Salad

The earliest recipes for salads can be found in Ancient Rome, where cooks combined various greens and herbs with a dressing of vinegar and oil. These early salads were more like herb-and-spice-laden side dishes than the salads we know today, but they laid the foundation for the salad as we know it.

As the Roman Empire spread, so did the popularity of salads. By the Middle Ages, salads were a common sight on European tables, often served as a starter or between courses. These salads were typically quite simple, made with just a few ingredients like lettuce, onions, and herbs.

The modern salad as we know it began to take shape in the 18th and 19th centuries. Cooks began to experiment with new ingredients and flavorings, and the first cookbooks devoted to salads were published. These early salads were often quite elaborate, with dozens of ingredients and multiple steps.

Advice

When making a salad, be sure to include a variety of ingredients to give the salad a variety of flavors and textures. Use fresh vegetables, fruits, and other ingredients such as nuts, seeds, and cheese. Be sure to also choose either a creamy dressing or a vinaigrette to bring all of the ingredients together. If you're feeling creative, try adding some unique ingredients such as garbanzo beans, olives, or even croutons. Finally, don't forget to add protein such as chicken, seafood, or tofu to make the salad a complete and balanced meal.

Jump to: Ingredient Breakdown Insights

Recipes

 

Charlie Bird’s Farro Salad

5/5 - 4823 votes

• maldon
• apple cider
• farro
• mint
• parsley
• radish
• arugula
• lemon juice
• salt
• bay leaf
• grape tomato
• pistachio nut
• parmesan cheese
• olive oil

 

Lemon-Garlic Kale Salad

5/5 - 4371 votes

• salt
• kale
• olive oil
• parmesan cheese
• lemon juice
• almond
• garlic

 

Spiced Chickpea Salad With Tahini and Pita Chips

5/5 - 2803 votes

• TO FINISH
• kale
• parsley
• mint
• lemon
• olive oil
• cucumber
• pita chip
• TAHINI SAUCE
• lemon juice
• water
• garlic
• tahini
• CHICKPEAS
• salt
• sweet paprika
• cumin
• chickpea
• garlic
• olive oil

 

Kale Salad With Apples and Cheddar

5/5 - 2573 votes

• salt
• cheddar cheese
• pink lady
• garlic
• almond
• lemon juice
• parmesan cheese
• kale
• olive oil

 

Cucumber Salad With Soy, Ginger and Garlic

5/5 - 2411 votes

• pepper
• salt
• soy sauce
• ginger
• sugar
• green onion
• garlic
• cayenne pepper
• cilantro
• dark sesame oil
• skinned cucumber
• rice vinegar
• sunflower oil

 

Tomato and Watermelon Salad

5/5 - 2055 votes

• salt
• feta
• salt
• watermelon
• olive oil
• sherry vinegar
• tomato

 

Chickpea Salad With Fresh Herbs and Scallions

4/5 - 3791 votes

• celery
• salt
• dijon mustard
• greek yogurt
• green onion
• black pepper
• lemon juice
• dill
• parsley
• mayonnaise
• chickpea

 

Brown Butter Lentil and Sweet Potato Salad

5/5 - 2017 votes

• BROWN BUTTER VINAIGRETTE
• salt
• olive oil
• sage
• maple syrup
• red wine vinegar
• butter
• SALAD
• salt
• french green lentil
• sweet potato
• parsley
• goat cheese
• olive oil

 

Greek-Style Watermelon Salad

5/5 - 1970 votes

• olive oil
• salt
• parsley
• cucumber
• onion
• feta
• kalamata olife
• tomato
• watermelon

 

Cucumber Salad With Roasted Peanuts and Chile

5/5 - 1938 votes

• chili oil
• salt
• sugar
• red pepper flake
• garlic
• cilantro
• peanut
• soy sauce
• rice vinegar
• peanut butter
• persian cucumber

 

Classic Tuna Salad Sandwich

5/5 - 1937 votes

• salt
• white bread
• celery
• mayonnaise
• caper
• lemon juice
• solid
• onion
• bell pepper

 

Lemon Potato Salad With Mint

5/5 - 1792 votes

• lemon juice
• salt
• olive oil
• green onion
• mint
• turkish pepper
• waxy white

 

Kale and Quinoa Salad With Tofu and Miso

5/5 - 1631 votes

• maple syrup
• mirin
• tofu
• ginger
• kale
• white miso
• quinoa
• sriracha
• rice vinegar
• sesame oil
• grapeseed oil

 

