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Lemon, avocado, asparagus, spinach and other spring produce shine in these bright and fresh salad recipes. Whether it’s an easy side salad to pair with a sandwich or a simple but show-stopping quinoa salad for dinner, these recipes earned four- and five-star ratings. Enjoy a recipe like our Simple Cabbage Salad withsimilarly springy mainsor dig into something like this Tortellini Salad for a delicious lunch or dinner.
01of 20Simple Cabbage SaladView RecipePhotography / Greg DuPree, Styling / Ruth BlackBurn / Julia BaylessCabbage maintains a nice crunch when it’s tossed with an easy dressing in this simple cabbage salad recipe. This easy salad is perfect for fall when cabbage is at its sweetest.
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Simple Cabbage Salad
View Recipe
Photography / Greg DuPree, Styling / Ruth BlackBurn / Julia Bayless
Cabbage maintains a nice crunch when it’s tossed with an easy dressing in this simple cabbage salad recipe. This easy salad is perfect for fall when cabbage is at its sweetest.
02of 20Quinoa Avocado Salad with Buttermilk DressingView RecipePersimmons add sweetness to this tossed green salad that sports a healthy salad dressing. A sprinkling of crispy fried quinoa adds unexpected crunch, putting the salad over the top in the best way.
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Quinoa Avocado Salad with Buttermilk Dressing
Persimmons add sweetness to this tossed green salad that sports a healthy salad dressing. A sprinkling of crispy fried quinoa adds unexpected crunch, putting the salad over the top in the best way.
03of 20Falafel Salad with Lemon-Tahini DressingView RecipeDeep-fried falafel can be a total grease bomb. But these pan-seared falafel still get crispy in just a few tablespoons of oil with equally satisfying results. Be sure to use dried, instead of canned, chickpeas in this healthy recipe–canned chickpeas add too much moisture.
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Falafel Salad with Lemon-Tahini Dressing
Deep-fried falafel can be a total grease bomb. But these pan-seared falafel still get crispy in just a few tablespoons of oil with equally satisfying results. Be sure to use dried, instead of canned, chickpeas in this healthy recipe–canned chickpeas add too much moisture.
04of 20Tortellini SaladView RecipeA tomato-rich dressing boosts the flavor and lowers calories and fat in this tortellini salad (the dressing is also great on green salads or grilled fish). Roasted red peppers, artichoke hearts and sun-dried tomatoes add a good dose of vitamins A, C and fiber.
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Tortellini Salad
A tomato-rich dressing boosts the flavor and lowers calories and fat in this tortellini salad (the dressing is also great on green salads or grilled fish). Roasted red peppers, artichoke hearts and sun-dried tomatoes add a good dose of vitamins A, C and fiber.
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Cheesesteak Salad
Photography / Greg DuPree, Styling / Ali Ramee / Christine Keely
06of 20Broccoli & Grape SaladView RecipeAn unlikely pairing of grapes and broccoli creates an out-of-the-ordinary quick side dish. The sweet snappy bite of the grapes complements the crispy raw broccoli and onion, while the creamy dressing and toasted almonds pull it all together. Enjoy it for lunch or double the recipe for an easy potluck recipe everyone will love.
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Broccoli & Grape Salad
An unlikely pairing of grapes and broccoli creates an out-of-the-ordinary quick side dish. The sweet snappy bite of the grapes complements the crispy raw broccoli and onion, while the creamy dressing and toasted almonds pull it all together. Enjoy it for lunch or double the recipe for an easy potluck recipe everyone will love.
07of 20Spinach Salad with Warm Maple DressingView RecipePure maple syrup, as opposed to artificially flavored and colored “pancake” syrup, is an extraordinary cooking ingredient. Here it adds body as well as rich flavor to the dressing, providing a perfect counterpoint to the smoked cheese.
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Spinach Salad with Warm Maple Dressing
Pure maple syrup, as opposed to artificially flavored and colored “pancake” syrup, is an extraordinary cooking ingredient. Here it adds body as well as rich flavor to the dressing, providing a perfect counterpoint to the smoked cheese.
08of 20Lemony Lentil Salad with FetaView RecipeJason DonnellyThis delicious and healthy lentil salad comes together in just 30 minutes and makes a wonderful hot-weather meal. Serve with whole-wheat pitas, if desired.
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Lemony Lentil Salad with Feta
Jason Donnelly
This delicious and healthy lentil salad comes together in just 30 minutes and makes a wonderful hot-weather meal. Serve with whole-wheat pitas, if desired.
09of 20Broccoli, Chickpea & Pomegranate SaladView RecipeSimple steps give this broccoli salad recipe a more nuanced flavor: soaking the onion tempers its bite and toasting the cumin enhances its aroma. Serve alongside grilled chicken, pork or fish.
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Broccoli, Chickpea & Pomegranate Salad
Simple steps give this broccoli salad recipe a more nuanced flavor: soaking the onion tempers its bite and toasting the cumin enhances its aroma. Serve alongside grilled chicken, pork or fish.
10of 20Strawberry-Balsamic Spinach Salad with ChickenView RecipeBlaine MoatsA quick blender vinaigrette does double duty as dressing for this strawberry spinach salad and, with the addition of ketchup and strawberry preserves, as a barbecue sauce for the tenders.
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Strawberry-Balsamic Spinach Salad with Chicken
Blaine Moats
A quick blender vinaigrette does double duty as dressing for this strawberry spinach salad and, with the addition of ketchup and strawberry preserves, as a barbecue sauce for the tenders.
