29 Simple Salads: Healthy Salad Recipes

Salads are any combination of vegetables, grains, proteins, and other ingredients that are the cornerstone of most meals and one of the most versatile dishes you can offer.

Salad is a broad term that refers to any dish made up of a bite-sized blend of ingredients, usually vegetables and vegetables, but also meat, pasta, and fish. When they bind to protein, they can be used as an appetizer, side dish, or main course. In places like France, vegetable salad is sometimes used as the last clear-mouth dish before dessert.

It may feel like standard practice now, but it's not always easy to find delicious salads in the U.S. For Chez Panisse and this-is-you-eat-a-peach chef Alice Waters, an early trip to Provence showed her salad lights: she fell in love with mesclun, a Provencal word that describes salad vegetables and herbs. Alice brought back seeds from France and planted lettuce throughout her backyard to recreate a Macon salad she couldn't find at home.

Alice helped drive the salad revolution by placing that plain mesclun salad on Chez Panisse's menu and promoting the French tradition of salads at every meal.

Most salads are primarily healthy, provided that the condiments are applied with light hands. Dark leafy greens like kale and spinach supplement nutrient enhancements and are complemented with nuts, seeds, grains and fresh vegetables to supplement fiber and protein. Whole grains, such as rice and quinoa, are included and still provide you with a healthy gluten-free salad.

Most of the pre-made salad dressings you can find at the grocery store contain an excessive amount of additives – the only thing you really need to make a healthy salad dressing is premium olive oil, a kind of acid of your choice (think lemon juice or any type of acid) vinegar: from balsamic vinegar to red wine vinegar), salt, black pepper, and maybe a little Dijon mustard or garlic sauce to heat and season. (Learn how to make balsamic vinegar from scratch here.) From there, you can try adding textured popcorn like Greek yogurt, freshly chopped herbs, spices, and capers.

Caesar salad with anchovy sauce and fresh bread crumbs

Cobb salad with bacon and blue cheese

Nicoise salad with potatoes, green beans, olives and pickled fish

Radish, fennel and small gem salad with ranch sauce

Carrot salad with lemon juice, cumin and fried mustard seeds

Vanilla salad with parsley, mint and dill

Greek salad with fresh tomatoes, red onions, kalamata olives and feta cheese

Kale salad with Parmesan cheese and roasted chili peppers

Grilled beet salad with goat cheese

German potato salad with whole wheat mustard balsamic vinegar

Tuna salad with celery, capers and mayonnaise

Fennel salad with green apples and lemons

Citrus salad with brata and white wine vinegar pickled onions

Quinoa salad with spinach and grilled vegetables

Fruit salad with seasonal berries and mint

Pasta salad with sun-dried tomatoes and olives

Mung bean salad with mustard sauce and fried garlic

Mexican salad with black beans, crispy taco strips and cumin lime sauce

Mesclun salad with champagne balsamic vinegar

Grilled chicken salad with blackcurrants and pine nuts

Italian iceberg salad with pepper, red bell pepper, olives, cherry tomato and basic balsamic vinegar

Spinach salad with dried cranberries and sliced almonds

Vegetable salad with cucumber, shallots and cherry tomatoes

Mediterranean tomato cucumber salad is served with extra virgin olive oil, lemon, parsley and sumac

Asian cabbage salad with shallots, celery and tahini sauce

Tabbouleh salad with couscous, cucumber, tomato, parsley and lemon

Watercress salad with radish slices and farrow

Southwest salad with roasted corn, black beans, coriander and Cotilla cheese

Watermelon salad with red pepper, mint and red onion