French Potato and Green Bean Salad

5/5 - 1629 votes

• salt
• french bean
• anchovy
• caper
• chive
• bay leaf
• thyme
• olive oil
• yellow finn
• basil
• parsley
• dijon mustard
• garlic
• white wine vinegar
• egg
• anchovy
• arugula

 

Cold Noodle Salad With Spicy Peanut Sauce

4/5 - 2987 votes

• SALAD
• cilantro
• salt
• sesame oil
• bell pepper
• lime
• zucchini
• soba noodle
• peanut
• green onion
• radish
• SPICY PEANUT SAUCE
• sesame oil
• garlic
• peanut butter
• soy sauce
• lime juice
• maple syrup
• chili oil

 

Shrimp and Avocado Salad

5/5 - 957 votes

• salt
• avocado
• grapefruit
• shallot
• cilantro
• olive oil
• pumpkin seed
• lime juice
• shrimp
• boston lettuce

 

Roasted Cauliflower Salad With Halloumi and Lemon

5/5 - 1507 votes

• salt
• parsley
• red wine vinegar
• aleppo orteaspoon red pepper flake
• honey
• cauliflower
• preserved lemon
• avocado
• shallot
• coriander
• olive oil
• raisin
• turmeric
• arugula
• block halloumi

 

Two-Tone Potato Salad

5/5 - 931 votes

• lemons juice
• smoked paprika
• blue potato
• chive
• onion
• sweet relish
• mayonnaise
• dill
• salt
• celery
• pickled cocktail onion
• pepper
• yukon gold potato

 

Classic Caesar Salad

4.1/5 - 1499 votes

• DRESSING
• salt
• black pepper
• garlic
• vegetable oil
• lemon juice
• olive oil
• egg yolk
• parmesan cheese
• dijon mustard
• anchovy
• ASSEMBLY
• parmesan cheese
• romaine heart
• CROUTONS
• white bread
• olive oil

 

Marinated Celery Salad With Chickpeas and Parmesan

5/5 - 1437 votes

• FOR SERVING (OPTIONAL)
• butterhead lettuce
• loaf day
• SALAD
• salt
• dijon mustard
• tomato
• maple syrup
• olive oil
• basil
• celery
• parmesan cheese
• garlic
• green onion
• sherry vinegar
• chickpea
• celery

 

Best Chicken Salad

4/5 - 2805 votes

• chicken breast
• salt
• lemon
• onion
• walnut
• dijon mustard
• sour cream
• black peppercorn
• green onion
• mayonnaise
• pale green celery rib
• tarragon

 

Spicy Thai Pork Tenderloin Salad

5/5 - 1416 votes

• MARINADE AND DRESSING
• ginger
• limes zest
• pork tenderloin
• salt
• thai bird
• fish sauce
• cilantro
• shallot
• light brown sugar
• grapeseed oil
• soy sauce
• garlic
• SALAD
• basil
• bell pepper
• cilantro
• mint
• cashew
• coconut chip
• persian cucumber
• green onion
• napa

 

Cucumber-Avocado Salad

4/5 - 2768 votes

• ice
• salt
• red pepper flake
• cucumber
• lemon
• green onion
• avocado

 

Grilled Eggplant Salad

5/5 - 1366 votes

• black pepper
• caper
• pita bread
• eggplant
• plum tomato
• red wine vinegar
• oregano
• salt
• garlic
• parsley
• olive oil

 

Avocado Salad With Herbs and Capers

5/5 - 1359 votes

• salt
• jalapeño
• cilantro
• parsley
• olive oil
• salt
• garlic
• red wine vinegar
• green onion
• caper
• haas avocado

 

Macaroni Salad With Lemon and Herbs

4/5 - 2659 votes

• salt
• lemon zest
• sugar
• buttermilk
• mayonnaise
• italian parsley
• dill
• caper
• elbow macaroni
• celery
• butter pickle
• dijon mustard
• green onion

 

Grilled Corn and Avocado Salad With Feta Dressing

4/5 - 2649 votes

• salt
• lemon zest lemon juice
• green onion
• jalapeño
• romaine lettuce
• garlic
• buttermilk
• parsley
• chive
• avocado
• olive oil
• feta
• ears corn

 

Vegan Caesar Salad With Crisp Chickpeas

5/5 - 1335 votes

• SALAD
• salt
• chickpea
• lacinato kale
• romaine lettuce
• loaf bread
• olive oil
• DRESSING
• cashew
• dijon mustard
• white miso paste
• snack nori
• black pepper
• lemon juice
• nutritional yeast
• capers brine
• garlic
• salt

 

Rainbow Quinoa Salad

5/5 - 1311 votes

• DRESSING
• salt
• pomegranate molasses
• garlic
• olive oil
• lemon juice
• cinnamon
• SALAD
• salt
• red quinoa
• parsley
• cilantro
• mint
• walnut
• almond
• pistachio
• lemon zest
• fruit
• water

