Delicious & Healthy Salad Recipes You Should Give a Try (2024)

Whether you want to lose weight or simply adopt a healthier lifestyle, salads are your best friend. Eating just a single serving of salad a day can bring you a plethora of health benefits.

So, if you are looking for a recipe for a healthy salad, then you are in the luck as here are 5 healthy salad recipes! You are sure to find one that you will enjoy!

According to one study, people who eat raw vegetables and salads are more likely to meet their required vitamin intake, especially vitamin A, C, B6, E, and folic acid.

So, let’s begin with these Healthy Salad Recipe!

With summer approaching fast, a big bountiful bowl of salad is the perfect way to take maximum advantage of healthy and nutritious produce.

Keeping this in mind, we’ve come up with some of the best recipes for healthy salads for you to welcome the warm season the right way.

1. Lime Cucumber Salad with Cilantro

This super easy cucumber salad recipe can be the perfect refreshing summer side dish with a bit of a kick using cilantro, jalapeno pepper (optional) and some spices. Serves: 4

Delicious & Healthy Salad Recipes You Should Give a Try (1)

What You Need

  • 2 cucumbers, very finely sliced
  • 1 finely diced jalapeno (optional)
  • 1 cloves of garlic, finely chopped or minced
  • 1/4 teaspoon of crushed red pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon Himalayan Pink Salt
  • Black pepper to taste
  • 4 tablespoons of chopped cilantro
  • 1 diced tomato or 12 cherry tomatoes cut in half
  • 2 tablespoons of fresh lime juice
  • 4 tablespoons of olive oil
  • Adjust to taste

How to Make It

Put the diced jalapeno and chopped garlic into amedium-sized bowl.

Add lime juice, crushed red pepper, salt, and black pepper. Pourolive oil into this mix while whisking it.

You need very thin slices of cucumber for this recipe. Either a mandolin or a sharp knife can help you with this. Add the sliced cucumbers to the dressing mix and stir it.

Top the salad with chopped cilantro. Stir to combine all ingredients. You can either let it sit in the fridge for a couple of hours, or serve right away. Add diced tomato or cherry tomato halves as garnish! Enjoy!

2. Southwest Bean Salad

This salad gives you a delicious way to enjoy healthy beans with several choices for optional ingredients. You can also serve it as a side with tacos. Serves: 4

Delicious & Healthy Salad Recipes You Should Give a Try (2)

What You Need

  • 15 oz can of black or red beans
  • 15 oz can of garbanzo beans
  • 1 cup thawed frozen corn (optional)
  • 1 cup diced avocado or diced jicama (optional)
  • Medium-sized tomato, diced
  • 1 cup red and/or yellow pepper, chopped
  • 2 green onions, sliced thin
  • 1/2 cup of fresh cilantro, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 to 2 teaspoons of chopped garlic
  • 2 tablespoons of fresh lime juice
  • 4 tablespoon olive oil
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • Adjust to taste

How to Make

Rinse and drain the beans and put them in a bowl. Add the thawed frozen corn. Next, add your diced tomatoes, red and yellow pepper, and green onions into the bean mix.

Also, add the chopped garlic.

Prepare the dressing by mixing all the spices, lime juice, and olive oil. Mix it well and add it to the salad mix.

Top the salad with chopped cilantro and stir to combine all ingredients. The salad is ready to serve!

Serving Option: serve on a bed of leaf lettuce, if desired

3. Broccoli Quinoa Salad

Filled with the nutritional goodness of quinoa and broccoli, this cold salad makes for a healthy weeknight dinner. Serves: 4

Delicious & Healthy Salad Recipes You Should Give a Try (3)

What You Need

  • 1 cup quinoa, uncooked
  • 1 & 1/2 cups water with a pinch of salt
  • 1.5 lbs steamed broccoli, cut into small chunks
  • 1/4 cup of herbs, finely chopped (optional)
  • (consider using a mix of parsley, basil, mint, cilantro, and chives)
  • 1 cup of almonds, coarsely chopped (optional)
  • 4 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/2 lemon zest
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon Himalayan Pink Salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • adjust to taste

If you do not have the fresh herbs, then use 1 to 2 teaspoon of dried herbs. Add the dried herbs to the olive oil, lemon zest, lemon juice and season with salt and pepper.

