Salad recipes

A veggie hating friend was over dinner and declared "wow, if my mom made vegetables like this!" as he went for seconds. The maple coated cashews are excellent in this recipe and the gentle touch of sweetness balanced with the curry is great.

This is one of my absolute favorite things to make at this time of year. It takes almost no time to prepare, so I’ll whip up a big batch on my day off and then all I have to do when I get home is put it in a bowl or mash it up and put it on toasted bread drizzled with some olive oil. It also makes a great appetizer along with some homemade or store-bought pita chips. Honestly, when serving this as a dip or a spread, I don’t even bother taking out my food processor, I just use the bottom of a glass and mash it a bit.

A quick, easy yet tasty carrot salad goes well with roast, casserole or any main course.

Edamame, carrot, and avocado salad tossed in a bright orange-lime and ginger-sesame dressing with black sesame seeds and cilantro. A fresh, protein-rich vegan, gluten-free side.

Couscous salad with chickpeas, cucumber, tomatoes, and fresh parsley tossed in a lemon-garlic vinaigrette with Dijon and ground coriander.

Marinated onion and kidney bean salad with Vidalia onions, bell peppers, jalapeno, cilantro, and a chili-vinegar dressing. Needs overnight marinating for the best flavor.

Greek mushroom salad: button mushrooms simmered in olive oil, white wine, and lemon with bay, thyme, coriander, and fennel seed. A meze-style cold mushroom salad served the Mediterranean way.

Grilled filet mignon sliced thin and marinated in chili paste, fish sauce, and vinegar, then served over crisp lettuce with cucumber-papaya rolls and a zesty lime dressing.

Chickpea salad with tahini made from dried garbanzo beans, lemon, garlic, cumin, and coriander. A from-scratch hummus-style dip that's sieved smooth and chilled overnight for the best flavor.

Composed Caribbean salad with watercress, fresh mango, hearts of artichoke, and tomato dressed in a lime-coriander-allspice vinaigrette. Vegan, fat-free, and visually striking.

Vegan pasta and red kidney bean salad with diced zucchini, green pepper, tomato and green olives, bound in eggless mayonnaise with chili powder, coriander, paprika and sage. A protein-rich room-temperature salad for picnics and potlucks.

Panjaria Salata, the classic Greek beetroot salad: whole beets boiled with tops intact, then sliced and served with Skorthalia garlic sauce or an olive oil, vinegar, and coriander dressing.

Romaine salad with tomatillos, ripe tomatoes, avocado, lime juice, olive oil, and fresh cilantro. A California-Mexican inspired composed salad with no-toss presentation.

A very healthy take on pad-thai, full of antioxidants and healthy fats.

Low in fat, butternut squash contains significant amounts of dietary fiber, making it an exceptionally heart-friendly choice. It also contains potassium, important for bone health, and vitamin B6, essential for the proper functioning of both the nervous and immune systems. Importantly, the squash is very rich in beta-carotene (which your body automatically converts to vitamin A), which has been shown to protect against breast cancer and age-related macular degeneration, among other health benefits. If that was not enough, a single cup serving provides nearly 50% of the daily recommended dose of vitamin C.

Black bean salad with fresh orange segments, red and yellow bell peppers, jalapeno, and a cumin-lime dressing. A bright, no-cook vegetarian side in 20 minutes.