 

Roasted Carrot and Red Quinoa Salad

5/5 - 715 votes

• black pepper
• red quinoa
• dijon mustard
• cinnamon
• coriander
• cumin
• ginger
• turmeric
• onion
• cranberry
• walnut
• cayenne pepper
• lemon zest
• cardamom
• water
• parsley
• lemon juice
• sweet paprika
• carrot
• salad green
• olive oil
• salt

 

Sheet-Pan Roasted Salmon Niçoise Salad

5/5 - 1280 votes

• yukon gold potato
• garlic
• anchovy
• cherry tomato
• black pepper
• olife
• red wine vinegar
• dijon mustard
• salt
• egg
• salmon
• salad green
• haricots vert
• olive oil

 

Warm Corn Chowder Salad with Bacon and Cider Vinegar

5/5 - 714 votes

• yukon gold potato
• onion
• apple cider vinegar
• red pepper
• bell pepper
• bacon
• corn
• salt

 

Grilled Salmon Salad With Lime, Chiles and Herbs

5/5 - 1242 votes

• salt
• herb
• radish
• shallot
• salmon
• olive oil
• sugar
• fish sauce
• lime
• green chile
• salad green

 

Thai Chicken and Watermelon Salad

5/5 - 661 votes

• salt
• chicken breast
• cilantro
• vegetable oil
• light brown sugar
• water
• garlic
• lemongrass
• thai chile
• watermelon
• fish sauce
• lime juice

 

Warm Shrimp Salad with Kamut, Red Chile and Tarragon

5/5 - 653 votes

• lemon
• spelt berry
• shrimp
• olive oil
• butter
• shallot
• tarragon
• white wine
• red chile
• haricots vert
• salt

 

Cherry Tomato and White Bean Salad

5/5 - 1192 votes

• cannellini bean
• garlic
• parmesan cheese
• dijon mustard
• pepper
• parsley
• olive oil
• cherry tomato
• red wine vinegar
• onion
• salt

 

Xie Xie's Tofu Salad with Pickled Vegetables

5/5 - 613 votes

• Marinated-Tofu Salad
• salt
• vegetable oil
• sugar
• lemon juice
• orange juice
• mayonnaise
• tofu
• rice vinegar
• soy sauce
• mesclun salad green
• Carrot Kimchi
• carrot
• sriracha chile sauce
• sugar
• fish sauce
• rice vinegar
• Pickled Red Cabbage
• red cabbage
• salt
• rice vinegar
• sugar

 

My Grandma's BEST Potato Salad Recipe

4.39/5 - 1605 votes

• yellow mustard
• miracle whip
• celery seed
• celery
• white vinegar
• black pepper
• salt
• hard-boiled egg
• green onion
• white potato
• paprika

 

Oil and Vinegar Salad Dressing

4.5/5 - 566 votes

• salt
• white pepper
• white wine vinegar
• salad oil

 

Santa Fe Quinoa Salad

5/5 - 578 votes

• pepper
• salt
• cumin seed
• bell pepper
• water
• cilantro
• black bean
• lime juice
• cocktail onion
• quinoa
• vegetable oil

 

Broccoli Salad With Peanuts and Tahini-Lime Dressing

4/5 - 2291 votes

• hot sauce
• garlic
• peanut
• cilantro
• tahini
• lime juice
• sesame oil
• broccoli
• soy sauce
• honey
• green onion

 

Arugula Salad With Peaches, Goat Cheese and Basil

5/5 - 1124 votes

• basil
• salt
• olive oil
• pine nut
• black pepper
• goat cheese
• champagne vinegar
• peach
• arugula

 

Salmon and Couscous Salad With Cucumber-Feta Dressing

4/5 - 2232 votes

• salt
• labneh
• cumin
• persian cucumber
• arugula
• pearl couscou
• feta
• turmeric
• parsley
• mint
• olive oil
• lime
• green onion
• salmon

 

Corn, Avocado and Cucumber Salad

5/5 - 1074 votes

• mint
• salt
• purslane
• cherry tomato
• onion
• cumin seed
• red pepper
• cucumber
• corn
• queso fresco
• avocado
• lime juice
• olive oil

 

Roasted Carrot and Avocado Salad with Citrus Dressing

4/5 - 980 votes

• pepper
• salt
• carrot
• poppy seed
• sesame seed
• thyme
• chile de árbol
• ciabatta bread
• lemon
• orange
• olive oil
• arugula
• sunflower seed
• cumin seed
• garlic
• sour cream
• red wine vinegar
• avocado
• green

