118 vegetable salad recipes

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.

Asian-inspired meatball salad with pan-fried beef meatballs, pineapple chunks, and crisp vegetables tossed in a sweet-and-sour sauce made with soy, vinegar, and white wine. Served chilled over shredded lettuce.

A vibrant, protein-packed five bean salad inspired by Guanajuato, Mexico. This dish combines pinto, black, garbanzo, green, and wax beans with a tangy vinaigrette, fresh vegetables, and a creamy finish. Perfect for potlucks or as a refreshing side dish.

Here is a kind of throw together recipe I came up with: If you are entertaining you can garnish with fresh parsley and serve with a caesar salad, garlic bread and a nice chablis. The vegetables can vary. I've used mushrooms, spinach, cauliflower etc. Grouper works well with this because it has a lot of flavor. I've used fresh tuna and halibut but prefer grouper.

Oxtail is one of the most economical and most flavorful cuts of meat, and one that takes well to marinating for days in a hearty mixture of red wine, herbs, and vegetables. The longer you marinate the mixture, the more flavorful it will be, but be sure it marinates at least 3 days. Oxtail is also a fatty cut -- give yourself plenty of time to allow the stew to cook and then cool, so all the fat can be skimmed off. Serve this with thick noodles in warmed soup bowls, accompanied by a tossed salad, and of course, a robust red wine.

Sausage, leek and potato stew with hot Italian turkey sausage, cannellini beans, and a bright shower of fresh herbs. A dry white wine deglaze builds depth in this one-pot weeknight supper served with crusty bread.