Refreshing and Light Summer Salads

“I grew up marinating cucumbers, onions, and tomatoes every summer as a side dish. Always a great side to a summertime meal.” – Angie

“This is my all-time favorite fruit salad. the fresh mint and the Limoncello add a wonderful addition to your summer fruits. I promise you will love it. I keep the Limoncello in my freezer. It is always nice and cold. Also good as an evening sipper on a hot summer day.” – Nadine

“I make this often. It is so refreshing and full of flavor. Friends request this.” – Jenny

“I had this dish several years ago at a restaurant that we visited on our way back from Las Vegas. It was hot outside and this salad was cold and fresh. It really was delicious. As soon as I got home, I had to try and recreate it.” – Stephanie

“A light refreshing side dish for the heat of the summer! Goes great with chicken salad croissants. Our summers here in Texas routinely go over 100 degrees. My turn at Bunco fell on a 102-degree day. The last thing I wanted was to heat my kitchen so I came up with this dish by combining a few different recipes. It was a hit!” – Sheri

“I LOVE this salad! Not only does it taste yummy… it’s extremely EASY!! The best of both worlds!” – Belinda

“Want something a little different in a summer salad? Well, here it is. This salad is bursting with flavor and is so quick and easy. You eat serve it as a side salad or add some grilled chicken, shrimp, or even canned tuna and make a light meal. I also add a few grape tomatoes it sometimes to change it up a bit. This is also a good salad to bring for a picnic or cookout since it holds up well in the heat over mayo-based salads.” – Grace

“This is a light and delicious salad. Perfect for warm summer days. Hope you enjoy it.” – Carol

“This salad is out of this world! It satisfies all your tastes… sweet, sour, salty, and bitter. The slightly thick, sweet, and pungent poppy seed dressing, mild bitterness of certain varieties of greens, salty-sweet candied pecans, and tangy bleu cheese crumbles make this salad irresistible!” – Melissa

“This salad goes a long way. Great for large gatherings. This pasta salad is easy and takes no time to throw together. Enjoy.” – Meryl

“I went to the grocery store and all the veggies looked good today. So I bought a little of everything and this is what I did with it. This came out so good and it is a great meal for a summer day or any day. Try grilling the veggies instead of roasting them in the oven. The hot vegetables wilt the spinach just a little to make it yummy.” – Joan

“Had this at a wedding rehearsal dinner in San Antonio and fell in LOVE.” – Danielle

“Fresh is the key. Don’t be tempted to use frozen corn in this salad, or dried basil – it’s not the same.” – Kathy

“I got this recipe from my neighbor’s mother. She taught me how to make it. She was from Bavaria Province in Germany.” – Diane

“Minty comfort food that leaves you feeling good about yourself, and it tastes so good.” – Joey and Joan

“I feel like I’m waking up after a long winter sleep! The sun is shining and my cooking is moving toward lighter fresh flavors again. Peas and mint always paired well together. Added with some small new potatoes, lemon, and olive oil, this dish becomes a perfect side to an Easter buffet.” – Sandra

“I wanted a change of pace from corn on the cob for my BBQ tomorrow so I decided on a salad. No mayo to spoil on a hot day either. Very simple with just a few ingredients. It’s refreshing and crisp. Enjoy!” – Anna

“Now’s the time to take advantage of the great supply of cucumbers and watermelon this time of year, the ‘dog days’ of August! This salad is cool and refreshing – even your kids will love it – but it’s best eaten the same day.” – Connie

“Perfect salad for cookouts and summer meals. Put that veggie and herb garden to work!!!” – Lorene

“For a time-saver, you can use any type of rotisserie chicken then slice it up into strips (or medallions).” – Amber

“Love this salad for something different to be served as a Mexican side, over your enchiladas, a fresh lunch, or as an appetizer served with tortilla chips!” – Lisa

“I started making these for cookouts. By request, I now make them year-around. Some people prefer them crispy (short marinade period). After a couple of days, they’re more akin to pickles (great on burgers).” – Rhea

“So quick and easy to make. Can use as a main dish if you add chicken or a side salad to accompany steak, chicken, lamb, or pork. Very versatile.” – Barbara