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Mediterranean Tuna-Spinach Salad
12of 20Fried Chicken Salad with Buttermilk DressingView RecipeA blend of whole-wheat panko and fine cornmeal gives this healthy chicken recipe the perfect amount of crunch even though it’s not deep fried. Making an easy homemade buttermilk ranch dressing recipe means you can skip bottled, which may have additives and stabilizers.
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Fried Chicken Salad with Buttermilk Dressing
A blend of whole-wheat panko and fine cornmeal gives this healthy chicken recipe the perfect amount of crunch even though it’s not deep fried. Making an easy homemade buttermilk ranch dressing recipe means you can skip bottled, which may have additives and stabilizers.
13of 20Green Goddess SaladView RecipeThis gorgeous salad combines fresh shrimp, cucumber, artichoke hearts and cherry tomatoes with homemade green goddess dressing. The dressing is beautifully green and creamy with avocado (loaded with good-for-you fats) and fresh herbs. Buttermilk and a dash of rice vinegar add tang.
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Green Goddess Salad
This gorgeous salad combines fresh shrimp, cucumber, artichoke hearts and cherry tomatoes with homemade green goddess dressing. The dressing is beautifully green and creamy with avocado (loaded with good-for-you fats) and fresh herbs. Buttermilk and a dash of rice vinegar add tang.
14of 20Spring Roll SaladView RecipeAll the tastes, color and fun of a spring roll without all the work! This healthy salad recipe is bursting with the colors of rainbow from generous amounts of fresh vegetables, shrimp and whole grains all topped with a peanut dressing for the ultimate satisfying salad.
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Spring Roll Salad
All the tastes, color and fun of a spring roll without all the work! This healthy salad recipe is bursting with the colors of rainbow from generous amounts of fresh vegetables, shrimp and whole grains all topped with a peanut dressing for the ultimate satisfying salad.
15of 20Spring Pea Salad with StrawberriesView RecipeAs delicious as it is beautiful, this spring pea salad recipe is a potluck or dinner party stunner. Assemble the salad and dress just before serving–or serve the dressing next to the salad for people to drizzle. The tangy champagne vinaigrette balances the grassy sweetness of the peas and fruity pop of the berries.
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Spring Pea Salad with Strawberries
As delicious as it is beautiful, this spring pea salad recipe is a potluck or dinner party stunner. Assemble the salad and dress just before serving–or serve the dressing next to the salad for people to drizzle. The tangy champagne vinaigrette balances the grassy sweetness of the peas and fruity pop of the berries.
16of 20Asparagus TabboulehView RecipeAsparagus and pomegranate seeds are a fun addition to this easy tabbouleh recipe. Serve this healthy whole-grain side with chicken kebabs, tzatziki and pita bread for a Middle Eastern-inspired dinner.
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Asparagus Tabbouleh
Asparagus and pomegranate seeds are a fun addition to this easy tabbouleh recipe. Serve this healthy whole-grain side with chicken kebabs, tzatziki and pita bread for a Middle Eastern-inspired dinner.
17of 20Mâche & Chicken Salad with Honey-Tahini DressingView RecipePhotography / Jenny Huang, Food Styling / Tyna Hoang, Prop Styling / Nicole LouieIf fresh peas aren’t available, thawed frozen peas make an excellent substitute. Look for tender mâche at farmers' markets and natural-foods stores.
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Mâche & Chicken Salad with Honey-Tahini Dressing
Photography / Jenny Huang, Food Styling / Tyna Hoang, Prop Styling / Nicole Louie
If fresh peas aren’t available, thawed frozen peas make an excellent substitute. Look for tender mâche at farmers' markets and natural-foods stores.
18of 20Asparagus Salad with Eggs & Jambon de BayonneView RecipeThis impressive-looking asparagus salad recipe is actually very easy to make. After quickly boiling the asparagus, the same water is used to soft-boil the eggs. Piment d’Espelette is a sweet, spicy ground pepper from the Basque region of France. While it’s not essential, it does add a subtle kick to the otherwise mellow flavors of this salad. Look for this spice at specialty stores and well-stocked markets–or substitute smoked paprika.
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Asparagus Salad with Eggs & Jambon de Bayonne
This impressive-looking asparagus salad recipe is actually very easy to make. After quickly boiling the asparagus, the same water is used to soft-boil the eggs. Piment d’Espelette is a sweet, spicy ground pepper from the Basque region of France. While it’s not essential, it does add a subtle kick to the otherwise mellow flavors of this salad. Look for this spice at specialty stores and well-stocked markets–or substitute smoked paprika.
19of 20Kale & Quinoa Salad with Lemon DressingView RecipePhotography / Antonis Achilleos, Styling / Christine Keely, Ali RameeThis kale-quinoa salad pops with different flavors and textures. Massaging the kale helps break down its fibrous nature, while add-ins like toasted almonds, feta and cucumber add crunch and saltiness.
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Kale & Quinoa Salad with Lemon Dressing
Photography / Antonis Achilleos, Styling / Christine Keely, Ali Ramee
This kale-quinoa salad pops with different flavors and textures. Massaging the kale helps break down its fibrous nature, while add-ins like toasted almonds, feta and cucumber add crunch and saltiness.
20of 20Vegetarian Niçoise SaladView RecipeThis vegetarian take on a traditional Niçoise salad omits the fish and piles on plenty of vegetables.
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Vegetarian Niçoise Salad
This vegetarian take on a traditional Niçoise salad omits the fish and piles on plenty of vegetables.
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