Summer Salad Recipes

By The editors of MidwestLiving.com
June 01, 2012

These fresh, colorful salads—with veggies, fruits, hearty grains and more—are gorgeous enough to brighten up a picnic table all by themselves.

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Peach Panzanella

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Make this gorgeous twist on the classic Italian salad with only the ripest summer peaches and tomatoes, so the bread soaks up all the sweet juices.

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Mexican Street Corn Macaroni Salad

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In Mexico, grilled corn comes coated in mayonnaise, lime, cheese and cilantro. We just added pasta, plus lots of green onion for bite. It's a macaroni salad that's anything but basic.

3 of 21

Coconut Shrimp and Watermelon Salad

Credit: Jay Wilde
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This fresh and flavorful salad is a perfect dinner for a hot night, especially with a glass of crisp white wine. Be sure to use unsweetened coconut for the best flavor.

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Greek Salad with Halloumi

Credit: Blaine Moats
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Halloumi is a salty Greek cheese that you can grill with delicious results--like a fried mozzarella stick that showed up at a barbecue. Find it at Whole Foods, Trader Joe's and some supermarkets.

5 of 21

Green Bean Tabbouleh

Credit: Blaine Moats
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This is a perfect summer salad to take to a picnic or potluck since it is best at room temperature.

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Greek Orzo Salad

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Olives and feta give salty punch to this pasta salad from Surdyk's Liquor and Cheese Shop in Minneapolis.

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Farro and Olive Salad

Credit: Blaine Moats
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This salad is a great barbecue side, or hearty enough for a stand-alone meal. At Kansas' Elderslie Farm, chef Katharine Elder likes to keep a big batch on hand to eat for lunch.

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Thai Beef and Noodle Salad

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Lean flank steak, whole wheat pasta and crisp vegetables make this Asian-inspired salad a healthy choice. Ditching that time-consuming (and all-too-easy-to-forget) step of marinating the meat makes it genius.

9 of 21

Bacon, Blue Cheese and Nectarine Salad

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Nectarines appear twice in this irresistible rainbow of a salad: sliced on top for pretty summer punch and pureed in the dressing for fruity tang and silky smoothness. (Note: The dressing can be made ahead and chilled for up to 3 hours; if possible, return the dressing to room temperature before serving.)

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10 of 21

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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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.

12 of 21

Rice and Red Bean Salad

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Chili powder and cumin flavor this hearty, nutritious Tex-Mex dish from The Spice House in Milwaukee.

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13 of 21

Boston Lettuce Stacks with Grilled Peaches, Feta and Pecans

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This easy summer salad pairs the textures and flavors of buttery, slightly sweet and crisp Boston lettuce with grilled warm peaches and crunchy nuts.

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Watermelon, Feta and Mint Salad

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Discover the savory potential of watermelon in this five-ingredient salad.

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24-Hour Tex-Mex Salad

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Layered salads, popular in the 1970s and 1980s, are making a comeback. Assemble this easy potluck salad in either individual jars or a clear salad bowl, dressing and all, then refrigerate.

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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.

17 of 21

Garden Slaw with Spicy Asian Dressing

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This side-dish salad tastes great with burgers or pulled pork sandwiches. Or you can toss the slaw with shredded chicken or chopped cooked ham for a main-dish salad.

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Creamy Spinach-Basil Pasta Salad

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Fresh basil in the dressing lends a hint of pesto-inspired sophistication to this mayo-rich pasta salad.

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19 of 21

BLT Salad

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We took a summertime staple (a bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich) and made it a main-dish salad. Creamy mustard dressing is the perfect topping.

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Bavarian-Style Potato Salad

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Serve this tangy vinegar-based potato salad with bratwurst and sauerkraut for a meal worthy of a German beer garden.

21 of 21

Broccoli Grape Salad

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Salty bacon flavors juicy grapes and crunchy broccoli. The side-dish saladrecipe comes from the Triangle Ranch B&B in South Dakota.

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By The editors of MidwestLiving.com