Summer is the season of salads! Spice up your plain iceberg salads by trying out the following fresh recipes courtesy of NKBCO
One of my favorite summer salads is the strawberry walnut and feta cheese salad. This recipe includes fresh spinach (rich in iron and other nutrients), fresh strawberries, raspberries, or any other fruit of your choosing, walnuts for added protein, and feta cheese for a tangy compliment to the sweet of the fruit. This is a great summer salad, with a pleasant combination of sweet and salty. Almost any type of fresh fruit and nut can be used, depending on your preference. Additionally, almost any dressing goes well with the strawberry feta salad. A few of my favorite choices include a raspberry , balsamic or Greek vinaigrette. As a general rule, with this type of salad, light and tangier dressings more so compliment the salad and bring out the flavors of the ingredients.
Strawberry Feta Salad Recipe
8 cups (approximately) of fresh, chopped spinach
3-4 cups of fresh strawberries (can also be raspberries, blackberries, or any other preferred fresh fruit)
1-2 cups of chopped walnuts to taste
1 cup of crumbled feta cheese to taste
Homemade Balsamic Vinaigrette Recipe
Combine all of the ingredients below, making adjustments to taste. Bottled varieties of various vinaigrettes are also good alternatives to building a dressing from scratch.
1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1 clove of minced garlic
1 tsp dijon mustard
1 tsp honey
salt and pepper to taste
Get ready to explore with the great Southwest Salad recipe
Another simple but delicious recipe is the Southwest Salad. If you think salads are meant to be boring, think again! The Southwest Salad is a tasteful variety that adds a delightful combination of spice and richness, a good recipe for those who enjoy a heartier and less sweet salad. Optionally, you can add chicken or your favorite meat of your choosing.
How to make the Southwest Salad
- 4-5 cups of a mix of romaine lettuce and iceberg
- 2 cups of chopped tomatoes
- 1 diced cucumber
- 2 cups of fresh corn
- 1 cup of black beans
- 2 fresh avocados, diced
- 1 cup of shredded Mexican-style or pepper jack cheese
- 2 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil
- freshly squeezed lime juice to taste
Another great and easy to prepare summer salad is the Greek Salad. The Greek Salad is highly customizable depending on your preferences, but usually includes a wide variety of vegetables and a tangy dressing of your choosing.
Simple but delicious Greek Salad Recipe
- 1 head of romaine lettuce, chopped
- 1 can of calamata olives (or black olives, depending on your preference)
- 1/2 lb feta cheese
- 1-2 cucumbers, diced
- 1-2 cups of cherry tomatoes, cut in halves
- 1-2 drained red onions
- 1-2 green peppers, chopped
- Lemon Garlic Dressing
- 5-6 tbs lemon juice (freshly squeezed is optimal)
- 2 cloves of minced fresh garlic
- Salt to taste
- 1 cup of extra-virgin olive oil
- Ground black pepper & oregano to taste
Warm Salad Ideas: Roasted Butternut Squash
One final summer recipe is the Roasted Butternut Squash Salad. Have you been looking to try a new type of vegetable, or experiment with kale? Kale is a green “super food” that is packed with important nutrients and brings a unique taste to any type of salad. For a salad packed with healthy ingredients, try the below recipe. This recipe does require a little extra effort, as the butternut squash must be baked at 400 degrees F for 20-25 minutes. Before baking, drop some olive oil on the squash and add salt and pepper to taste. After the squash has cooled, cut into bite-sized pieces to include in your salad.
Ingredients
- 5 pounds of cooked butternut squash, peeled and chopped into 3/4-inch cubes (about 4 cups)
- 1 tablespoon of extra-virgin olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 3-4 cups of kale, chopped
- 4 cups of spinach, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1/2 cup of dried cranberries
- 1/2 cup pecans, chopped
- 1/4 to 1/2 cup of red onions, sliced thinly
- 1/3-1/2 cup of cheese of your choosing
Optionally, you can add meat. One suggested meat addition is adding chopped cooked smoked bacon.
Conveniently, follow the same balsamic vinaigrette dressing from the Greek Salad. Otherwise, another light vinaigrette variety should complement the salad well.
All of these recipes are more are possible with only simple adjustments.