Salad recipes

Crisp steamed asparagus on baby lettuce with toasted hazelnuts and a tarragon-Dijon vinaigrette made with hazelnut oil. An elegant make-ahead salad or appetizer.

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.

Two versions of the classic drive-in nut burger: one topped with salted peanuts, American cheese, and Thousand Island, the other slathered with chunky peanut butter and Russian dressing. Retro burger bliss.

Ensalada compuesta is a Mexican-style stuffed tortilla layered with seasoned ground beef, refried beans, and melted cheddar, then piled high with lettuce, vegetables, and dressing. Hearty taco salad meets enchilada.

This combination of raw vegetables and seasonings makes a tasty sandwich that's high in fiber and low in fat.

Leftover vegetable soup pureed smooth with chicken broth and seasoned with Tabasco, herbs, and a touch of cream. The thrifty cleanout-the-fridge soup that turns leftovers into something genuinely good.

Creamy Italian sub sandwich with deli meats, melty American cheese, lettuce, tomato, and green pepper dressed in a tangy mayo-Italian blend. Ready in 5 minutes flat for an easy lunch.

Three-bean lettuce wraps with chickpeas, black-eyed peas, and flageolet beans stir-fried in garlic herb dressing with red chili and chives. A quick vegetarian appetizer or light meal.

Quick Southwestern roll-ups with roast beef, cheddar, salsa, and shredded lettuce wrapped in flour tortillas. A 10-minute no-cook lunch or snack.

A refreshing no-cook chicken salad with cashews, red grapes, pineapple, and celery fanned over cantaloupe wedges. Light, crunchy, and dressed for a summer lunch in 30 minutes.

Loaded Spam sandwich on beefsteak rye with sharp cheddar, horseradish, Vidalia onion mustard, coleslaw, dill pickles, and thick Bermuda onion slices. A towering, no-apologies deli-style stack.

Quick roasted chicken wraps with wild rice, creamy ranch dressing, and crisp lettuce rolled in flour tortillas. No cooking required, ready in 15 minutes, makes 12 wraps for easy meal prep.

Sizzling pork pockets with Dijon-marinated pork loin strips stir-fried and stuffed into warm pitas with lettuce and creamy tarragon dressing. A quick, flavorful weeknight dinner.

Open-face turkey melt on toasted English muffins with broiled Monterey Jack and a fresh Italian-dressed chopped salad piled on top. A bright, crunchy spin on a leftover-turkey sandwich.

Maui chicken sandwich with pineapple-marinated grilled chicken, grilled pineapple rings, jicama slaw, and Thousand Island on a roll. A Hawaiian-inspired sandwich ready in 40 minutes.

Loaded beef tacos with a twist: lean ground beef, green chiles, and garlic topped with Italian dressing-marinated tomatoes and mozzarella. A lighter, flavor-forward taco in 30 minutes.