Salad recipes

Fennel Nicoise braises quartered fennel with tomatoes, white wine, and thyme for a silky Provencal side dish served cold. A do-ahead starter from the South of France.

Italian antipasto tray assembly with rolled salami and cream cheese pinwheels, cherry tomatoes stuffed with horseradish-spiked tuna, olives, and cold cuts. A classic party platter roadmap.

Indian style lentils simmer canned lentils with tomatoes, onion, garlic, ginger, turmeric, and frozen spinach into a weeknight dal. Ready in about 15 minutes.

Caprese-style spinach salad: ripe tomato wedges and fresh mozzarella cubes tossed with a basil, lemon, and olive oil dressing, then arranged over a bed of baby spinach. Light, summery, and fast.

Warm tomato vinaigrette with passata, herbed white wine vinegar, olive oil, and fresh parsley. A 4-ingredient sauce for grilled fish, chicken, pasta, or salads.

Tofu antipasto salad with bell peppers, mushrooms, olives, and tomatoes in a balsamic-oregano marinade. A colorful vegetarian appetizer or side, no cooking required.

Dried tomato salad dressing made by soaking sun-dried tomatoes in red wine vinegar with basil, thyme, and rosemary in olive oil. No cooking needed, just 6-12 hours to marinate.

Microwave cauliflower scramble with frozen cauliflower in cheese sauce, zucchini, tomatoes, and thyme. A quick vegetable side dish ready in 30 minutes with no stovetop needed.

Calorie-counters who are hungry for flavor will find this a very satisfactory salad dressing. It is only 26 calories per tablespoon.

Baked green tomatoes with brown sugar, butter cracker crumbs, and a sweet-savory contrast. A classic Southern side dish that's an oven-baked alternative to fried green tomatoes.

Honey mustard soy vinaigrette whisked with white wine vinegar and fresh dill. An Asian-meets-French salad dressing that pairs with cabbage, zucchini, and hearty greens.

A layered casserole of spiced tomatoes, sweet corn, bell pepper, and onion with breadcrumbs and melted cheese baked until bubbly and golden. The ultimate garden-to-table side dish.

Baked tomatoes with Parmesan, breadcrumbs, and thyme. A 3-ingredient Italian side dish that comes together in 30 minutes and pairs with almost any main course.

Cajun-style guacamole with crumbled feta, Creole mustard, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, and white wine vinegar. Not your standard guac, this one has a Louisiana kick.

Tomato mozzarella and basil salad over fresh spinach with a lemon-olive oil dressing. A light caprese-style salad ready in 15 minutes, no cooking needed.

Pasta Nicoise salad with shell pasta, fresh tomatoes, steamed green beans, black olives, and capers tossed in a garlicky olive oil vinaigrette. Ready in 20 minutes.