 

Samoan-Style Tuna-and-Cucumber Salad

4/5 - 954 votes

• lime
• coconut milk
• sushi grade tuna
• light brown sugar
• soy sauce
• sesame chile oil
• cucumber
• coconut flake
• fish sauce
• lime juice

 

Craig Claiborne’s Chicken Salad Sandwich

5/5 - 1020 votes

• black pepper
• pickle
• salt
• celery
• parsley
• red wine vinegar
• poached chicken
• caper
• onion
• yogurt
• green onion
• mayonnaise
• rye bread

 

Spicy Chickpea Salad

4/5 - 921 votes

• chickpea
• vegetable oil
• mango powder
• cumin
• ño
• tomato
• cucumber
• onion
• cayenne pepper
• olive oil
• lemon juice
• salt

 

Herb and Radish Salad With Feta and Walnuts

5/5 - 1008 votes

• salt
• cilantro
• dill frond
• walnut
• chive
• mint
• olive oil
• lemon juice
• radish
• tarragon
• sheep milk feta cheese
• persian cucumber

 

Yotam Ottolenghi’s Tomato and Pomegranate Salad

5/5 - 1005 votes

• salt
• pomegranate seed
• lemon juice
• onion
• yellow bell pepper
• basil
• mint
• za atar
• cherry tomato
• feta
• olive oil

 

White Bean Caprese Salad

4/5 - 2054 votes

• salt
• salt
• navy bean
• basil
• olive oil
• balsamic vinegar
• cherry
• ciliegine

 

American Macaroni Salad

4.6/5 - 464 votes

• black pepper
• parsley
• apple cider vinegar
• sugar
• ripened tomato
• mayonnaise
• salt
• celery
• onion
• elbow macaroni
• sour cream
• mustard

 

Spicy Corn and Shishito Salad

5/5 - 972 votes

• salt
• garlic
• jalapeño
• onion
• cilantro
• cotija cheese
• cumin
• lime juice
• corn
• olive oil
• shishito pepper

 

Warm Potato Salad with Pancetta and Brown Butter Dressing

5/5 - 500 votes

• pepper
• mustard
• shallot
• fingerling potato
• sherry vinegar
• chive
• rosemary
• thickly pancetta
• butter
• salt

 

Vietnamese Lemongrass Beef and Noodle Salad

5/5 - 932 votes

• STIR-FRY
• cilantro
• bean sprout
• beef skirt steak
• demerara
• length daikon radish
• little gem
• carrot
• cucumber
• rice vermicelli noodle
• fish sauce
• vegetable oil
• lemon grass
• garlic
• peanut
• fried shallot
• green onion
• DIPPING SAUCE
• length ginger
• hot red
• hot red chile
• garlic
• rice vinegar
• fish sauce
• demerara
• lime juice

 

Chopped Salad With Chickpeas, Feta and Avocado

4/5 - 1948 votes

• salt
• caper
• shallot
• chickpea
• avocado
• english cucumber
• romaine heart
• castelvetrano
• green onion
• herb
• dijon mustard
• stale bread
• red wine vinegar
• feta
• olive oil

 

Canlis Salad

5/5 - 920 votes

• salt
• italian bread
• oregano
• egg
• cherry tomato
• olive oil
• green onion
• lemon juice
• romaine
• romano cheese
• mint
• bacon

  Moms Dish

Ultimate Garden Salad Recipe

4.81/5 - 2095 votes

• green
• lemon juice
• avocado
• black pepper
• salt
• feta
• olive oil
• balsamic vinegar
• green onion
• tomato
• cucumber

 

Shrimp Salad with Sherry Vinaigrette

4/5 - 704 votes

• pepper
• shrimp
• sherry vinegar
• olive oil
• watercress
• salt

 

Thai Ground Pork Salad

4/5 - 681 votes

• lime juice
• salt
• peanut
• vegetable oil
• light brown sugar
• sriracha
• boston
• jalapeño
• basil
• cilantro
• mint
• ground pork
• fish sauce
• garlic
• shallot

 

Just-Keeps-Getting-Better Lentil Salad

4.8/5 - 315 votes

• salt
• castelvetrano olife
• cumin seed
• tuscan kale
• lemon
• black beluga
• olive oil
• almond
• red pepper flake
• green onion
• garlic
• feta

 

Tomato and Peach Salad With Whipped Goat Cheese

5/5 - 808 votes

• salt
• sherry vinegar
• mustard
• purslane
• lemon zest
• onion
• olive oil
• tomato
• peach
• goat cheese
• heavy cream

 

