can feel too dainty, and grain salads can seem too heavy. Potato salad and pasta salad can feel ho-hum. We want something healthy, delicious, and hearty enough to please those abstaining from the meat. So we gathered up 11 summer side salads that are fresh, chunky, and lettuce-free—and sure to please everyone in the crowd.
Related Reading: Toss These Salad-Centric Cookbooks Into Your Rotation
These salad recipes are all meat-free, mostly dairy-free, and don’t contain any lettuce that’ll wilt and get soggy in the heat. They’re filling, full of interesting flavor and texture, and sure to stand out at any barbecue or picnic thanks to their unexpected combinations of fruit, vegetables, and dressings. And while they work well as sides to barbecue staples, they’re substantial enough that your vegetarian BBQ guests won’t feel left out. So make double (and watch them disappear).
1. Bok Choy and Pineapple Salad with Peanut Dressing
Chowhound
This Indonesian-inspired salad combines crunchy raw bok choy with fresh pineapple, carrots, and cucumber, all in a delectable peanut dressing (but replace the fish sauce with an appropriate substitute if serving to vegans). If you like grilled shrimp, it would be a perfect partner here. Get our Bok Choy and Pineapple Salad with Peanut Dressing recipe.
Chef's Basics Select Salad Bowl with Cooler Pack, $11.98 on Amazon
This large salad bowl has a lock-on lid, built-in cooler pack, and serving utensils that nest in the lid—sounds pretty perfect for transporting your goods to picnics, BBQs, and camping.
2. Tomato, Tomatillo, and Corn Salad with Avocado Dressing
Chowhound
Crunchy, juicy, fresh—this chunky summer salad is fantastic with pretty much anything, especially once it’s drizzled in the creamy chipotle dressing (which is avocado-based, dairy-free, and pretty good for you, so don’t be shy). Get our Tomato, Tomatillo, and Corn Salad with Avocado Dressing recipe.
3. Radish and Wax Bean Salad with Crème Fraîche Dressing
Chowhound
Peppery radishes lend a little bite to this crisp salad, further bolstered by slivered almonds and a tangy tarragon-lemon-crème fraîche dressing. If you can find bunches of mixed-color pink, purple, and red radishes, it’s even prettier too. Get our Radish and Wax Bean Salad with Crème Fraîche Dressing recipe.
4. Kale-Apple Coleslaw with Poppy Seed Dressing
Chowhound
Kale never wilts under pressure (or dressing), but it does soften just enough to be easy to chew; that said, we definitely recommend the flat-leaf kale over curly kale here. Slivers of apple bring a crisp crunch (and contrasting color), and the honey-mustard-poppyseed dressing is light enough for summer but will easily transition into fall. Get our Kale-Apple Coleslaw with Poppy Seed Dressing recipe.
5. Moroccan Zucchini, Grape, and Bell Pepper Salad
Chowhound
This might sound a little odd, but it’s deliciously refreshing—and a great way to use a glut of zucchini and summer squash. The dressing includes cumin, paprika, and preserved lemon (but you can use fresh lemon zest if that’s all you have); pine nuts and fresh mint bring even more flavor and texture to the mix. Get our Moroccan Zucchini, Grape, and Bell Pepper Salad recipe.
6. Spicy Jicama, Grapefruit, and Mango Salad
Chowhound
Turn your notion of fruit salad on its head with this sweet, spicy, and savory blend of crisp jicama, juicy ruby-red grapefruit, and lush mango. A little cayenne and lime juice spice things up. Get our Spicy Jicama, Grapefruit, and Mango Salad recipe.
7. Three-Bean Salad
Chowhound
It may seem something of a retro throwback, but three-bean salad is a picnic-perfect blend of tastes and textures that’s great chilled or at room temp. We add some thin radish slices, capers, and a sherry vinaigrette to liven things up. Get our Three-Bean Salad recipe.
8. Watermelon, Tomato, and Kalamata Olive Salad
Chowhound
Decidedly less old-fashioned, the blend of sweet watermelon, briny olives, fresh cucumber, and acidic tomatoes is dynamite, even if you skip the ricotta salata (but we wouldn’t want to). Get our Watermelon, Tomato, and Kalamata Olive Salad recipe.
9. Snap Pea Chopped Salad with Thai Vinaigrette
Chowhound
This snappy salad combines summer-sweet snap peas with carrots, cucumbers, cilantro, and scallions, with a spicy Thai-inspired dressing that’ll compel you to keep eating—but it’s so healthy you won’t mind scraping the bottom of the bowl. Get our Snap Pea Chopped Salad with Thai Vinaigrette recipe.
10. Tangy Vegan Potato Salad
Bonnie Savage
Potato salad may not sound like the most exciting thing, let alone something you’d want to make a main dish out of, but this vegan version is chock-full of extras like chickpeas, tomatoes, and red onion. They’re all tossed together in a bright, tangy, ajvar-based dressing with a hint of smoked paprika. You won’t want to share, but everyone will appreciate it if you do. Get the Tangy Vegan Potato Salad recipe.
11. Herbed Heirloom Tomato Salad
Chowhound
My very favorite summer salad is a simple mix of Sungold tomatoes, avocado, and raw corn kernels, but when those summer tomatoes reach their peak, they really don’t need anything but some good olive oil and sea salt to shine—and fresh herbs are always welcome. This salad knows that, and lets the spotlight stay on those little seasonal jewels. The more the merrier, so load up your basket (or reusable bag) at the farmers market when its full of tomato treasure and make this salad to go with anything you grill. Get our Herbed Heirloom Tomato Salad recipe.
from Food News – Chowhound http://bit.ly/2KF6Lai
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