With the emerging abundance of fresh seasonal produce, summer is the best time to enjoy a refreshing salad. This collection of vegetarian and vegan summer salad recipes is carefully curated to tantalise your taste buds and keep you cool during hot weather. You’ll find delicious, nutritious, vibrant and colourful sides and light lunches as well as mains to suit pretty much any occasion.
For me summer salads are embodied by crunchy cucumbers and juicy ripe tomatoes warmed by the summer sun. But there’s a lot more to a good salad than just these two ingredients. I’m reliably informed there are even some very good salads that don’t contain either of them. I know, I’m shocked too.
Dive Right In
I’ve divided the recipes into sections to make it easier to find the type of salad you’re looking for.
Summer Salad Recipes
If you think salads are boring, think again. The combination of crisp and crunchy veg, juicy fruits, fragrant herbs and a killer dressing is true taste sensation. They can rival any other meal for sheer deliciousness. Grab your salad servers and get stuck in.
Salads become exceptionally appealing during summer and with good reason. For a start, the hotter weather leaves us craving lighter, more refreshing meals. Or is that just me? They’re often packed with water-rich ingredients like leafy greens, which help to keep us hydrated as well as satisfied.
But more crucially, summer is the season when a huge variety of fresh and flavoursome vegetables, fruit and herbs are at their peak and readily available. They make the best salads. Typically, they’re nutrient-dense, rich in vitamins, minerals and dietary fibre, whilst at the same time being relatively low in calories.
From a simple green salad to the complexity of gado gado, the variety of summer salad recipes is boundless. There’s a reason they’re ubiquitous around the world. Enjoy them as a starter, side, light lunch or a main meal. They’re almost essential to accompany summer barbecues and many make perfect picnic material too.
With the wealth of ingredients now available to us, it’s so easy to transform a traditional meat or fish based salad into a vegetarian or vegan one. Likewise it’s quite simple to veganise a traditional vegetarian salad. Vegan yoghurt is easy to get hold of and making your own vegan mayonnaise is a veritable breeze.
Main Meal Summer Salad Recipes
Just because a salad contains lots of healthy fresh produce, it doesn’t mean you can’t eat one as a main meal. Ensure there is a protein element or two and you’re good to go. You can use pulses, nuts, seeds, cheese and eggs in varied forms. Go carb free or add whole grains, potatoes or pasta. Alternatively accompany your salad with some crusty bread.
Last but by no means least, a good dressing is crucial. Fresh herbs, spices, well flavoured oil, citrus or vinegar, salt and maybe a touch of something sweet all play their part.
Vegetarian Salade Niçoise
A vegetarian and early summer version of the classic French salade Niçoise. It's a hearty, healthy and delicious dish with a good variety of flavours and textures.
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Jackfruit Tuna Salad (No Mayo, Vegan) – LB Health & Lifestyle
Jackfruit tuna salad is a healthy vegan version of the classic dish. A quick & easy meal made in just 10 minutes with no mayo.
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Gado Gado: Indonesian Vegetable Salad
A mix of cooked, blanched and raw vegetables with protein and an awesome peanut sauce. Gado gado is a naturally vegan, or vegetarian if you include egg, Indonesian vegetable salad. It's absolutely delicious and a complete meal in itself. It's easy to incorporate plenty of different coloured foods so you can glow in your own virtue as you eat the rainbow.
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Tempeh Caesar Salad: Protein-Packed and Vegan
An umami-rich, crunchy vegan salad packed with protein and nutritious deliciousness. This tempeh Caesar salad recipe is both popular and easy to make. Enjoy it as a hearty main course for two or divide it up, add more lettuce and dressing and you have a light lunch for four.
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Mediterranean Quinoa Salad
This Vegan Mediterranean Quinoa Salad is healthy main dish, packs veggies, herbs and plant-based protein. Whole30 Compliant, Gluten-Free.
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Vegetarian Souvlaki Salad (with Greek Marinated Tempeh)
This vegetarian souvlaki salad takes all the bright, sunny flavours of traditional Greek souvlaki and turns them into a satisfying meat-free meal. Tempeh is marinated in lemon, garlic and oregano, then fried until golden and served with a fresh tomato and cucumber salad, a minty yoghurt potato salad and crunchy Greek-style croutons. It’s colourful, hearty and ideal for warm weather lunches or easy summer dinners.
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Fattoush with Sumac Hummus and Pomegranate
A Middle Eastern bread salad. It's fresh and zingy with a whole host of flavours that really sing. It makes for an easy and delicius summer lunch.
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Plantain Salad With Avocado Cilantro Lime Dressing – The All Natural Vegan
This Plantain Salad is the perfect flavorful Caribbean inspired salad! This recipe is: vegan, oil-free, gluten-free, and refined sugar-free.
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Summer Sausage Salad
A summertime take on a comfort food classic – sausage and mash. There are plenty of flavours and textures to keep everyone interested and the zesty lime & herb dressing makes this salad sing.