“Watermelon Mozzarella Salad is very easy to make, flavorful, and crowd-pleasing. It is perfect for your BBQ parties or any other summer gatherings. The original recipe uses cantaloupe but I really did not enjoy the flavors. But when I tried it with cold watermelon, I fell in love with it. The magic is all in the zesty salad dressing! It helps to bring out the flavors of watermelon and marinates Mozzarella as well. And believe me, it is very refreshing, light, and delicious. Now we prefer to eat watermelon this way only!” – Grishma

“This is a true crowd-pleaser!” – Marie

“I’ve lost about 60 lbs eating this. It’s delicious, filling and I look forward to making it. It’s fun… I make about 4 portions and try not to have too much leftover. It’s crispier if you make it fresh each time. The tomatoes get a bit soft, but the dressing is very flavorful a day later too.” – Pami

“Very simple to make and simply yummy!” – Angela

“Super easy, super flavorful! This is a great way to get my boys to eat tomatoes, they love this salad. It is super easy and even better when we pick the tomatoes out of our garden and I always have fresh basil in a pot. So good. I made this balsamic dressing years ago and it really pulls the dish together! So good! Hope you love it as much as we do.” – Monica

“I love to eat salads made with whole grains. For this salad, you will need a fine grain bulgur. If you have a coarser grain bulgur or want to substitute farro or wheat berries or even barley, just cook the desired grain instead of soaking it. Otherwise, the recipe remains the same. You could also soak/cook your grain in chicken broth for more flavor. I like to make extra since, once prepared, the grains are good for 3 days if kept in the refrigerator. I also toss whole grains in a tossed salad, soup, you name it! Quinoa would also work great in this salad.” – Lucy

“This is a delicious, refreshing fruit salad that I made for a family reunion. I am very happy to report that everyone seemed to like it. I hope that you find it a wonderful treat to your taste buds!” – Lori

“This is a healthy variation of a Caprese salad with quinoa and brown rice. I decided to try something healthy as a change-up! I’m eliminating pasta from my diet.” – Peggy

“At a family celebration recently, my brother ordered a special that came with a watermelon salad. He was seated far from me, so I didn’t get a bite, and I’ve been wondering about that salad ever since. Here’s my attempt to recreate it as a bed for my favorite fast chicken. The cool sweet salad balances the saucy heat of the Sriracha to perfection. The simplicity of this marinade is matched only by its great taste. Tender, juicy and tangy…Mind the cooking time: the flattened chicken’s ready in minutes, which makes this a great dish for hungry people!” – Jess

“Italian Panzanella Salad or Bread Salad is an awesome way to use up any day-old dinner rolls or bakery hamburger buns you may have. Serve as a side salad or lay sliced, grilled chicken breasts or grilled jumbo shrimp on top for a quick and delicious meal. I make this salad by the seat of my pants most of the time. Meaning, adjust the seasonings and ingredients to your liking. Unlike most salads, the croutons, and not the lettuce, are the star of the show. If you love garlic croutons, this salad is for you.” – Family Favorites

“Basil is plentiful in the garden now and I love the way it pairs with the pungent-sweet flavor of balsamic vinegar. This is very good with grilled chicken but delicious all by itself. You could make this with any pasta that you have on hand. Enjoy!” – Gretchen

“Watermelon Caprese Salad combines sweet watermelon with tangy balsamic. The mozzarella and salt adds a nice contrast, while the basil adds freshness. This salad is what summer dreams are made of!” – Debbie

“A pasta salad with grilled chicken and crispy parmesan croutons in a tasty caesar dressing!” – Featured Blogger

“This is a combination of several recipes I have found and tried over the years. It is very filling and hearty. Since the base is cabbage it will last in the refrigerator for several days making it great for those who like to “food prep” for the week. If you really want it to last, omit the mixed greens. If you omit the chicken, it is a perfect vegetarian or vegan salad too! My teenage daughter has several food allergies and this contains no Peanuts, Dairy, Corn, Egg, or Gluten. She loves it and eats it for several days.” – Kelly