There’s no better way to celebrate fresh fruit and vegetables than in a delicious summer salad. We’ve brought together a few of our favorite salads for you to try. All take advantage of produce harvested at peak ripeness, which means they’re big on flavor and nutrition.

While you’re in the salad-making frame of mind, here are a few tips:

How to prepare a great summer salad:

Wash and dry your greens thoroughly. Tear the greens into bite-sized pieces and then season lightly with salt and pepper for added flavor. Use a variety of greens with textures–micro-greens, herbs, romaine, even baby kale or Swiss chard. Add uniformly chopped (bite-sized) veggies or fruit, along with your protein of choice (plant-based or otherwise). Add a crunchy topping such as nuts or homemade croutons and then toss with a store-bought or homemade dressing. Try making a homemade vinaigrette:1 part something acidic such as vinegar or lemon juice to 3 parts olive oil. (Tip: Use the most expensive olive oil you can afford–it makes a difference.) Depending on the vinaigrette flavor–add extra seasonings–anything from minced garlic or shallots to chopped herbs or Dijon mustard or honey. Here’s a good recipe.

5 Summer Salad Recipes

Strawberry Salad

DifficultyBeginner

Yields4 Servings
 14 oz fresh baby spinach, washed and dried
 1 cup sliced cucumbers
 1 cup cherry tomatoes
 ½ cup fresh basil, chopped
 ¼ cup red onions, sliced thinly
 2 .35 oz Bags of Crispy Green All Strawberry, freeze-dried strawberries
 ½ cup strawberry vinaigrette (optional, store bought is fine) *Use raspberry vinaigrette or another fruity dressing if you can't find.
1

Toss spinach with cucumbers, tomatoes, sliced onions and basil.

2

If using, toss with strawberry vinaigrette (or another fruity vinaigrette).

3

Sprinkle with Crispy Fruit freeze-dried strawberries.

Ingredients

 14 oz fresh baby spinach, washed and dried
 1 cup sliced cucumbers
 1 cup cherry tomatoes
 ½ cup fresh basil, chopped
 ¼ cup red onions, sliced thinly
 2 .35 oz Bags of Crispy Green All Strawberry, freeze-dried strawberries
 ½ cup strawberry vinaigrette (optional, store bought is fine) *Use raspberry vinaigrette or another fruity dressing if you can't find.

Directions

1

Toss spinach with cucumbers, tomatoes, sliced onions and basil.

2

If using, toss with strawberry vinaigrette (or another fruity vinaigrette).

3

Sprinkle with Crispy Fruit freeze-dried strawberries.

Notes

Strawberry Salad

Chopped Chicken Salad

DifficultyBeginner

Yields4 Servings
 2 cups rotisserie chicken, shredded
 1 cup red peppers, chopped
 ¾ cup cucumber, chopped
 ½ cup radish, chopped
 ¼ cup red onion, chopped
 1 cup carrots, chopped
 ½ cup fresh herbs (basil, parsley), finely chopped
 ¼ cup Balsamic dressing (optional)
1

Chop chicken and place in a large bowl.

2

Chopped all veggies to a uniform size and add to the chicken.

3

Sprinkle with herbs and drizzle with dressing. Toss thoroughly and serve.

Ingredients

 2 cups rotisserie chicken, shredded
 1 cup red peppers, chopped
 ¾ cup cucumber, chopped
 ½ cup radish, chopped
 ¼ cup red onion, chopped
 1 cup carrots, chopped
 ½ cup fresh herbs (basil, parsley), finely chopped
 ¼ cup Balsamic dressing (optional)

Directions

1

Chop chicken and place in a large bowl.

2

Chopped all veggies to a uniform size and add to the chicken.

3

Sprinkle with herbs and drizzle with dressing. Toss thoroughly and serve.

Notes

Chopped Chicken Salad

Caprese Salad

Yields4 Servings
 3 sliced tomatoes
 3 oz sliced mozzarella
 ½ cup fresh, whole basil leaves
 extra virgin olive oil (optional)
 balsamic glaze
1

Slice tomatoes and arrange on a plate.

2

Add slice of mozzarella cheese on each tomato slice and then top with a piece of fresh basil.

3

Optional: Drizzle with your favorite extra virgin olive oil and balsamic glaze.

Ingredients

 3 sliced tomatoes
 3 oz sliced mozzarella
 ½ cup fresh, whole basil leaves
 extra virgin olive oil (optional)
 balsamic glaze

Directions

1

Slice tomatoes and arrange on a plate.

2

Add slice of mozzarella cheese on each tomato slice and then top with a piece of fresh basil.

3

Optional: Drizzle with your favorite extra virgin olive oil and balsamic glaze.

Notes

Caprese salad

Watermelon Feta Salad

Yields4 Servings
 4 cups Watermelon, cubed
 ½ cup Crumbled feta cheese
 ½ cup Fresh, chopped basil
1

Cut watermelon pieces into 1-2 inch cubes.

2

Toss with shredded basil and feta cheese.

3

Optional: Add a light vinaigrette for extra flavor.

Ingredients

 4 cups Watermelon, cubed
 ½ cup Crumbled feta cheese
 ½ cup Fresh, chopped basil

Directions

1

Cut watermelon pieces into 1-2 inch cubes.

2

Toss with shredded basil and feta cheese.

3

Optional: Add a light vinaigrette for extra flavor.

Notes

Watermelon Feta Salad

Tomato Salad

DifficultyBeginner

Yields4 Servings
 4 tomatoes (medium sized)
 ½ cup fresh basil, sliced
 ½ cup sliced onion
 1 clove garlic, minced
 2 pinches salt
 ¼ cup olive oil, drizzled on
 1 tsp dried oregano
1

Core tomatoes and then quarter into wedges. Place in a salad bowl.

2

Add basil through oregano. Toss thoroughly. Add more seasonings such as salt to taste.

Ingredients

 4 tomatoes (medium sized)
 ½ cup fresh basil, sliced
 ½ cup sliced onion
 1 clove garlic, minced
 2 pinches salt
 ¼ cup olive oil, drizzled on
 1 tsp dried oregano

Directions

1

Core tomatoes and then quarter into wedges. Place in a salad bowl.

2

Add basil through oregano. Toss thoroughly. Add more seasonings such as salt to taste.

Notes

Tomato salad

Gabriella Costantini

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