Fresh Spring Salad Recipes

Updated February 14, 2020
Toss together fresh seasonal veggies and fruits with greens and grains for salads that sparkle with spring flavor.
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Peas 'n' Carrots Salad with Buttermilk Ranch

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Bright with a touch of lemon and dill, the blanched carrots and snap peas get "dipped" in the pool of creamy dressing underneath when you spoon up a helping--a playfully pretty twist on two nostalgic carrot classics.

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Tuna and White Bean Salad with Lemon

Credit: Blaine Moats
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This light and bright tuna salad tastes as fresh as a day on the Mediterranean sea. We recommend using high-quality canned or jarred tuna that's packed in olive oil—you'll taste the difference.

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Spring Potato Salad

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This lightly sweet potato salad is a great way to use up leftover Easter ham.

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Spring Salad with Lemon-Thyme Dressing

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At Dante in Omaha, chef Nick Strawhecker serves a deceptively simple house salad that's all about letting good-quality greens shine. Finely grated cheese and chopped nuts add salt and crunch. It's perfect for spring and fall, when local lettuce is available.

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Shaved Asparagus Salad

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Uncooked asparagus might sound strange, but this is essentially an elegant take on slaw-slicing a firm vegetable like cabbage or carrot thinly to break down its cell walls and allow a tangy dressing to soak in.

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Dilly Chickpea and Radish Salad

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Think of this as a welcome update on three-bean salad, with radishes and celery adding color and crunch to wholesome garbanzo beans. It travels beautifully and is great for potlucks and picnics.

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Arugula Salad with Brioche Croutons

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Any crouton is delicious, but a crouton made with buttery brioche? Divine. It's a luxe addition to this simple lemon-dressed salad from Epicure Catering in Michigan. (This recipe makes a generous amount of croutons; store extras in an airtight container for a day or two.)

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Sweet and Spicy Cabbage and Peanut Slaw

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Fresh ginger and red pepper flakes add welcome zing, but the real surprise here is napa (aka Chinese) cabbage. Cara Mangini, of Little Eater in Columbus, Ohio, likes it for slaws because it's more tender than ordinary cabbage but still holds up better than lettuce. 

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Mediterranean Potato and Green Bean Salad

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This beautiful, French-inspired, veggie-ful potato salad says "au revoir" to mayonnaise and instead features a light garlic vinaigrette. That means the dish can safely sit out for a while (and even tastes better at room temperature).

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Quinoa Salad with Roasted Zucchini, Almonds and Feta

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You could make a meal of this dish: caramelized zucchini, crunchy almonds, salty cheese and hearty quinoa, all dressed in honey-basil vinaigrette. The recipe comes from Little Eater, in Columbus, Ohio.

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Mexican Citrus Salad with Avocado

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It's not just a salad-it's a crunchy, juicy, sweet, salty, tart, buttery, nutty potluck dazzler.

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Orange Tabbouleh

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This hearty, healthy salad combines juicy fruit, flavorful fresh herbs and warm spices. Even people who are skeptical of the nutritious bulgur wheat will be surprised how much they like it.

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Greens, Eggs and Ham Potato Salad

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Loaded with protein and fresh greens, this is a simple yet flavorful potato salad. Paired with a fruit salad, it's almost hearty enough to eat as a meal.

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Chicken Cobb Salad

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Why save this classic for when you're dining out? Rotisserie chicken makes it easy to enjoy a Cobb at home. Just add a whole-grain roll, and you've got a well-rounded meal.

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