Salad recipes

This is one of my absolute favorite things to make at this time of year. It takes almost no time to prepare, so I’ll whip up a big batch on my day off and then all I have to do when I get home is put it in a bowl or mash it up and put it on toasted bread drizzled with some olive oil. It also makes a great appetizer along with some homemade or store-bought pita chips. Honestly, when serving this as a dip or a spread, I don’t even bother taking out my food processor, I just use the bottom of a glass and mash it a bit.

Light and flavorful vinaigrette goes well with any kind of greens or pasta salad.

Crispy toasted pita bread with seasoned pinto beans, diced cucumber, tomato and fresh lettuce, easy and tasty.

Caprese salad tosses red and yellow tomato wedges with fresh mozzarella, basil, and parsley. The classic three-ingredient Italian salad (plus a few herbs) done right with summer's best tomatoes.

I love this salad, simple and easy, a good accompaniment for a meat dish.

Herbed potato salad with red-skinned potatoes, Dijon mustard, yogurt-mayo dressing, and plenty of scallion, dill, and parsley. A lighter picnic side that skips the heavy gloppy stuff.

Quick and simple chicken salad that is a great way to use up leftover chicken, be it grilled, broiled or poached.

Oasis carrot salad boils carrots tender then marinates them in garlic-onion-vinegar dressing, finished with fresh cilantro and parsley. A bright, make-ahead North African-style side.

Grilled marinated tofu with a Mediterranean chopped salad of tomato, cucumber, kalamata olives and parsley. Bright vegetarian main with Greek flavors.

This is a flexible recipe, in any way it tastes always great.

A bright Mediterranean-style potato salad with cherry tomatoes, black olives, capers, fresh herbs, and lemon zest in extra-virgin olive oil. No mayo, all flavor.

Greek orzo pasta salad with feta cheese, green olives, tomato, fresh dill and parsley in a lemon-olive oil dressing. Bright make-ahead Mediterranean side dish.

Pasta salad with asparagus, baby corn, sun-dried tomatoes, and fresh herbs. A fast, pantry-friendly cold salad that comes together in 15 minutes with Italian or Caesar dressing.

This dish was pretty easy to prepare and turned out beautifully. The potatoes, zucchini, tomatoes, and olives created a wonderful medley of flavors.

Sweet and sour apples, crunchy and savory celeries, nutty and salty peanuts, and a lemon-dijon dressing make a delicious, light yet refreshing salad.

Quick, easy and tasty. Fresh lemon zest and juice add lots of refreshness, a few garlic cloves give the fragrance, and the toasted almonds bring some nutty taste and another layer of the crunch texture. Serve it with any main course.