I don't know about you, but I am definitely a bit of a salad junky. In fact, if someone invites me over for dinner and asks me to bring something, it's pretty much always going to be a salad (and some wine, of course). They are just so versatile, and can change so much from one season to the next.
As a result I am always on the lookout for unique salad recipes, as I like to mix it up from the usual blend of tomatoes, cucumber and lettuce (hubby's favorite). So I turned to my lovely foodie blogger friends and asked them to send me their most unique salad recipes. I have bundled them all up for you here in this bumper round-up of Unique Salad Recipes. I am super confident that you will find something that entices you ๐
Fruity Salads:
(FYI I may have gone overboard on the fruity salad recipes, but I REALLY love fruit in my salads)
Ok so lets start off this round-up of unique salad recipes with this Zesty Heirloom Tomato and Nectarine Salad from Whole Food Bellies (that's me). This has been my favorite salad for the past few weeks, and I just know you will love the bright summer flavors going on here.
Pomegranate, mint, Israeli couscous, and Halloumi take this salad to the next level. So much flavor and so filling it can be enjoyed as a main meal in itself.
This Shaved Apple and Radish Salad from The View from Great Island definitely screams warm sunny days. It just looks and sounds so fresh and tempting. I love the variations Susan provides so you can really make it your own.
This Citrus Salad with Orange Dijon Vinaigrette from What a Girl Eats is just too pretty!! I would love to serve this up at a dinner party - it just looks so fancy ๐
This Avocado Chicken Salad Recipe with Passion Fruit Vinaigrette is seriously over the top delicious. Loaded with thinly sliced avocado, red onion, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, perfectly cooked chicken and passionfruit you are going to find a lot of amazing flavors going on in here. Oh, and did I mention the candied pecans to top it all off?
Ummmm yum!! I don't really need to say more than that about this Pickled Ginger-Citrus Salad with Creamy Wasabi Dressing and Spicy Fried Rice from Cooking on the Weekends. All kinds of amazing going on right there.
Vermillion Roots shared this Mandarin Rainbow Salad with Avocado Tahini Salad, and I am in love - yum! And the colors are just outstanding.
Another fruity salad from Whole Food Bellies (that's me again). This Summer Antioxidant Salad is jam-packed full of summer fruit and nuts and seeds. It is super fresh and vibrant.
The colors and flavor combinations in this Fruit & Nut Spinach Salad from Spend with Pennies are just amazing!!
Ok ok, I wasn't going to include any more fruity salads, but then this Stone Fruit Salad with Yogurt, Honey and Mint from Will Cook For Friends popped up, and I just couldn't say no. So pretty.
Salads with Grains and Legumes:
I am a sucker for corn in my salad, so this Charred Asparagus, Popped Corn and Quinoa Salad from Kelley and Cricket has my name all over it!
Take your next summer BBQ to another level with this delicious Quick and Easy Quinoa Salad from Whole Food Bellies, which is just packed with beautiful colorful summer veggies and a surprising burst of flavor.
So pretty, fresh and delicious. This Golden Beet and Lentil Salad with Strawberries from The Rhubarbarians is a mix of sweet, savory, salty and tangy - all a yes in my books!
You know I love quinoa, so I just had to include this Super Food Quinoa Salad from Pretty Wee Things. I love the simplicity of this salad, and it really would make the perfect make-ahead lunches for the week.
I think I have shared this Raw Vegetable with Farro and Pecans Salad from Pinch and Swirl on my Facebook page a few times. I really love it, so so yummy! Farro is such an underrated grain - definitely worth checking out if you have never tried it.
While we are on the subject of Farro, lets throw another Farro based salad into the mix. This Spring Farro Salad with Asparagus and Shiitake from Crumb Blog sounds absolutely delicious.
How pretty is this? I am absolutely loving the colors in this Blood Orange Quinoa Salad from Emilie Eats. Yes I know I snuck another fruity salad in, but this one has quinoa ๐
Don't you just love these overflowing bowls of Orange Lentil Greek Salad from Two Purple Figs? Just how I like my salad - in abundance ๐
And for another quinoa bowl, this Mission Macro Bowl from A Life Well Consumed sounds fantastic! Tip: make up a big batch of quinoa at the start of the week, and you can just throw it into your salads as needed.