Learn to Grow an Indoor Herb Garden!

How to Make

In a medium-sized pot, add quinoa, water and a pinch of salt. Cover it with a lid and put it on medium heat.

Once it begins to boil, reduce heat to low and let it simmer for 10 minutes. Remove the pot from heat and let it stand for 5 minutes.

Fluff with a fork and set the cooked quinoa aside. Let it cool.

Now heat a small skillet on low and add the chopped almonds into it. Toast until golden brown, with occasional stirring. Remove from heat and set aside.

Coarsely chop the broccoli with a knife or using a food processor can make it easier. Add it to a large bowl along with the quinoa and toasted almonds.

Prepare the salad dressing by mixing the herbs, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt, and olive oil. Add it to the salad mix and combine well. Refrigerate the salad for a few hours and serve cold.

4. Fresh Veggie Tossed Salad

There is nothing easier and nothing better than a simple fresh veggie tossed salad

Delicious & Healthy Salad Recipes You Should Give a Try (4)

What You Need

  • one head of green or red leaf lettuce, washed and crisped
  • 1 large cucumber
  • 1 tomato cut in wedges
  • 4 radishes
  • 1/2 yellow pepper cut in strips
  • 1/2 teaspoon Himalayan Pink Salt
  • Black pepper to taste
  • 2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar
  • 4 tablespoons of olive oil
  • Parsley Sprigs for garnish

How to Make It

Tear freshly washed leaf lettuce into bite size pieces into a medium-sized bowl.

  • Cucumber and cut into thin slices
  • Radishes and cut into thin slices with a wavy knife.
  • Yellow pepper and slice thin or dice

A Wavy Knife is a simple tool that adds interest when preparing veggies!

Add cucumber, radishes and yellow pepper to salad bowl.

Combine balsamic vinegar or lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and black pepper. Whisk together. And, pour over salad. Gently toss until combine. Garnish with parsley.

Serve immediately or chill slightly.

Consider adding Homemade Croutons for a special touch!

5. Strawberry & Kale Salad:

Delicious & Healthy Salad Recipes You Should Give a Try (5)

Print

Strawberry & Kale Salad

Simple, Fresh & Healthy Kale Recipe

CourseSalad

CuisineAmerican

Prep Time 15 minutes

A Little Longer if adding Bacon 20 minutes

Servings 4 people

Author Original Homesteading

Ingredients

  • 5or 6 Large Fresh Strawberries~ rinsed and hulled
  • 1Bunch Fresh Kale, Chard, Spinach or Lettuceswashed and dried
  • 4TbspOlive Oil or Avocado oil
  • 1/8teasPink Himalayan Salt(if desired)
  • 1/2cupFreshly Grated Parmesan Cheese
  • 2SlicesOrganic Bacon ~ precooked(optional)

Instructions

  1. Gently tear kale, chard or lettuce leaves into bite size pieces & place in salad bowl

  2. Slice or quarter strawberries so they are easy to eat and sprinkle over greens.

  3. Drizzle olive oil or avocado oil over the greens and berries and gently toss.

  4. Sprinkle Himalayan Pink Salt over Greens and gently toss.

Recipe Notes

These is such an easy, pretty way to enjoy the healthy benefits of fresh greens and berries!

Plus, the nutritional omegas of olive oil or avocado oil is a wonderful addition to this wholesome and healthy salad.

To Sum Up our Top Recipes:

There you have it! These were our top recommendations for healthy salad recipes that you should definitely give a try.

Whether you enjoy them as a main course or alongside a healthymeal, these recipes are packed with both nutrition and flavor.

Delicious & Healthy Salad Recipes You Should Give a Try (7)
Delicious & Healthy Salad Recipes You Should Give a Try (2024)

FAQs

What is the healthiest salad? ›

10 Nutrient-Dense Salad Recipes
  • Un-Cobb Salad.
  • Arugula Salad with Tomatoes, Corn, and Burrata.
  • Low-Carb Asian Chopped Salad.
  • Spicy Shrimp, Avocado, and Arugula Salad.
  • Tofu and Kale Salad.
  • Pear, Grape, and Feta Salad.
  • Mediterranean Chicken Salad.
  • Blood Orange and Quinoa Kale Salad.
Jul 20, 2021