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Bean salads are a great bet for summer eating. They work well both as a side dish and main meal. The beans soak up delicious dressings and it’s easy to add crunch and additional flavour with summer veg and herbs.
They’re also great for parties, potlucks and picnics as you can prepare them in advance. They’ll sit happily in the fridge for a day or two.
For this category of summer bean salads, I’m including chickpeas as well as other pulses. The recipes are mostly vegan, but there’s the odd vegetarian one included too.
Middle Eastern Chickpea Salad
Vibrant, fresh and flavoursome this easy-to-make Middle Eastern salad is both healthy and naturally vegan. And not a bit of lettuce in sight. Serve as a light lunch or supper with pitta bread, as a side dish or as part of a mezze spread.
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Black Bean And Corn Salad
Mexican black bean salad is one of those dishes which is perfect for many a summer occasion. Great to accompany a barbecue, part of a buffet, a potluck dish, a side or even as a main. It's healthy, colourful and packed full of flavour.
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White Bean Salad: Spanish Style
A substantial Spanish bean salad with peppers, tomatoes, olives and a zippy dressing. It's simple, healthy and packed full of flavour. It's also quick and easy to prepare. Hands on time is less than fifteen minutes, though it does benefit from a lengthy marinade. Perfect as a main, side or tapas.
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Italian Bean Salad
A simple Italian bean salad made with cannellini beans, juicy tomatoes, red onion, fresh herbs and a punchy garlicky dressing. It's quick and easy to prepare, healthy, colourful and packed with the flavour of sunshine. Hands-on time is less than fifteen minutes, though a longer marinade allows all those delicious flavours to mingle. Perfect as a light main, side dish or part of an antipasti-style spread.
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Black Bean & Bulgur Wheat Feta Salad
A quick, tasty and nutritious salad which works well both as a main meal or light lunch. It's also ideal for packed lunches, picnics and buffet style meals.
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Lentil Salad with Gorgonzola
I make this Gorgonzola Lentil Salad Recipe usually as the main dish. It is packed with all the goodness of protein, herbs, and intense flavors.
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A fresh salad with a lively dressing is one of my favourite summer lunches. They’re easy to prepare and no cooking required – perfect. If it works for lunch, it will most likely work as a dinner party starter too. Vibrant and colourful salad ingredients looks so appealing on the plate.
Caprese Salad Bowl with Avocado & Lettuce for One
Juicy ripe tomatoes pair beautifully with mozzarella cheese, basil and avocado to produce this luscious summer caprese salad bowl for one.
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Easy beetroot carpaccio with feta and mint
Thinly sliced beets in lemon & olive oil, topped with feta & fresh mint. Beetroot carpaccio is a simple but sophisticated salad, side or starter.
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Cottage Cheese Salad With Cucumber, Tomatoes And Fresh Herbs
On a hot summer's day, when you don't want to cook, cottage cheese salad is refreshing and needs minimal fuss. This recipe is ready in less than ten minutes. Simple, yes, but also tasty. It's high in protein, cheap and vegetarian. Ideal in fact for healthy lunches at any time.
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Greek Salad
Greek Salad is a delicious fresh salad made with feta cheese, olives and tomatoes. It’s full of Mediterranean flavours and so easy to put together. It’s ideal as an appetiser or side dish.
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Nectarine Salad With Mozzarella And Tomatoes
Nectarine salad is a colourful, delicious and surprisingly nutritious light summer recipe. It's also simple and quick-to-make. Sweet nectarines hot off the griddle, juicy tomatoes and creamy mozzarella come together to create a delightful combination of flavours, textures and colours.
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Traditional Tuscan Panzanella Recipe
Panzanella is a simple, Tuscan peasant dish (cucina povera) which is popular in Italy, using the bounty of tomatoes during the summer, and stale bread which is almost a staple in any Italian kitchen.
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Vegan Papaya Salad in 15 minutes
Vegan Papaya Salad is fresh, zesty, zingy, spicy and basically a true taste sensation. Plus, it only takes 15 minutes and 10 ingredients to make!
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Waldorf Salad: Pure and Simple
Crisp, creamy and wonderfully simple, this Waldorf salad is all about fresh flavour and crunch. Made with just three core ingredients, sweet apple, crunchy celery and toasted walnuts, which are tossed in a quick mayonnaise and yoghurt dressing. It’s fast, fuss-free and perfect as a light meal or easy side.
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Simple Green Salad with Vinaigrette dressing
A simple, vibrant crunchy green salad with easy vinaigrette dressing. A great go-to side dish to serve with dinner.
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You can’t have a barbecue, summer buffet or alfresco dinner without a delicious side salad or three. The sides are often my favourite part of a meal.
Bell Pepper Salad ~ This Wife Cooks
Bright colors and fresh flavors of mini bell peppers shine in this easy make-ahead salad!
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Korean-Style Cucumber Salad Recipe
This Korean cucumber salad is a quick and easy recipe with both spicy and tangy notes, for a truly delicious culinary journey. Naturally gluten-free and vegetarian.
