For me, summer is all about eating fresh and baring fit legs — they go hand in hand! Although I try to experiment with new ingredients as often as possible, I have a few staple salads that I return to over and over again. These recipes are packed with super-foods, antioxidants and healthy fats. They do a great job of filling me up without weighing me down, especially important when I’m about to hop on my bike or take my pup out for a run at a moment’s notice.
Here is a compilation of some of my favorite lighter-fare summer salads that will be sure to satisfy your cravings and pants-less exploits as the weather heats up!
Fennel Citrus Salad with Meyer Lemon Dressing
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated Meyer lemon zest
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated lime zest
- 1 tablespoon fresh Meyer lemon juice
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 1/2 tablespoons agave syrup
- 1/2 cup skim milk
- 1/4 cup non-fat plain Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 medium fennel bulb
- 1 blood orange or 1/2 large grapefruit
- 1 tablespoon pumpkin seeds
- 2 cups assorted dark greens (kale, parsley, pea shoots, etc.)
- Fresh ground salt and pepper
Combine the citrus zest, lemon juice, garlic, honey, milk, yogurt and olive oil into a resealable container and shake what your mother gave you. Taste and add more citrus or honey as desired. Peel and slice the orange or grapefruit and set aside. Shave the fennel bulb into very thin slices using a mandolin. Combine the assorted greens in a large bowl, add the desired amount of salad dressing and toss to evenly coat. When plating, start with the dressed greens and top with fennel shavings and citrus segments. Finish with a lemon wedge, fresh cracked pepper and pumpkin seeds. Or serve with dressing on the side!
Emerald Green Salad with Blueberries and Hemp Hearts
- 1 bunch pea shoots
- 1 bunch parsley
- 1/2 cucumber, sliced
- 2 tablespoons low-fat vinaigrette
- 1/4 cup blueberries
- 1 tablespoon hemp hearts
- 1/2 tablespoon chia seeds
- Fresh ground salt and pepper
Roughly chop the desired amount of pea shoots and parsley in a bowl. Layer on the cucumber slices and salad dressing; top with blueberries, hemp hearts and chia seeds. Season generously with fresh ground salt and pepper…and a pinch of chili flakes, if desired.
Papaya and Avocado Salad with Spicy Honey-Grapefruit Dressing
- 1 bunch arugula
- 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro
- 1/4 papaya
- 1/2 avocado
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 tablespoon fresh squeezed grapefruit juice
- 1/2 tablespoon fresh squeezed lime juice
- 2 teaspoons agave syrup
- 1 pinch chili flakes
- Fresh ground salt and pepper
Whisk together the olive oil, fruit juices, honey, chili flakes and season with salt and pepper to taste. Slice or roughly chop the papaya, avocado and cilantro and place in a small bowl; add half the salad dressing and toss to coat. Plate on a bed of arugula, season with salt and pepper and additional dressing if desired. Garnish with dried goji berries or lemon zest. Enjoy!
For more summer salad recipes, head over to my website and peruse at will!
Image Credit: Shutterstock
- Badass Summer Salads - May 25, 2015