What are the healthiest salad dressings? ›

8 Simple and Healthy Salad Dressings
  1. Sesame ginger. This simple salad dressing doubles as an easy marinade for meat, poultry, or roasted veggies. ...
  2. Balsamic vinaigrette. ...
  3. Avocado lime. ...
  4. Lemon vinaigrette. ...
  5. Honey mustard. ...
  6. Greek yogurt ranch. ...
  7. Apple cider vinaigrette. ...
  8. Ginger turmeric.
Jul 27, 2023

What is the most unhealthy salad? ›

6 Ridiculously Unhealthy Salads
  • Chicken Caesar Salad. This menu staple is known for its ultra-heavy dressing, hefty serving of cheese, and signature crunchy croutons. ...
  • Shrimp Salad. ...
  • Southwestern Chicken Salad. ...
  • Steak Salad. ...
  • Asian Chicken Salad. ...
  • Cobb Salad.
Nov 17, 2011

What is the unhealthiest salad dressing? ›

Caesar dressing. Made up of mayonnaise, cheese, salt and oil (and all too often, anchovies), Caesar tends to be one of the least healthy options out there. Those ingredients cause it to be high in both saturated fats and sodium.

What are the three 3 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.

What can I put in my salad to make it taste better? ›

Perk your greens up with fruit! Adding sliced strawberries, peaches, or pineapple is a good start. Don't be afraid to try frozen fruit or options that sound a little weird with greens, like bananas. All fruit tastes great with greens and tends to pair well with vinaigrettes as well as creamy dressings.

How do restaurants make salads so crisp? ›

The Keys to Crisp Lettuce

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 is the number 1 salad dressing? ›

Ranch Dressing

The ranch is hands down America's most beloved salad dressings. It is made from a number of ingredients such as buttermilk, mayonnaise, mustard, garlic, onion, chives, salt, and pepper. A creamier and richer version often features sour cream or yogurt for enhanced taste.

What to avoid in salad for weight loss? ›

Crunchy Noodles, Wontons, and Tortilla Strips

All they add to your salad are calories (around 120 per half cup) and fat (half of those calories, at around 60 grams). Same goes for tortilla strips or wontons.

What should you avoid when dressing a salad? ›

5 Ingredients To Avoid
  1. Palm Oil. Palm oil can pop up in both creamy and oily dressings, and it's a top ingredient that Taub-Dix said to avoid. ...
  2. Sugar (but it's rarely called sugar) ...
  3. Salt. ...
  4. Monosodium glutamate (MSG) ...
  5. Coconut oil.
Jan 24, 2024

What is the healthiest lettuce for salad? ›

While all lettuce is going to provide you with healthy vitamins and minerals, romaine lettuce is the most nutrient-dense, says registered dietitian Danielle Crumble Smith. “It's going to have the highest amount of vitamin A, K, C,” she says.

What is the key to a good salad? ›

The secret to a good salad
  • Be gentle with lettuce. Balsamic dressing. ...
  • Serve up perfect avocado. Forget lemon juice or cold water – the only way to stop an avocado going brown in a salad is to peel and chop them right before serving. ...
  • Say goodbye to onion tears. ...
  • Adore your dressing. ...
  • Sprinkle in some protein.

What healthy vegetables can you put in salads? ›

The list of salad vegetables includes broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, cucumbers, endive, escarole, green onions, lettuce, mushrooms, peas, bell peppers, chili peppers, radishes, romaine, spinach and tomatoes.

Is any salad good for weight loss? ›

Salads made with a variety of fruits and vegetables make the perfect healthy lunch or dinner. That's because they're filled with tons of nutrients that benefit your body, like fiber, vitamin E, and vitamin C. These nutrients can work to lower your blood sugar, regulate cholesterol levels, and help you lose weight.

What type of lettuce is healthiest? ›

While all lettuce is going to provide you with healthy vitamins and minerals, romaine lettuce is the most nutrient-dense, says registered dietitian Danielle Crumble Smith. “It's going to have the highest amount of vitamin A, K, C,” she says.

What type of lettuce is best for weight loss? ›

If you're looking for one of the lowest-calorie vegetables, romaine lettuce has only 8 calories per cup. The downside is that it is pretty low in fiber too, with just 1 g per cup. But it's a great "catch-all" vegetable, says registered dietitian Jennifer Fiske, M.S., RDN, LD.

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