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Simple Orange and Ginger Carrot Salad
A fresh, sweet and zingy salad which is simple to prepare and delicious to eat. It’s best made in advance so the carrots can absorb the flavours which makes it perfect picnic and party fare.
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Tzatziki: The Must Have Summer Dip Or Side
Cooling and refreshing tzatziki is an essential part of summer. Made with strained yoghurt, cucumber, lemon, garlic and fresh herbs, it's a real delight. Although it makes a lovely accompaniment to many Greek dishes, it's a meze must and useful addition to all sorts of meals. Use it as a dip, a sauce or side dish to elevate simple meals or enhance your favourite summer recipes.
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Kohlrabi Carrot Slaw
A delicious crunchy slaw dressed with lime and a barely discernible amount of mustardy mayonnaise.
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Vegan Mexican Street Corn Salad (Gluten-Free, Allergy-Free) | Esquites
This Vegan Mexican Street Corn Salad is an easier way to serve grilled Mexican street corn with no mess! Grilled elotes, tossed with a creamy & tangy sauce!
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Middle Eastern tomato parsley salad – Greenbowl2soul
Middle Eastern tomato parsley salad is a simple and deliciously refreshing salad that you can quickly prepare within 10 minutes.
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Tomato, Red Onion & Coriander Salad – Fab Food 4 All
Tomato, Red Onion & Coriander Salad is perfect for summer but it’s also our favourite salad to have with a curry as the flavours marry so well!
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Mango Avocado Salad
A refreshing mango avocado salad made with few ingredients in just 5 minutes. It is an easy vegan, gluten free and oil free seasonal salad great to enjoy as a side dish or as a main meal.
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Minty Watermelon Cucumber Salad Without Feta – Go Eat Green
Vegan minty Watermelon Cucumber Salad Without Feta is the best summer side dish that’s refreshing, low-calorie, and weight-loss friendly.
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For a more filling side dish, salads made with carbohydrates are the way to go. Carbohydrates are the body’s primary source of energy after all. Complex carbohydrates such as whole grains and quinoa provide a steady release of energy to help keep us fueled throughout the day.
And if you make a potato salad, keep the skins on for added fibre and nutrition.
Authentic Lebanese Fresh Taboule Salad
Lebanese taboule salad (tabouli) is fresh, light and easy to make. Finely sliced parsley with tomato, onion and bulgur in a lemon dressing.
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Pearl Couscous Salad – Vegan Summer Side Dish
Vegan Israeli Couscous Salad – a healthy Summer side dish, that’s fresh and tasty! You can serve it warm or cold, it will be delicious either way.
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Authentic Northern German Potato Salad
Learn how to make this authentic Northern German Potato salad. Made with Mayo, Eggs and Pickles. Great side for meat.
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Vegan Potato Salad – VegnFit
Simplicity and the flavors that everybody knows and loves, that’s the secret behind this Vegan Potato Salad. Soft potatoes, crunchy pickles and creamy sauce make this easy salad so scrumptious.
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Sicilian Pasta Salad with Tomatoes, Olives & Fresh Herbs
A simple but delicious pasta salad that everyone can eat and everyone will love. It’s both vegan and gluten-free.
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Thank you for visiting Tin and Thyme. I hope you’ve found something to inspire you with all these fabulous summer salad recipes. Let me know if you try any of them. I’m also keen to know what I’ve missed? What are your favourites? Do tell by commenting below.
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If you’d like more recipe collections, follow the link and you’ll find I have quite a lot of them. This one for blackcurrant recipes is always popular in summer. Perhaps not surprisingly, this one for mincemeat recipes is equally popular around Christmas. And this one for carrot recipes is popular all year round.
Choclette x
Summer Salad Recipes. PIN IT.
While you’ve been waiting for your lovely new kitchen to be installed you have been busy on our behalf.
Such a tasty selection of salads to choose from. Not quite salad time here although not so cold but very wet.
Enjoy putting all your kitchen things away and think hard before you chuck stuff out. The minute you do you’ll find you need it!!
Thanks Choclette. :))
Thank you Mary. I agree, wet weather doesn’t lend itself to salads. Very much enjoying the look of the new kitchen and it’s functionality. Still plenty of boxes to unpack and new pans to acquire. I’m not very good at throwing things out, just because I’m pretty sure I might need whatever it is someday. But to much clutter isn’t a good thing either – dilemma!
what a fabulous collection of salads all in one place ! your new kitchen looks lovely -so fresh ,modern and clean.Enjoy it!
Thank you Annette. Fresh and clean is just how I’d like it to stay. I’ll certainly try to keep it that way – for a while anyway! Currently trying to put everything back into the kitchen without cluttering it up. Not an easy task. I hope you’ll find a salad recipe or two to try over the summer.
What a great resource for salads, so many delicious options.
And it will be one I’ll be adding to for sure. It’s so useful to have one place to go when you want a salad recipe.