Quick answer
Can a salad be a full meal?
Definitely. Add a protein — chicken, cheese, eggs, or legumes — and you've got a filling lunch that won't leave you hungry an hour later.
Salad Recipes – Fresh, Light & Hearty Options
Salads aren't just a side — they can be a fresh lunch main or a light dinner. Find crisp vegetables, heartier salads with meat or cheese, and warm variations for cooler days. Quick, fresh, and full of flavor.
Best recipes
Pasta salad with chicken strips, tomatoes and arugula
Salad with grilled goat cheese, apples and walnuts
Fennel salad with orange dressing
Panzanella – italian bread salad
Spring lyonnaise salad
Roasted vegetable salad with feta
Light salad with blood oranges
Fresh cucumber & dill salad
Roasted beetroot salad
Grilled chickpea salad
Mediterranean chickpea salad with goat cheese and vegetables
Perfect beluga lentil salad with duck breast
Apple, walnut and crispy sage leaf salad
Roasted beetroot and walnut salad
Lentil salad with tuna
Couscous salad with pulled turkey and vegetables
Daisy salad with buttered carrots
Fresh tuna salad with sun-dried tomatoes
Summer recipe: leafy salad with salmon and eggs
Lentil salad with beetroot and feta
Lentil salad with wine reduction (and chicken)
Sesame rice with pomelo salad
Celery waldorf salad with greek yogurt
Leafy green salad with olives and sun-dried tomatoes
Frequently asked questions
How do I keep a salad fresh?
Add the dressing just before serving and keep delicate ingredients separate. The recipes include tips for prepping ahead.
How do I make a basic dressing?
Remember 3:1 — three parts oil to one part vinegar or lemon juice, a pinch of salt, a teaspoon of mustard or honey. Shake it up and it goes with anything.
What can I use instead of mayo in a salad?
Plain yogurt or sour cream with a little mustard — the dressing is lighter and the salad tastes fresher. It even works in potato salad.