Elevated fresh summer salad recipes are the ultimate salad collection you’ll actually be excited to eat. Vibrant and colorful, these gourmet salads celebrate the season in the most beautiful way.
Growing up in France, my typical summer salad was a simple fresh tomato salad with garlic and olive oil. While I still love it very much and make it every summer – no exception – when large and sun-drenched Heirloom tomatoes are in season, I since upped my game with more salad recipes. I want them to be generous, audacious, fresh and vibrant all at once.
Now if you’re here, you might want to have a look at these fresh summer salad recipes, reinvented. Far from being the boring ones, these gourmet salads combine seasonal ingredients, bold flavors and creative ingredient pairings. Incredibly satisfying, they are proof that a salad can be every bit as exciting as the main course.
Elevated Fresh Summer Salad Recipes
Melon, Prosciutto and Burrata Tortellini Pasta Salad
This simple melon, prosciutto and burrata tortellini pasta salad is bursting with summer flavors in the most elegant way.
Lentil Salad with Zucchini, Feta and Mint
This simple lentil salad with zucchini, feta and mint is the perfect easy meal for busy days. Vegetarian, gluten-free and healthy, it’s packed with wonderful refreshing flavors. Don’t pass on the vinaigrette!
Tofu Crispy Rice Salad
This tofu crispy rice salad makes a fantastic quick midweek meal. It combines fresh greens, spicy crispy rice and some smoked tofu for a boost of protein. Vegan and gluten-free, this plant-powered salad is also very satisfying.
Corn and Zucchini Orzo Salad
This corn and zucchini orzo salad with goat cheese is not your average salad recipe. Prepared with orzo, it features sautéed zucchini, corn and goat cheese together with mint for a very refreshing touch. Simple and delicious!
Watermelon Salad with Feta and Mint
This simple watermelon salad with feta and mint is refreshing, colorful, and ready within minutes. It makes a wonderful addition to any meal in summer.
Spring Pea Salad with Goat Cheese
This spring pea salad with goat cheese salad is a vibrant salad recipe, healthy, nutritious, and loaded with farmers market produce. Ready in no time, it’s the perfect salad for spring and summer.
Thai Peanut Quinoa Salad (Vegan, Gluten-Free)
This crunchy Thai quinoa salad served with a ginger peanut butter dressing is a lovely twist to the classic Pad Thai. Entirely vegan and gluten-free, this recipe is packed with veggies, plant-based protein and essential nutrients.
Mediterranean Chickpea Zoodles with Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto
These Mediterranean chickpea zoodles burst with summer flavors. Both vegan and gluten-free, this healthy dish features some zucchini noodles, olives and roasted chickpeas, tossed in a delicious homemade sun-dried tomato sauce. Enjoy hot or cold!
Cantaloupe Burrata Salad with Brioche Croutons
This simple Cantaloupe burrata salad combines sweet balls of melon, cucumber ribbons, creamy burrata and buttery herb brioche croutons. Bursting with fresh summer flavors, this effortless salad is perfect for warm-weather outdoor gatherings.
Green Goddess Quinoa Salad
Green goddess quinoa salad is loaded with quinoa, green vegetables and protein. Quick and easy to assemble, this healthy vegetarian salad will keep you full and energized throughout the day.
Apricot and Feta Quinoa Salad with Curry Dressing
Up your salad game with this apricot and feta quinoa salad, tossed in a lemon curry dressing. Loaded with sweet and savory flavors, this vegetarian salad is also very nutritious and naturally gluten-free.
Strawberry Burrata Salad with Mint Pesto
This simple strawberry burrata salad with a mint pesto is full of summer goodness. It is loaded with refreshing flavors with juicy, creamy and crunchy textures. The salad is also naturally gluten-free and ready in no time!
Italian Tortellini Pasta Salad
This 10-minute Italian tortellini pasta salad is loaded with fresh veggies, mozzarella pearls and pillowy tortellini pasta. A quick chop and throw together recipe for picnics, potlucks or a light lunch!
Strawberry Quinoa Salad with Feta Cheese
This balsamic strawberry quinoa salad with feta cheese makes an easy summer salad recipe, packed with refreshing flavors. Served as a main or a side dish, it’s a very festive salad, perfect for picnics and potlucks.
Fig and Goat Cheese Salad with Honey
This simple fig and goat cheese salad with honey is bursting with refreshing flavors. A quick 5-minute recipe that is both vegetarian and gluten-free.
Mediterranean Quinoa Salad
This Mediterranean quinoa salad recipe is as easy as it gets. Both vegetarian and gluten-free, it’s a colorful salad loaded with veggies, olives and feta, all tossed together in a Dijon mustard vinaigrette.
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To go further, make sure you check my other Recipe Roundups, where I share our best recipes in each category.
- Fresh No-Cook Recipes for a Heatwave
- Zucchini Recipes for Every Craving
- The Best Lemon Dessert Recipes
- Delicious Fresh Strawberry Recipes
- Easy Baking Recipes (with Minimal Ingredients)
I love hearing from you! If you try one of several of these fresh summer salad recipes, please leave a review, letting me know how you liked it/them.