Black Bean and Corn Salad

4.6/5 - 332 votes

• salt
• black bean
• lime
• bell pepper
• cumin
• onion
• corn
• olive oil
• hot sauce

 

Tomato Salad with Bacon, Blue Cheese and Basil

4/5 - 623 votes

• salt
• apple cider vinegar
• dijon mustard
• garlic
• basil
• herbes de provence
• bacon
• blue cheese
• olive oil
• tomato

 

Tuna and Bean Salad

5/5 - 776 votes

• salt
• nonfat yogurt
• red wine vinegar
• cannellini bean
• water tuna
• onion
• garlic
• dijon mustard
• japanese cucumber
• parsley
• olive oil
• sage

 

Tahini-Parmesan Pasta Salad

4/5 - 1683 votes

• salt
• ridged
• mint
• tahini
• olive oil
• sesame seed
• grape tomato
• green onion
• parmesan cheese

 

Thai-Style Radish and Watermelon Salad

4/5 - 606 votes

• pepper
• salt
• fish sauce
• sambal oelek
• radish
• lime juice
• ginger
• hot red chile
• mint
• thai basil
• watermelon rind
• green onion

 

Freds’ Chicken Salad With Balsamic Dressing

4/5 - 1669 votes

• SALAD
• cherry tomato
• pear
• string bean
• lemon juice
• onion
• avocado
• green
• DRESSING
• olive oil
• salt
• black pepper
• balsamic vinegar
• dijon mustard
• soy sauce
• sugar
• CHICKEN
• olive oil
• black pepper
• chicken
• lemon
• salt
• thyme
• garlic

 

Greek Tomato Salad

5/5 - 763 votes

• salt
• olive oil
• onion
• oregano
• sweet pepper
• mint
• tomato
• greek feta cheese

 

Yotam Ottolenghi’s Pasta and Zucchini Salad

4/5 - 1653 votes

• salt
• lemon zest
• caper
• red wine vinegar
• olive oil
• parsley
• basil
• sunflower oil
• zucchini
• edamame
• mozzarella cheese
• penne pasta

 

Classic Caesar Salad

5/5 - 745 votes

• olive oil
• worcestershire sauce
• black pepper
• salt
• bread
• garlic
• romaine lettuce
• parmesan cheese
• lemon juice
• egg
• anchovy

 

Cherry Tomato Caesar Salad

5/5 - 741 votes

• black pepper
• andounces parmesan
• cherry tomato
• salt
• lemon juice
• garlic
• olive oil
• worcestershire sauce
• anchovy
• romaine lettuce

 

Cafe Green Salad

4.7/5 - 291 votes

• salt
• soy sauce
• balsamic vinegar
• dijon mustard
• garlic
• olive oil

 

Bacon and Shallot Potato Salad

5/5 - 736 votes

• black pepper
• parsley
• red wine vinegar
• shallot
• salt
• waxy white
• mustard
• bacon

 

Eli Zabar’s Egg Salad Sandwich

4/5 - 1610 votes

• pepper
• salt
• dill
• mayonnaise
• bread
• egg

 

Tomato, Fresh Fig and Blue Cheese Salad

5/5 - 724 votes

• black pepper
• blue cheese
• balsamic vinegar
• thyme
• tomato
• fig
• olive oil
• salt
• pine nut

 

Black Bean Salad

4.9/5 - 266 votes

• lime juice
• cilantro
• salt
• black pepper
• jalapeño
• corn
• green onion
• pineapple
• bell pepper
• onion
• cumin
• black bean
• tomato
• honey
• sherry vinegar

 

Ludo Lefebvre’s Roasted-Carrot Salad

5/5 - 711 votes

• CARROTS
• salt
• bay leaf
• garlic
• carrot
• cumin
• olive oil
• thyme
• SALAD
• fleur de sel
• chervil
• chive
• parsley
• tarragon
• roastedalmond
• onion
• blood orange
• CUMIN CRÈME FRAÎCHE
• crème fraîche
• lemon juice
• salt
• cumin
• BLOOD-ORANGE VINAIGRETTE
• sugar
• white vinegar
• salt
• olive oil
• blood orange

 

The Greenest Green Salad

4/5 - 1562 votes

• green goddess dressing
• avocado
• snap pea
• green onion
• romaine lettuce heart
• japanese cucumber

 

Chicken Salad

4.5/5 - 283 votes

• black pepper
• mayonnaise
• dijon mustard
• carrot
• onion
• celery
• celery
• parsley
• fresh dill
• parsley
• salt
• lemon juice
• thyme
• chicken breast
• poached chicken
• onion
• chicken broth

Ingredient Breakdown