Quick and Easy Summer Salads

June 05, 2014
Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Lindsey Lower
Gorgeous in presentation and taste, these quick-cooking entrées feature fresh, fast protein-packed salads that are perfect for busy summer nights.
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Watermelon and Arugula Chicken Salad

Photo: Erin Kunkel Styling: Chelsea Zimmer
Watermelon and Arugula Chicken Salad Recipe

If watermelon wedges are a mainstay at your summer cookouts, try dicing for this instant, gorgeous salad.

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Tomato Salad with Herbed Ricotta and Balsamic Vinaigrette

Photo: Erin Kunkel; Styling: Chelsea Zimmer
Tomato Salad with Herbed Ricotta and Balsamic Vinaigrette Recipe

Sliced heirloom tomatoes are wow-worthy on their own--a simple vinaigrette and dollops of basil-flecked ricotta take them over the top. Serve with toasted baguette slices to sop up any tomato juices.

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Shrimp, Snap Pea, and Chervil Salad

Photo: Annabelle Breakey; Styling: Randy Mon
Shrimp, Snap Pea, and Chervil Salad Recipe
This salad is easy to vary depending on what you have on hand; crumbled fresh goat cheese, chicken, or smoked trout can all be subbed in for the shrimp. It's especially refreshing when the ingredients are cold.
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Steak Salad with Tomato and Blue Cheese

Photo: Annabelle Breakey
Steak Salad with Tomato and Blue Cheese Recipe
Fast-cooking and flavorful, skirt steak is made for weeknight dinners. The steak starts out quite large; cutting it into three pieces before grilling helps it cook even more quickly.

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Grilled Salmon Caesar Salad

Photo: Stephen Devries; Styling: Linda Hirst 
Grilled Salmon Caesar Salad Recipe
Quick and easy Grilled Salmon Caesar Salad (ready in less than 25 minutes and in only two steps!) is colorful, tasty, and healthy. Make the Lemony Caesar Dressing ahead of time to make this salad come together even more quickly.

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Herbed Shrimp with Tomato-Spinach Salad

Photo: Alison Miksch; Styling: Claire Spollen
Herbed Shrimp with Tomato-Spinach Salad Recipe
Add heartiness to a simple spinach salad by serving herbed shrimp and tomatoes over greens.
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Smoky Chopped Salad with Avocado

Photo: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham
Smoky Chopped Salad with Avocado Recipe
This smoky salad combines both grilled lettuce and avocado (yep, you can grill that), peppery radishes, crumbled blue cheese, and a creamy buttermilk dressing.

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Grilled Tuna Over Green Bean, Tomato, and Chickpea Salad

Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Caroline Cunningham
Grilled Tuna Over Green Bean, Tomato, and Chickpea Salad Recipe
This easy, high-protein meal comes together quickly following an after-work workout or summer activity.

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Steak Salad with Nectarines, Radicchio, and Blue Cheese

Photo: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Claire Spollen
Steak Salad with Nectarines, Radicchio, and Blue Cheese Recipe
Petite sirloin filets are healthfully lean, and they're also surprisingly full-flavored and meltingly tender--making them an ideal choice for this easy steak salad.
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Grilled Chicken and Bulgur Salad

Grilled Chicken and Bulgur Salad Recipe
This main-course salad is similar to the Middle Eastern pita salad called fattoush and is especially crisp if you use thin pita chips rather than thick ones. To save time, make a batch of bulgur on the weekends and use in your courses throughout the week.

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Golden Beet Salad with Avocado and Feta

Photo: Erin Kunkel Styling: Chelsea Zimmer
Golden Beet Salad with Avocado and Feta Recipe

Simple, bright, and balanced, this salad pairs perfectly with grilled fish or chicken. To cook the beets in the oven, wrap in foil and bake at 400° for 45 to 50 minutes.

