Salad recipes

Cold quinoa olive salad with green and black olives, pine nuts, red bell pepper, and umeboshi plum vinegar. A protein-packed vegetarian side with Mediterranean-Japanese flavors.

Wine-poached chicken tossed with rigatoni, fresh basil, sweet red peppers, and olives in a bright garlic-lemon dressing. A chilled Italian pasta salad built for hot summer nights.

Spicy black bean salad dressed with lime, champagne vinegar, jalapeños, cayenne, and fresh mint. A make-ahead vegan side with bright heat from dried beans cooked from scratch.

Veau dans le chaudron, a French-Canadian veal pot roast browned in bacon fat with garlic, then braised with whole potatoes and onions. No added liquid needed.

Start off with a salad, then serve the spinach tofu pie with wild rice and you've got a great veggie meal.

Larb (larp): Thai-Isaan minced beef salad with fire-roasted garlic and shallots, toasted rice powder, fish sauce, lime, chili, and fresh herbs. Served in lettuce cups with mint.

Creamy cucumber dressing with nonfat yogurt, garlic, lemon juice, and white pepper. Light, tangy, and cool. A falafel-friendly dressing that doubles as a fresh salad topper.

This soup is a complete meal when served with a green salad and French bread.

White bean salad tossed in a roasted garlic and Dijon dressing with red peppers, oregano, and garlic-rubbed croutons. Served on chicory for a hearty, plant-forward lunch.

Grilled tuna, cheddar, and onion sandwiches: albacore tuna salad, melted cheddar, and oil-free caramelized onions on rye. A diner classic updated with a no-fat onion browning technique.

Pan-seared teriyaki chicken sliced over a cool, tangy cucumber salad with sesame oil, ginger and a hint of red pepper heat. A light, refreshing dinner that balances warm and cold in every bite.

Fat-free grapefruit vinaigrette with garlic, basil, thyme, parsley, and vinegar. A completely oil-free, low-fat salad dressing using unsweetened grapefruit juice as the base.

Italian balsamic chicken: grilled chicken breasts marinated in balsamic, olive oil, and herbs, then sliced into strips for salads, wraps, or antipasto boards. Meal-prep friendly protein with big flavor.

Why buy salad dressing when it's easy to make your own, here's a Raspberry Walnut dressing that can be made ahead and is ready when you are. Makes about two cups of dressing.

Pasta with smoked mozzarella: bow-tie pasta with sun-dried tomatoes, fresh asparagus, thyme, and melty smoked mozzarella. A light pasta dinner that works hot or as a next-day salad.

Turkish lamb pita burgers blend ground lamb and turkey with bulgur, toasted coriander and cumin, allspice, and cinnamon. Tucked into warm whole-wheat pitas with herbed yogurt and tomato-onion salad. Eastern Mediterranean flavors for 6.