Recipe Roundup: 20 Summer Salads

This is a Recipe Roundup of Summer Salads. Salad is my favourite category of food because of the variety and the colours. They're almost all naturally gluten free and with homemade salad dressing there is rarely a label you need to read.

My challenge to you is to make your own list of favourite salads by season, by month or just a single list. Whether it's written or in your head, a list like this will ensure lots of variety in your diet that changes with the seasons.

North Americans all need to eat less carbs, less sugar and probably less meat too. Salads are one fabulous way of ticking off all those boxes. If you're counting to get 30 plants a week, there are probably 100 different plants in this roundup of 20 recipes.

Best Salads for a Potluck

1

Harvest Jewelled Salad

This is a summer garden farm-to-table show off salad. This unusual combination of vegetables and fresh berries with a unique sumac dressing is sure to be a winner.

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2

Gluten Free California Roll Salad

This salad combines all the elements of a California Roll into a salad. Once your pantry is set up with gluten free Asian ingredients you're cookin! Then take this salad to your next potluck and expect rave reviews and requests for the recipe.

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3

Gluten Free Spicy Sesame Noodles

I took these gluten free Spicy Sesame Noodles to our Block Party for twenty years. When I switched to gluten free noodles no one knew the difference! The velvety smooth mayonnaise dressing is what makes this recipe stand out and someone always asks for the recipe.

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4

Summer Rice Salad

This tuna and rice salad is greater than the sum of its' parts. It can be served as a cold tapa but I like to take this molded salad to a picnic or a potluck.

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5

Asian Coleslaw with Peanut Dressing

Asian Coleslaw is my twist on the classic summer coleslaw. Made with a peanut butter and ginger dressing it's perfect for any summer party.

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6

Easy Bean Salad

Everyone needs more fibre, including those on a gluten free diet. Add this Easy Bean Salad to your repertoire for lunches and snacks.

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7

Homemade Potato Salad

Made from scratch with simple ingredients, it's perfect for barbecues, picnics, and potlucks. This easy, make-ahead salad has stood the test of time. A must-have for your next summer gathering!

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8

Apple Quinoa Salad with Feta and Almonds

This salad is the kind of healthy, high fibre salad gluten free cooks love. Get quinoa in your pantry and try it!

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9

Healthy Southwestern Quinoa Salad

Gluten free cooks need lots of high fibre recipes like this. Quinoa is technically a seed but is classified as a whole grain and often referred to as a super food. Everyone needs a few recipes like this on the rotation.

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Leafy Green Salads with Homemade Salad Dressing

10

Deconstructed Grilled Caesar Salad

Wow your friends with this Deconstructed Grilled Caesar Salad. The crispy Parmesan cheese wafers and gluten free toast points take this salad to the next level.

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11

Warm Spinach Basil Salad

This salad brings together the classic flavours of pesto; basil, garlic, pine nuts and Parmesan cheese, in a unique way.

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12

Garden Greens with Asian Dressing and Crispy Bean Thread Noodles

Gluten free cooks need great recipes in every category including entertaining. These Garden Greens with Asian Dressing is a salad I make for any Asian inspired meal. Deep frying the crispy bean thread noodles is worth the effort.

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13

Salad with Beets and Goat Cheese

Gluten free eaters need more plants in their diet for a healthy gut. Add this fall Salad with Beets and Goat Cheese to your menu and enjoy year after year.

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14

Spinach Salad with Hard Boiled Eggs and Bacon

This is my version of Spinach Salad with Hard Boiled Eggs and Bacon. I like to add red onion and mushrooms for a salad I like to repeat year after year!

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Homemade Salad Dressing

There are plenty of gluten free store bought salad dressings and I've never read the label on any of them. My pantry is stocked with a good quality olive oil and several kinds of vinegar. This is the secret to serving amazing salads that everyone will want to eat.

15

Homemade Salad Dressing

I love a simple homemade salad dressing, also known as a basic vinaigrette. Get the ratio down and you can vary the ingredients for a year of delicious salads with seasonal ingredients. Make this dressing in 1 minute; anywhere, anytime.

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Salads From Around The World

16

Greek Summer Salad

Gluten free eaters love recipes like this, and whole menus, that don't require reading labels.

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17

Classic Salad Nicoise

This Mediterranean composed salad highlights late summer produce. New potatoes, tomatoes and green beans come together with this outstanding Julia Child vinaigrette dressing.

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18

Santa Fe Salad

This Santa Fe Salad highlights the possibilities of unique combinations and the wide variety of ingredients that can be included.

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19

Vietnamese Cabbage Chicken Salad

This is a healthy and refreshing, main course salad that's naturally gluten free. Perfect for summer entertaining or al fresco dining. I love to use fresh mint and cilantro from my garden but you can buy fresh herbs too.

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20

Blackened Steak Salad with Blue Cheese Dressing

This Blackened Steak Salad is the perfect way to serve steak in the summer. The salad feels healthy and the juicy slices of meat, topped with blue cheese dressing, feels like a special treat.

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21

Gluten Free Gado Gado Salad

Gado Gado is the signature salad of Indonesia served with a peanut dressing using kecap manis, it will expand your culinary taste buds.

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Tools to Make and Serve Salads

You don't need anything fancy to create a stunning presentation. What you need a is a well equipped kitchen that should include these items:

• An awesome knife, I like my 10-inch Chef’s knife that I can grip with my hand and my knuckles don't hit the cutting board as I chop.
• A sturdy extra large cutting board, the extra space makes cutting easier.
• For salad dressings I use a whisk or an immersion blender depending on the recipe.
• I have a few salad dressing bottles but most often use 1-cup and 2-cup Mason jars.
• Focus on colourful produce and variety for the look. A gorgeous wooden salad bowl or a nice glass platter will get plenty of use and you probably already have them.

That's a wrap! I'd love to hear what's on your list of favourite Summer Salads.