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Grilled Lemon-Dijon Chicken Thighs with Arugula Salad

Photo: Randy Dausch; Styling: Lindsey Lower
Grilled Lemon-Dijon Chicken Thighs with Arugula Salad Recipe
This light, quick main is perfect for warmer months. If you have 5 extra minutes, grill some vegetables to toss into the salad; try asparagus or red onion.
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Porcini, Artichoke, and Parsley Salad

Photo: Neil Dacosta
Porcini, Artichoke, and Parsley Salad Recipe
Wild porcini mushrooms and artichokes are in season from late spring to early summer and again in early fall in the Pacific Northwest. Fresh porcini are sweet, woodsy, and delicious when thinly sliced and served raw.

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Summer Veggie Salad

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Lindsey Lower
Summer Veggie Salad Recipe
Beautiful grilled summer vegetables lend an extra boost flavor and crispy texture in this 40-minute, vegetarian salad. To make it a budget-friendly dinner, swap out the pine nuts and Manchego for walnuts and Parmesan cheese.

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Kale Caesar Salad with Grilled Shrimp

Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Styling: Gerri Williams for James Reps 
Kale Caesar Salad with Grilled Shrimp Recipe
Caesar salad gets a healthy boost with nutritious kale and lightly marinated grilled shrimp. Serve with sliced baguette for a complete summer entrée in a no-time.
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Grilled Portobello-Flank Steak Salad with Blue Cheese Vinaigrette

Photo: Stephen Devries; Styling: Linda Hirst 
Grilled Portobello-Flank Steak Salad with Blue Cheese Vinaigrette Recipe
Tangy blue cheese, spicy arugula, scrumptious steak, and portobellos make Grilled Portobello-Flank Steak Salad with Blue Cheese Vinaigrette an undeniable winner.

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Layered Salad with Buttermilk Ranch Dressing

Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Styling: Gerri Williams 
Layered Salad with Buttermilk Ranch Dressing Recipe
The various colors and textures of Layered Salad with Buttermilk Ranch Dressing make for a pretty presentation in a clear glass bowl. You can even prepare this layered salad a few hours in advance up until the point at which you add the dressing.

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Steak and Potato Salad

Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Styling: Gerri Williams for James Reps 
Steak and Potato Salad Recipe
Steak and potatoes get a new portfolio with crunchy radishes, blue cheese, and refreshing watercress in this delicious summer salad that will satisfy any meat lovers.
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Cobb Salad with Green Goddess Dressing

Photo: Oxmoor House
Cobb Salad with Green Goddess Dressing Recipe
The fresh herbs in the Green Goddess dressing add another dimension of flavor to this classic salad. This salad works great for a summer party appetizer as well when served with crackers or toast.

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Warm Salad of Summer Squash with Swordfish and Feta

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Cindy Barr
Warm Salad of Summer Squash with Swordfish and Feta Recipe
This recipe for Warm Salad of Summer Squash with Swordfish and Feta provides the perfect opportunity to use that bumper crop of summer squash.

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Flank Steak and Cucumber Salad

Photo: Jacob Snavely; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller 
Flank Steak and Cucumber Salad Recipe
Quick-Pickled Cukes add a punch of garlic and a hit of salt to this delicious grilled and healthy flank steak.
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Grilled Corn, Crab, and Asparagus Salad

Grilled Corn, Crab, and Asparagus Salad Recipe
Grilled corn and asparagus add smoky summertime flavor to this easy salad. Lumb crabmeat provides protein, making this salad worthy of the main course.

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Shrimp, Chorizo, and Corn Salad

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Stylist: Cindy Barr
Shrimp, Chorizo, and Corn Salad Recipe
Prepping the ingredients takes less than 10 minutes, and dinner is on the table in less than 20.

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Grilled Chicken-and-Strawberry Salad

Photo: Christopher Baker; Styling: Linda Hirst
Grilled Chicken-and-Strawberry Salad Recipe
Take advantage of summer's bountiful crop of strawberries with this light and refreshing meal of Grilled Chicken-and-Strawberry Salad.
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Scallop, Prosciutto, and Mâche Salad

Photo: Erin Kunkel; Styling: Nissa Quanstrom
Scallop, Prosciutto, and Mâche Salad Recipe
Serve this party-worthy salad as soon as you make it--the tender mâche wilts fast.

