31 mouthwatering unique salad recipes (2024)

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 uniquesalad 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 bumperround-up of Unique Salad Recipes. I am super confident that you will find something that entices you🙂

Fruity Salads:

(FYI I may have gone overboard on the fruity salad recipes, but I REALLYlove 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.

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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.

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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 🙂

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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?

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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.

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Vermillion Roots shared this Mandarin Rainbow Salad with Avocado Tahini Salad, and I am in love - yum! And the colors are just outstanding.

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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!!

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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.

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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!

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Take your next summer BBQ to anotherlevel with this delicious Quick and Easy Quinoa Saladfrom 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!

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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 🙂

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 🙂

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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.

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Twists onTraditional 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.

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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!

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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

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Thai flavors in a salad are just amazing. Raw Spiraled Thai Salad from Strength and Sunshine is right up my alley - so fresh!

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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.

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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!!

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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.

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Ummm yes please! Chicken and Melon Salad with Coconut Sambol from The Flavor Bender ticks all the boxes in the salad department.

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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.

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You know I love Salmon, and this Salmon Waldorf Salad recipe from Nutritioulicious sounds just amazing.The perfect meal.

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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 greatdoes this look??Now to find some mackerel....

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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.

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Cheesy Salads:

I just love cheese in my salad, and this Grilled Pear Salad Bowlfrom The BBQ Bastardjust has me drooling over here. I mean yum!!

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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.

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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 Pairingswill definitely be finding a place on my table.

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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 😀

31 mouthwatering unique salad recipes (2024)

FAQs

What to add to salad to make it better? ›

Add one or more of these protein-rich foods to your salad:
  1. lean meat: chicken or turkey breast, lean steak.
  2. lower-fat cheese: light cheddar, Swiss, mozzarella, feta, goat cheese.
  3. legumes: kidney beans, lentils, chickpeas, white or black beans.
  4. eggs: hard boiled.
  5. soy products: cubed tofu, edamame.

How to make salads taste good at home? ›

Do This to Make Restaurant-Quality Salads at Home
  1. Use the freshest ingredients. Pre-bagged salads may make life easier, but they taste kind of blah. ...
  2. Choose the right lettuce. ...
  3. Add some crunch. ...
  4. Add color. ...
  5. Include protein. ...
  6. Give it some bulk. ...
  7. Mix sweet with savory. ...
  8. Add herbs.
Jun 27, 2023

What to put in a salad for weight loss? ›

For a creative and healthy weight loss salad, try a quinoa and kale salad with pomegranate seeds, avocado, and a lemon-tahini dressing. Another option is a spinach and arugula mix topped with grilled chicken, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and a light balsamic vinaigrette.

What is the healthiest dressing to put on your salad? ›

6 healthy salad dressings you can make in less than 3 minutes
  • Classic lemon and olive oil. This is a very easy dressing that is good with strong-flavoured leaf salads, such as rocket or kale. ...
  • Lime and chilli dressing. ...
  • Simple balsamic vinaigrette. ...
  • Raspberry vinaigrette. ...
  • Creamy cucumber dressing. ...
  • Creamy mint dressing.

What are the three keys to a quality salad? ›

The three keys to ensuring a quality salad are:
  • The freshness of ingredients.
  • Having all the ingredients blend together in harmony.
  • Making sure the salad is appealing to the eye.

Why does restaurant lettuce taste better? ›

Restaurants salt their salads.

In the restaurant I worked in, I also noticed that cooks seasoned every element with a pinch of salt — even the lettuce. This resulted in every bite tasting vibrant and flavorful. "Season your salad just like you would anything else," Simpson said.

How do restaurants make salads so crisp? ›

Lettuce actually needs a good amount of airflow, in addition to a bit of moisture (but not too much!), in order to stay crisp. That's why restaurants store their lettuce in special perforated bins that allow for air circulation while it's held in the fridge.

What adds flavor to salad? ›

Dried Cherries, Cranberries or Raisins: Add these dried fruits for their flavor and texture. They are also quick easy to add with no preparation required! Basil, Chives, Dill or Parsley: Toss small basil leaves or chopped larger ones in with your greens. Try chopped fresh dill.

What to avoid in salad for weight loss? ›

Crunchy Noodles, Wontons, and Tortilla Strips

“Crunchy noodles are like eating chips,” says Bonnie Taub-Dix, R.D.N., creator of BetterThanDieting.com and author of Read It Before You Eat It. All they add to your salad are calories (around 120 per half cup) and fat (half of those calories, at around 60 grams).

Will I lose belly fat if I eat salad everyday? ›

Salads are loaded with fibres, and when you add a good amount of fibre in your daily meal plan, it can definitely target your belly fat and help it move away faster.

What is considered as the most important part of a salad? ›

That leads us to the final, and perhaps most important element of an amazing salad: dressing.

What to eat with salad to get full? ›

Carbs are important for energy and satiety. You can add carbs to your salads by adding croutons or by serving it with a side of crackers or bread. You can also make a delicious warm and cold salad with rice, roasted potatoes, sweet potatoes and/or quinoa. To take it to the next level, try to choose fiber-rich carbs.

How can I jazz up my salad? ›

Chunks of meat such as beef, chicken or turkey can add protein, variety and flavor, and they can help satisfy your hunger. Some other protein-rich additives for salads are boiled eggs, cheese, almonds, walnuts and cashews. Try a new dressing: Consider trying a new dressing to switch up your salad's flavor.

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