Salad recipes

Garbanzo and rice salad tosses chickpeas, brown rice, tomato, green pepper and red onion in a dill-and-white-wine-vinegar dressing. A make-ahead vegan salad that improves overnight.

Chilled rice tossed with chicken, creamy avocado, black olives, and scallions in a tangy Dijon-red wine vinaigrette. Topped with toasted almonds and cherry tomatoes for a fresh no-cook summer salad.

Roasted tomato and rice salad chars tomatoes over an open flame, then tosses with warm rice, olive oil, white wine vinegar, lemon juice, and parsley. Smoky Mediterranean side dish.

Wild pecan rice salad with chicken pairs nutty Louisiana wild pecan rice with cubed chicken, avocado, cherry tomatoes, and toasted pecans. Finished with a creamy chickpea-sesame vinaigrette.

Vegetable salad with herbal vinaigrette: blanched asparagus, carrots, and sugar snap peas tossed with plum tomatoes and a mustardy lemon-garlic dressing. A bright, crisp springtime side.

Greek potato salad with dried tomatoes: roasted potatoes and concentrated tomatoes tossed in a bright lemon-and-olive-oil dressing, then chilled. A no-mayo Mediterranean side served cool.

No-cook tuna rice salad tossed in a tangy sweet-and-sour vinegar dressing with fresh tomatoes, red onion, celery, scallions, and green peas. Low-fat, filling, and ready in 20 minutes from pantry staples.

Wild rice and black-eyed pea salad with yellow bell pepper, jicama, zucchini, and cherry tomatoes in a lemon-Dijon vinaigrette with rosemary. No oil, no cooking required.

Nearly Instant South American Tomato & Scallion Salad recipe

Beef and vegetable kebabs thread marinated sirloin with sweet red and yellow peppers and zucchini, then grill or broil until charred. A fast, colorful skewer that leans on Italian dressing for an easy marinade.

Avocado halves stuffed with saffron pastina, chopped tomatoes, scallions, parsley, and vinaigrette. An elegant lunch main or dinner first course with golden, fragrant pasta filling.

Grilled vegetable kabobs with yellow squash, boiling onions, cherry tomatoes, and mushrooms basted in Italian dressing with basil and parsley. Low-calorie and served over brown rice.

Sautéed chicken nestled on herbed rice with stewed tomatoes, white wine, and Brussels sprouts, slow-cooked until the flavors meld into something truly special. Set it and savor it.

Layered chicken nest platter with breaded chicken cutlets, sun-dried tomato rice, beans, and steamed asparagus, peppers, and snow peas over lettuce. A colorful all-in-one dinner.

Louisiana courtbouillon of redfish, the classic Cajun fish stew. Whole redfish or red snapper steaks simmered in a brown roux, holy trinity, tomatoes, herbs, and white wine. Spooned over rice, this is bayou comfort food.

Serve with Carrot Slaw and Pine Nut and Orange Wild Rice Salad for a lunch meal.