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Roasted Shrimp, Avocado and White Bean Salad

Photo: Andrew McCaul; Stylist: Gerri Williams for James Reps
Roasted Shrimp, Avocado and White Bean Salad Recipe
A terrific combination of flavors unite for Roasted Shrimp, Avocado and White Bean Salad. This one-dish meal is quick and easy and perfect for busy weeknights.

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Grilled Chicken and Spinach Salad with Spicy Pineapple Dressing

Photo: John Autry; Styling: Leigh Ann Ross
Grilled Chicken and Spinach Salad with Spicy Pineapple Dressing Recipe
Pineapple, cilantro, orange juice, vinegar habanero peppers and garlic unite to create a tangy vinaigrette with a kick that pairs perfectly with grilled chicken and tropical fruit.
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Summer Hoppin' John Salad

Summer Hoppin' John Salad Recipe
A New Year's tradition, Hoppin' John is usually served hot, but this cool salad is perfect for a summer picnic or lunch, or as a side salad for grilled meats.

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Lemony Grilled Shrimp Salad

Photo: Mary Britton Senseney/Wonderful Machine; Styling: Mary Clayton Carl
Lemony Grilled Shrimp Salad Recipe
Combine citrusy grilled shrimp with arugula, avocado, and jicama to make a Mexican-inspired main dish salad

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Tomato Salad with Grilled Shrimp

Photo: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham
Tomato Salad with Grilled Shrimp Recipe
Look for beautiful and tasty heirloom tomatoes in a rainbow of colors at your local farmers' market, and keep them at room temperature until you're ready to slice and serve.
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Grilled Chicken Greek Salad

Photo: Annabelle Breakey
Grilled Chicken Greek Salad Recipe
Sunset reader Elena Burgeno-Berman, of Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California, created this dinner salad because she wanted to avoid simple carbs, like pasta, and eat more beans.

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Seafood Salad with Creamy Tarragon Dressing

Photo: Thomas J. Story; Food Styling: Robyn Valarik
Seafood Salad with Creamy Tarragon Dressing Recipe
Serve this seafood mix on a bed of watercress or butter lettuce, or as a sandwich in toasted brioche buns or on crusty bread.

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BBQ Shrimp, Corn, and Zucchini Salad

Photo: Jennifer Davick; Stylist: Linda Hirst
BBQ Shrimp, Corn, and Zucchini Salad Recipe
Dinner's a breeze when BBQ Shrimp, Corn, and Zucchini Salad can be table-ready in 20 minutes. This grilled salad of fresh, seasonal veggies with juicy shrimp provides a meal that more than satisfies.
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Asian Shrimp Salad

Photo: Kate Sears; Styling: Gerri Williams for James Reps
Asian Shrimp Salad Recipe
"In warmer weather I grill the shrimp, but this refreshing salad satisfies year-round." -Yusuan Smithson, 54, Annapolis, Md.

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BLT Salad with Olive Vinaigrette

Photo: Hector Sanchez; Stylist: Buffy Hargett
BLT Salad with Olive Vinaigrette Recipe
Chockful of fresh ingredients and topped with savory bacon and Gorgonzola cheese, BLT Salad with Olive Vinaigrette is a crowd favorite.

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Halibut and Peach Salad with Lemon-Mint Vinaigrette

Photo: Brian Woodcock; Styling: Lindsey Lower
Halibut and Peach Salad with Lemon-Mint Vinaigrette Recipe
This easy, breezy salad has been described as "restaurant-quality" by several of our reviewers. You can substitute another sustainable white fish (such as tilapia or striped bass) for the halibut, and pecans or hazelnuts for the almonds.
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Easy Summer Salad

Photo: Romulo Yanes
Easy Summer Salad Recipe
Both delightfully healthy and easy, this salad takes just 10 minutes to put together. Using a precooked rotisserie chicken shaves off some time, while adding substance to this light dish.