Salad recipes

This scrumptious rice salad is perfect for a picnic with the family or a dinner party with friends.

At a recent party everyone gobbled up this satisfying pasta salad loaded with marinated artichokes, sun-dried tomatoes, roasted pepper and tortellini. Literally packed with flavor.

Octopus and celery salad, a light Venetian classic of tender boiled octopus tossed with crisp raw celery, fruity olive oil, and bright lemon. A clean, low-fat seafood salad to serve with fresh bread.

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.

A crunchy combination of apples and celery with bits of toasted walnut in a creamy dressing. Perfect along side of pork or any other main dish.

When President-elect Barack Obama made tuna salad with his family on “60 Minutes” last year, he used this recipe, specifying troll-caught albacore.

Grilled potatoes tossed with freshly-made parsley pesto, an easy recipe that tastes delicious. Clean, fresh and vibrant flavors perk up plain grilled potatoes. A great side dish perfect for a summer BBQ.

Arugula salad with a creamy blended lemon-Parmesan dressing, tossed with peppery baby arugula and sweet cherry tomatoes. A bright, 4-ingredient side that comes together in minutes.

Three bean salad with bacon piles baked, lima and green beans with crispy bacon, mushrooms and peppers in a honey-Dijon lemon dressing. A hearty, make-ahead party salad that feeds a crowd.

This salad's presentation is quite lovely. The citrus vinaigrette is top notch and we use the leftovers for other vegetables. The combination of orange, lemon, lime and grapefruit really kick it up a notch. If you really want to impress your guests and blow them away with sophistication this is sure to wow them. Or just make the dressing and use it for other dishes and turn any ordinary vegetable into something special.

Quick, easy and flavorful, it goes well with any kind of main course.

A fresh and light dessert! I often serve this after a big dinner or as a alternativ with my cakes at our birthday pary. It is popular!

Next time when you have some fresh beet greens, or kale or any similar greens, make this easy yet tasty salad with marinated artichoke hearts, pomegranate seeds and creamy fresh mozzarella.

Tangy and tasty salad that combines fall/winter fruit and beets with a creamy dressing. Feel free to use canned or pickled beets in place of the fresh beets to save time.

This refreshing salad combines tender roasted asparagus, peppery arugula, and perfectly poached eggs for a light yet satisfying dish. A tangy lemon-mustard dressing ties it together, while a slice of crusty whole-grain bread soaks up the flavorful juices and adds fiber. Ideal for brunch or a quick dinner, this salad is both nutritious and delicious.

This sweet, sour yet savory salad has apples, celery, raisins, and toasted walnuts; tossed with a yogurt and mayonnaise dressing that makes the salad creamy and tasty.