One of the many, many, many reasons to be excited about Spring is that the world of salads starts to open and blossom in a billion ways. I make salads pretty much 365 days a year, but there’s no denying that they become overall easier to pull together and more spontaneously dazzling in the warmer months.
Love this quote from Elizabeth David:
“I don’t altogether agree that a plain green salad ever becomes a bore – not, that is, if it’s made with fresh, well-drained crisp greenstuff and a properly seasoned dressing of good-quality olive oil and a sound wine vinegar. But I do agree that all this talk about ‘tossed salads’ is a bore; it seems to me that a salad and its dressing are things we should take more or less for granted at a meal, like bread and salt; and not carry on about them.”
Elizabeth David (1913-1992) ‘The Spectator’, 1961
How wonderful is this language?
39 Salad Recipes for Spring
Indonesian Chicken Salad
This is the salad for people who might not think a main-course salad is really a thing. (And if you’ve ever ordered Chinese Chicken Salad on a menu, this is for you.)
Vegetarian Pasta Salad
This pasta salad is portable and flexible. It’s also a nice way to play around with the vegetables of the season.
Korean Tofu Salad
The flavors of Korean cooking are front and center in this recipe. It’s an amazing balance of spicy and sweet and savory.
Mediterranean Tomato Wheat Berry Salad with Fresh Herbs
This salad has a whole lot going on in terms of color, texture, taste, and nutrition.
Greek Salad with Flank Steak
When you can’t decide between salad and steak (and you want have your steak but eat it, too – or something like that).
Sesame-Honey Quinoa and Carrot Salad with Sliced Avocado
A very nice thing to happen to a bowl of quinoa.
Pasta Salad with Chicken and Chipotle Dressing
Leftovers join forces to become this better-than-I-expected salad.
Vietnamese Shrimp Salad
Bright and beautiful and free from regrets. Wish I could say that about everything in my life.
Mayo-Free Vegan Pasta Salad
So easy, so colorful, so make ahead, so crowd-pleasing….and actually a vegan pasta salad, too).
Wild Rice and Broccolini Salad
Delicious, make-ahead, portable, room temperature – there is a lot to love about this grain salad.
Couscous Salad with Shrimp and Pesto Dressing
This summery dish pretty well underscores the thought that we eat with our eyes.
Herbed Salmon Salad
Mix and match any lettuces and herbs you like as a bed for this soft, savory slow cooked salmon.
Classic Greek Salad
A big bowl of Greek salad is one of the most satisfying lunches or dinners on the planet.
Farro and Vegetable Salad
I love the way the additional of a couple of handfuls of cooked whole grains adds so much heft and interest to a salad.
Artichoke, Feta and Roasted Pepper Couscous Salad
A room temperature salad made with Mediterranean couscous is one of my pernennial go-to’s.
Shrimp and Corn Salad with Basil Dressing
A must-make when corn is in season. This is such a good looking and satisfying salad for later summer.
Chicken Satay Salad
The salad for anyone who can't get enough of that great peanutty chicken satay dressing. A serious salad meal.
Pasta Salad with Chicken, Green Olives, and Ramp Vinaigrette
Chicken salad meets Spring. This pasta salad is heavy on the chicken.
Pea Shoot Salad with Shrimp, Goat Cheese and Citrus Vinaigrette
Don’t let the preciousness of the title fool you – this is one hell of a good salad.
Greek Chicken Pasta Salad
This is so, so pretty, and can be made ahead, which is great when you have a crew of guests.
Smoky Sweet Thai Grilled Flank Steak Salad
A fantastic Thai twist on a steak salad. Gary said he would have paid good money for this meal. Aw.
Chopped Salad with Chicken, Tomatoes and Lemon Thyme Dressing
This was one of the best lunches ever, just that perfect chopped salad.
Pasta and Salmon Salad with Ramp Dressing
A springtime pasta perfect for a picnic, a buffet, or for a potluck.
Mixed Green Salad with Creamy Sesame Dressing
This smooth and robust dressing gets its flavor from soy sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar and garlic, with a touch of heat.
Arugula and Cucumber Salad with Tzatziki Vinaigrette
Greens and sliced vegetables, get slicked with a garlicky, lemony yogurt dressing.
Classic Caesar Salad
This is the perfect Caesar salad recipe: cheesy, crunchy, creamy, just like the one you would order in a restaurant, but so easy to make.
Chicken and Avocado Salad
Chunky and creamy and satisfying. This, like pretty much all salads, is a super flexible recipe.
Spinach and Radish Salad with Feta
What's green and white and red all over? This perfect little side salad.
