5 Light & Satisfying Salads That Beat the Heat (Plus One Bonus Dish)

It can be easy to skip good meals in the summer when life seems to be forever on the go. Even in the age of a global pandemic, for those that are remaining at home, it’s likely you’re finding plenty to work on around the house or apartment, especially if you have a property to care for. Big or small, they just always seem to take up more time than we expect, and it’s not uncommon to resort to quick, unhealthy on-the-go snacks or takeout when you’re in DIY project mode, or another version of summer chaos.

That’s why we love making an extra helping or two when we find ourselves throwing together a salad for dinner. This way, we can store a portion of it in the fridge (undressed if it includes greens prone to getting soggy) and make sure we’re reaching for a convenient AND healthy meal over the next day or two. If you’re already planning on preparing the dish for dinner, why not take advantage of that time you have and save yourself from doing a whole other prep session in the following days?

Here are a few salads worth trying while produce is fresh and a couple with protein boosts, too (chicken and egg). Of course, we couldn’t help but include a make-ahead dessert, too, which can also double as breakfast. See? We always knew that convenience and health can live in harmony.

Swiss Chard Salad

You’ll need:

Dressing

• 1/4 cup plain goat cheese
• 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon honey (or more to taste)
• 1 tablespoon red or white wine vinegar
• 2 tablespoons water
• Salt and Pepper, to taste

Salad

• 4 cups green or red swiss chard, washed well and torn into bite-sized pieces
• 1 cup baby spinach (or more swiss chard)
• 1/2 cup fresh blueberries
• 1/2 cup fresh strawberries, sliced
• 1/4 cup walnuts, chopped
• 1–2 tablespoons hemp seeds

Full recipe: https://www.nourishedtheblog.com/swiss-chard-salad/

Broccoli Salad

You’ll need:

Salad

• 1 pound broccoli florets (from 1 ½ pounds broccoli stalks), thinly sliced and then roughly chopped (see photos)
• ½ cup raw sunflower seeds or slivered almonds
• ½ cup finely chopped red onion
• ½ cup grated sharp cheddar cheese (optional)
• ⅓ cup dried cranberries or dried tart cherries, chopped

Dressing

• ⅓ cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 medium clove garlic, pressed or minced
• ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt

Full recipe: https://cookieandkate.com/favorite-broccoli-salad-recipe/

Moroccan Beet Salad

You’ll need:

• 5 medium beets, washed/scrubbed
• 1/2 cup minced red onion
• 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh parsley
• 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro (coriander)
• 1 1/2 tsp cumin seeds*
• 1 1/4 tsp kosher salt*
• 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
• 1 Tablespoon olive oil
• 1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice

Full recipe: https://www.simplystacie.net/2012/04/moroccan-beet-salad-recipe/

Summer Egg Salad

You’ll need:

Salad

• 150g new potatoes, thickly sliced
• 160g French beans, trimmed
• 160g peas
• 3 eggs
• 160g romaine lettuce, roughly torn into pieces

Dressing

• 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tsp cider vinegar
• ½ tsp English mustard powder
• 2 tbsp chopped mint
• 3 tbsp chopped basil
• 1 garlic clove, finely grated
• 1 tbsp capers

Full recipe: https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/summer-egg-salad-basil-peas

Chipotle Chicken Cobb Salad

You’ll need:

Chicken

• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 2 chipotle chiles in adobo, finely chopped
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3–4 chicken breasts or thighs

Salad

• 3–4 cups greens
• 4 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled
• 8–10 strawberries, quartered
• 2 ears corn on the cob, kernels removed
• 1–2 ripe avocados, sliced
• salt and pepper
• cilantro vinaigrette (access recipe via link below)

Full recipe: https://pinchofyum.com/summer-chipotle-chicken-cobb-salad-with-cilantro-vinaigrette

BONUS

Overnight Oats

You’ll need:

• Yogurt
• Old fashioned oats
• Seasonal fruit, nuts, spices, granola, chocolate, or other preferred toppings

Recipes: https://www.kosher.com/recipe/overnight-oats-5799

Enjoy! As always, wishing you many blessings in good health.