Twists on Traditional Salads:
Florentina from Ciao Florentina always has the prettiest food, and this Cucumber Tomato Salad is no different. A beautiful twist on the traditional cucumber and tomato salad - this is definitely something I would be proud to share at my dinner table.
Mon Petit Four is another blog that is super pretty. Her Concombre a La Menthe is so simple and yet so stunning. I love it!
This! This is a salad I could eat just about everyday. Roasted Broccoli and Guacamole Salad from Nourish Everyday has everything I love - loaded with veggies and a bit of crunch. Yum
Thai flavors in a salad are just amazing. Raw Spiraled Thai Salad from Strength and Sunshine is right up my alley - so fresh!
I love Robyn's recipes, and the simplicity of this Shaved Asparagus Salad is just perfect. I love eating seasonally, and this just sounds divine. From Simply Fresh Dinners.
From the Farm and Sea:
I am in LOVE with this Watercress Salad with Basil Clementine Dressing from Green Healthy Cooking. Not only is it super pretty, but the list of ingredients just makes me want to whip one up right now!!
This salad from Whitty Paleo is definitely a meal onto itself! Spicy Cajun Chicken and Plantains with a Sweet Paprika Dressing - I am having cravings over here.
Ummm yes please! Chicken and Melon Salad with Coconut Sambol from The Flavor Bender ticks all the boxes in the salad department.
This Mixed Greens with Pork, Sliced Pears and Spicy Pecan Salad from Home and Plate is just gorgeous! I love the crunchy element going on here with the spicy pecans.
You know I love Salmon, and this Salmon Waldorf Salad recipe from Nutritioulicious sounds just amazing. The perfect meal.
I have to say, I have never been a mackerel fan, but this Smoked Mackerel Salad with Mango from Brian at Krumpli has me wanting to try it again (plus every recipe I have tried from him has been amazing, so I trust it will be good). Seriously, how great does this look?? Now to find some mackerel....
Salad in a roll is definitely ok by me. These Shrimp Spring Rolls with Strawberry Almond Sauce from Healthy Nibbles and Bits look just delightful.
Cheesy Salads:
I just love cheese in my salad, and this Grilled Pear Salad Bowl from The BBQ Bastard just has me drooling over here. I mean yum!!
Greens, Persimmon, and Ricotta Salad with Orange Dressing is definitely a salad I want to be trying as soon as persimmons are back in season! From My Food Story.
And to finish it off we have this great looking Wedge. I LOVE wedge salads, like really love them, and this Eccentric Wedge Salad from Platings and Pairings will definitely be finding a place on my table.
I don't know about you, but I am definitely craving some salad right about now!! Did you find any unique salad recipes that tickle your fancy? I would love to hear which one (or ones?) sounds good to you, so be sure to leave a comment below ๐
Calorine says
Hi Donna, Kids loved it. very good and easy recipe, i tried it last night
Emery says
This is a great article! Thank you for posting this! So many great ideas here... I'm looking forward to trying many of them... especially the Pickled Ginger-Citrus and the Salmon Waldorf... ahhmm... yummy!
Tommy K says
Holy wow these salads are sensational and I love the fruity medley. That grilled pear one looks bonza and the bumper side of it as a bloke is that I can still blaze up the barb. You little beauty.
Donna1 says
Ha, love your enthusiasm Tommy ๐
Valentina says
This makes me want to make and eat a salad every day for a month! So many pretty & delicious choices. (Thanks for including my Pickled Ginger-Citrus Salad with Creamy Wasabi Dressing and Spicy Fried Rice .) ๐
Sara says
Yum! I had a salad at Christmas dinner that a family member brought that I have been thinking about since ( and it's nearly June...) beets and goat cheese on arugula I think.. and I don't even know what kind of dressing! Was something light but I have been searching the web since. Love all these beautiful salads shared on here!
