Salad recipes

Salad presto: mixed greens dressed with olive oil, red wine vinegar, and a pinch of dried basil. A bare-bones, 3-minute side salad using pantry staples. No more excuses for skipping the greens.

Mediterranean lentil salad tosses green lentils with roasted red peppers, fresh basil, toasted walnuts, and balsamic, served over dandelion greens dressed with lemon.

Italian rice salad with green peas, scallions, ripe olives, pimentos, and fresh basil tossed in Italian dressing. Cold side dish for picnics, potlucks, and summer cookouts.

Chilled pearl barley salad tossed with fresh parsley, basil, green onions, and diced tomatoes in a bright lemon-soy dressing. A chewy, herbaceous grain salad for potlucks and meal prep.

A cold seven bean and barley salad tossed with creamy avocado, cucumber, pimentos, and a simple herb vinaigrette. High-protein, plant-based, and served chilled.

German-style tomato salad with a tangy vinegar, oil, and Worcestershire dressing seasoned with basil and thyme. Chilled and served on lettuce leaves.

Grilled catfish salad with a cane syrup and herb butter marinade, served over mixed greens with blue cheese crumbles and creamy blue cheese dressing.

Simple lettuce salad dressed in a homemade vinaigrette of olive oil, white vinegar, garlic, basil, and scallions. A fresh, classic side salad with no-fuss dressing.

Grilled vegetable salad with eggplant, roasted peppers, zucchini, mushrooms, and red onion tossed in a balsamic basil vinaigrette. Make it hours ahead and serve at room temperature for peak flavor.

Roasted chanterelle and porcini mushroom salad with fresh basil, sun-dried tomatoes, balsamic vinegar, and lemon. A restaurant-quality wild mushroom dish ready in 20 minutes.

Quick orzo salad with grape tomatoes, red onion, and fresh basil in a simple red wine vinaigrette. A 15-minute side dish that shines warm or cold, perfect for picnics and weeknights.

Caprese salad tosses red and yellow tomato wedges with fresh mozzarella, basil, and parsley. The classic three-ingredient Italian salad (plus a few herbs) done right with summer's best tomatoes.

Mock egg salad made from mashed chickpeas with mayo-style dressing, celery, basil, curry powder, and garlic salt. A quick vegan-friendly sandwich filling with no eggs needed.

Roasted vegetable salad with tomatoes, bell peppers, squash, zucchini, and new potatoes tossed in balsamic-garlic dressing. A farmers market side that eats like summer on a sheet pan, finished with fresh basil.

La Jolla salad is a California coast composed plate: mixed greens, crab-filled radicchio cups, grilled shrimp, and fresh papaya, dressed with a sharp lime-dill vinaigrette built on egg yolk.

Antipasto pasta salad with salami, provolone, garbanzo beans, olives, and mushrooms in a lemon-garlic-basil dressing. A make-ahead party dish that gets better as it chills.