Salad recipes

A light and healthy version of a creamy ranch salad dressing.

Five-green salad with iceberg, Boston lettuce, romaine, chicory, and spinach, each dressed separately in Italian dressing and arranged in strips with Parmesan.

Molded cucumber gelatin salad with cream cheese, carrots, onion, and lemon juice made with sugar substitute for a diabetic-friendly side dish. A retro Jell-O salad with no added sugar.

Stewart's Salad is a layered retro Jell-O salad with sugar-free lemon jello and pineapple, a fluffy cream cheese middle, and a golden pineapple-juice custard topping. A diabetic-friendly potluck classic.

Tuna cheese salad with cubed cheddar, sweet gherkins, celery, and light mayonnaise. A protein-packed cold salad served on crisp lettuce with colorful pepper strips.

Mediterranean spring salad with marinated new potatoes, feta, cucumber, tomato, and green pepper on mixed greens. Lemon-oregano-olive oil dressing doubles as marinade.

Spaghetti squash salad with mushrooms and Parmesan: roasted squash strands tossed with garlic olive oil, sauteed mushrooms, and fresh parsley. Low-carb, gluten-free, diabetic-friendly, 45 minutes start to finish.

Tomato, basil, and mozzarella salad (insalata caprese) with thick-sliced ripe tomatoes, shredded mozzarella, fresh basil strips, and a drizzle of olive oil. Five ingredients, 15 minutes, Italian perfection.

Turkey taco salad with a homemade cumin-red wine vinegar dressing, Parmesan-toasted tortilla chips, cheddar, and ripe tomatoes over crisp romaine. A lighter, leaner take on taco salad.

Caprese-style tomato basil and mozzarella salad drizzled with olive oil and cracked black pepper. A fresh no-cook summer salad with only 5 ingredients and 20 minutes of prep.

Southern black-eyed pea salad with spinach, pecans, Monterey Jack, and mushrooms in a smoky vinegar dressing. A make-ahead side that gets better overnight in the fridge.

Italian dressing variations: customize a base Italian vinaigrette with anchovies, bacon, Parmesan, tomato puree or red wine to create five distinct dressings from one starting point.

Dressed-up French dressing with mashed avocado, blue cheese, hard-boiled egg yolk and a hit of soy sauce. Quick creamy salad topper for steak or wedge salads.

Reuben burgers with lean ground beef topped with sauerkraut, melted Swiss cheese, and Russian dressing on toasted rye. All the classic Reuben sandwich flavors in burger form.

Loaded beef tacos with a twist: lean ground beef, green chiles, and garlic topped with Italian dressing-marinated tomatoes and mozzarella. A lighter, flavor-forward taco in 30 minutes.

Homemade all-purpose seasoning blend with parmesan, sesame seeds, paprika, and poppy seeds. Shake it on fish, meat, vegetables, or salads for instant savory depth.