Donna1 says
Ah I hate when you have an amazing dish that you can't stop thinking about and then you can't find the recipe for it! It sounds pretty delicious though, there is just something about beets and goats cheese that is drool-worthy! Hope you find some delicious recipes here to get your yummy salad fix ๐
Christine says
This post makes me so happy. All the fresh and nutritious ingredients, and so many salad ideas for the coming warmer months, yay!
Donna1 says
Oh I know right!!! How nice is it to be able to sit in the sun and enjoy ALL the salads. We had our first bbq this weekend with three different salads that friends brought over, and it was just so lovely to be enjoying all the fresh ingredients.
Robyn says
Wow, Donna, this is just showing up on my radar now, lol. Thanks o much for including me in this delicious round-up! I can't wait to get started on these! Grilled pears make me weak in the knees, lol. Sharing!
Donna1 says
You are very welcome ๐ So glad the warmer weather is here and I can start enjoying salads again!
Sasha @ Eat Love Eat says
There are some gorgeous salads on this list! I especially love the look of your heirloom tomato and nectarine salad - that looks delicious!
Donna1 says
Thanks Sasha! We are totally addicted to that salad come stone fruit season ๐
Monica | Nourish & Fete says
What a great round-up! I've been thinking I need to eat more salads for lunch, so I'm super glad to have found this!
kenia says
These all look delicious. I cant wait to try them. Thank you for sharing!
Donna1 says
Very welcome ๐
GiGi Eats says
Nothing hits home more than a HEARTY and DELICIOUS salad! LOVE to top mine with a hunk of grilled salmon or deliciously marinated chicken!
Donna1 says
Very true ๐ I love grilled salmon on mine too!
Ciera Chang says
All of these salads looks absolutely delicious! My mouth is watering!!
xoxo, CiCi
http://www.worldwidestylista.com
Donna1 says
Oh thank you CiCi ๐ I have been totally craving salad ever since putting the round up together ๐
Teresa says
I am obsessed with salad, but I always find that my recipes are boring! This blog post ensures I will never make a boring salad again. Love it!
Donna1 says
Oh I can totally get into that rut as well sometimes (hence the reason for the post ๐ ) So glad I could give you some inspiration for more exciting salads!
Krista Dial says
Yum yum...these all look and sound so delicious! I'm pinning to save for future reference. I've gotten on a salad kick over the last year, so I'm always looking for new recipes to add to my arsenal. Looking forward to future posts! ๐
Donna1 says
Oh thank you Krista! I am totally the same - this past year I have made more salads than the last 5 combined ๐
Lottie L'Amour says
Oh yum, these salads look amazing! I love salads with fruit in too, and I'm going to be making a few of these to take with me to work!
Lottie xx
http://lottielamour.co.uk
Donna1 says
Oh yay ๐ I hope you love the salads you try out. I am totally obsessed with fruit in salad these days - especially since summer fruit is just so amazing
theCuriousPixie (@theCuriousPixie) says
I'm a veggie, so eat a lot of salads! I'm off to make the asparagus and charred corn one, looks wonderful!
http://www.thecuriouspixie.co.uk
Donna1 says
I know, it looks amazing right! I am making this one myself this week ๐
Colleen Cadiz says
Wow! This post is stellar! My daughter & I both share a salad for lunch on weekdays, and this list is exactly what I've been needing! Just in time for Cali warm weather! Though considering how gorgeous these salads are, I might just stare at them all day instead of indulging in them! Ha.
Donna1 says
Haha thanks Colleen! Oh Cali warm weather is ridiculous, right! I have been having salad pretty much everyday as I don't want to heat the kitchen up anymore ๐
Anvita says
These are all so good. However my fav so far is the Thai spiralized salad. Love asian flavors in salads.
Donna1 says
Oh me too, thai flavors are such so fresh!
cynthia | what a girl eats says
Thank you so much for including me in this terrific round-up of salads! xo
Donna1 says
Very welcome Cynthia ๐
Jessica @ Nutritioulicious says
This is such a fantastic group of salads! Honored to have my salmon waldorf salad included. Thank you!
Donna1 says
Oh thank you Jessica! I have been craving salad so much since writing up this post ๐ Love your salmon waldorf - looks so delicious!