Salad recipes

Quick pickled onion rings in a sweet vinegar brine with a hit of hot sauce. Two-day refrigerator pickle that brightens burgers, sandwiches, and egg salad.

Big-batch melon and citrus fruit salad with honeydew, cantaloupe, oranges, grapefruit, pineapple, bananas, and cherries in fresh orange juice. Feeds 20 and keeps a week.

Sweet potato phoenix nests deep-fried between two sieves into crispy, golden lattice bowls. Just 3 ingredients and a stunning presentation for stir-fries or salads.

Savory Southwest corn muffins stuffed with diced ham, pepper jack cheese, green chiles, and red bell pepper. Hearty enough for a meal with a side salad.

A bright, zesty bulgur salad dressed with lime juice, cumin, and oregano, tossed with red bell pepper, scallions, and fresh parsley. Vegetarian, diabetic-friendly, and refreshing.

Fresh fruit cup with apples, oranges, peaches, bananas, grapes, and blueberries tossed in frozen lemonade concentrate and topped with chopped walnuts. A no-cook fruit salad.

Cold tuna pasta salad with ziti, fresh basil, red bell pepper, and lemon juice. A no-cook, five-ingredient summer main course that chills before serving.

Pineapple-pear mold is a light, refreshing gelatin salad made with orange juice, crushed pineapple, and sliced pears. A retro potluck classic with no added sugar.

Curry yogurt dip and dressing with ginger and cayenne, blended smooth in minutes. No cooking required. Drizzle over chicken salad, pair with grilled fish, or serve as a veggie dip.

A surprising vintage side dish: sliced cucumbers and Spanish onions layered with chili sauce and butter, baked until meltingly tender. Prove that cucumbers aren't just for salads.

Cold cellophane noodle salad with soy-ginger marinated chicken, crisp asparagus, and cucumber in a spicy wasabi dressing. A light, refreshing Asian noodle bowl for warm weather.

Toasted crab rolls with a mayo-bound crab salad, melted cheese, and crispy bacon on split dinner rolls. A quick open-faced seafood sandwich baked until bubbly.

Light poppy seed sauce made with low-fat yogurt, citrus zest, and raspberry vinegar. A no-cook, diabetic-friendly dressing for fresh fruit salads and vegetable platters.

Soba noodle and cucumber salad with daikon sprouts and seared ahi tuna. A cold Japanese-style noodle plate finished with chile oil drizzle. Light, fresh, restaurant-style.

Two-layer molded gelatin salad with lime Jell-O and cucumber on the bottom and a cranberry-cabbage layer on top. Vintage chilled appetizer with retro charm.

Vegan lemon garlic dressing with cucumber, onion, apple cider vinegar, dill, and celery seeds blended smooth. An oil-free, fat-free salad dressing that keeps well in the fridge.