100 Leafy Salad Recipes that Aren’t Just for Silly Wabbits

Hello and welcome to this thing we’re doing where we help you figure out what you’re gonna put in your mouth this week. Some of these are recipes we’ve tried, some of these are recipes we’re looking forward to trying, all of them are fucking delicious. Tell us what you want to put in your piehole or suggest your own recipes, and we’ll talk about which things we made, which things we loved, and which things have changed us irreversibly as people. Last week, we got ready for that potluck.

food3

I have spent over half of my lifetime munching on leaves to survive, you guys. I gave up meat when I was 12 – TWELVE! – and I’ve spent over a decade since learning to feed myself. Luckily, being a vegetarian comes easy to me because I could literally eat leaves for the rest of my life, AKA bowls of salad. What could be better than salad, after all? Fresh things in a big bowl! Crunchy, juicy, crispy, hydrating, refreshing, AMAZING shit in a bowl. I’d worry about what dressing to buy but I’m too busy drooling on myself.

Here’s some inspiration for how to chomp down on lettuce, cabbage, herbs, and a lot of the amazing shit Mother Earth gave you ’cause she loves you.


1. Mediterranean Chopped Salad

Mediterranean-Chopped-Salad-11


2. Herbed Quinoa Salad

quinoa-salad-41


3. Leftover Salad Nicoise

msl-weekend-menu-cobb-salad-031-md109410_vert


4. Lemon Parmesan Kale Salad

the-best-kale-salad-2-762x1024


5. Tiger Salad

tiger-salad1-940x600


6. Tex-Mex Margarita Chicken Salad

Margarita-Tex-Mex-Chicken-Salad-Diethood


7. Fish Taco Salad

grilled-fish-taco-salad-no-wm


8. Italian Chopped Salad with Marinated Chickpeas

Classic-Chopped-Salad-foodiecrush.com-036


9. Red Oak Leaf Salad with Chopped Egg and Red Wine Walnut Oil Dressing

lastbistrosalad


10. Vegetarian Mexican Salad Boats

boat15-575x386


11. Shrimp Cobb Salad with Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette

IMG_1851edit


12. Dale’s Can’t Stop Eating It Salad

DalesSalad--4


13. Vegan Winter Taco Salad

tumblr_mzco6dKYsf1szhx9qo1_500


14. Dr. Feel Good Salad: Pumpkin, Sweet Potato, Pesto Salad

mrfg3-592x350


15. Garlic-Roasted Butternut Squash and Kale Wheatberry Salad with Pomegranate

hh


16. Garden Salad with Lime Cilantro Dressing

Easy-lettuce-salad-with-cilantro-lime-dressing


17. Wilamette Valley Salad

Willamette-Valley-Salad_0003-e1403570296485


18. Pomegranate, Pear, Pistachio Salad with Creamy Pomegranate Dressing

Pomegranate-Pistachio-Pear-Salad-with-Pomegrante-Strawberry-Yogurt-Dressing8


19. Sriracha Lime Chicken Salad

SrirachaLimeChickenChoppedSalad3


20. Beauchamp Orchard Salad

'g


21. Healthy Chef Salad

healthy-chef-salad-recipe


22. Broccoli Salad with Bacon, Raisins, and Cheddar Cheese

13255046025_e6b79a97ea_h


23. Greek Salad

IMG_2876edit


24. Avocado, Pancetta, and Pine Nut Salad

801_1_1421668887_lrg


25. Baby Arugula, Cranberry, Pecan and Feta Salad

IMG_7660


26. Raw Kale Salad

5-step-kale-salad 11


27. Layered Taco Salad

Layered-Taco-Salad-111


28. Steak Salad with Grapes, Walnuts, and Blue Cheese

Steak-Salad-with-Grapes-Walnuts-and-Blue-Cheese-vertical-blog


29. Powerhouse Bulgur Salad with Orange Vinaigrette

bulgur-salad-731x1024


30. Maple Roasted Acorn Squash Salad with Pomegranate Vinaigrette

Maple-Roasted-Acorn-Squash-Salad-5


31. Cherry Walnut Chicken Salad

Spinach-Salad1


32. Maple Roasted Butternut Squash Freekeh Salad with Kale

Maple-Roasted-Butternut-Squash-and-Freekeh-Salad-with-Kale


33. Broccoli Grape Cucumber Salad

Broccoli-Grape-and-Cucumber-Salad-4-2 (1)


34. Strawberry, Kiwi, and Lime Salad

limefruitsalad11


35. Shaved Fennel Salad

shaved_fennel_salad (1)


36. Japanese Sunshine Salad with Carrot and Ginger Dressing

japanese-sunshine-salad-1-of-1


37. Green Kale Salad

raw-green-kale-salad-recipe


38. Apple Kale & Pomegranate Salad

Apple-Kale-Pomegranate-Salad-790x741


39. Cajun Turkey and Fresh Melon Salad

R102169.jpg.rendition.largest


40. Layered Asian Salad

asian-salad-13


41. Blue Cheese Wedge Salad

BlueCheeseWedge


42. Outback Steakhouse Wedge Salad

outback_wedge_salad_02_96


43. Greek Yogurt Shrimp, Avocado, and Tomato Salad

closeup-creamy-shrimp-salad-recipe


44. Grilled Veggies and Mozzarella Salad

R159697.jpg.rendition.largest


45. Oriental Cabbage and Cranberry Salad

asian-cabbage-and-cranberry-salad


46. Chinese Chicken Salad with Sesame Dressing

chinese-chicken-salad3-600x600


47. Grilled Watermelon Salad

RU201105.jpg.rendition.largest


48. Roasted Beet and Arugula Salad with Maple Balsamic Vinaigrette

28df956594c981b837f12cbb0a436d62


49. Bacon and Brussels Sprouts Salad

salad2


50. Herb Salad with Creamy Lemon Dressing

R132887.jpg.rendition.largest


51. Ina Garten’s Cape Cod Chopped Salad

54bfb1271fd6a_-_hbx-0910-ina-salad-01-8xtklz-xl


52. Roasted Mushroom and Romaine Salad

12893200274_26779e136e_c


53. Portillo’s Chopped Salad

portillos-chopped-salad


54. Pad Thai Salad

Thai-salad


55. Crunchy Cabbage Salad with Spicy Peanut Dressing

DSC_2813


56. Creamy Mexican Kale Salad

main-healthy-creamy-mexican-salad


57. Raspberry and Scallop Salad

salad


58. Brain Power Salad with Blueberries, Salmon, Spinach, and Avocado

Brain-Power-Salad-12


59. Sizzling Cilantro Lime Fajita Salad with Honey Lime Vinaigrette

Cilantro-Lime-Fajita-Salad-2-702x1024


60. Avocado Caprese Salad

Avocado-Caprese-Salad-Foodiecrush.com-009-2


61. Honey Crisp Apple Salad with Candied Walnuts and Sweet Spiced Cider Vinaigrette

honey-crisp-salad_10-7-12_2_ca


62. Crispy Kale Roasted Salad with Brie Grilled Cheese Croutons

Crispy-Kale-Roasted-Autumn-Salad-with-Brie-Grilled-Cheese-Croutons-10


63. Arugula Salad

Autumn-Arugula-Salad-with-Caramelized-Squash-Spiced-Pecans-and-Pomegranate-Ginger-Vinaigrette-6


64. Kale, Cabbage, and Carrot Salad

Kale-Cabbage-and-Carrot-Chopped-Salad-from-Gourmande-in-the-Kitchen


65. Warm Cauliflower Salad

05appe-span-articleLarge


66. Superfood Kale Avocado Salad

MG_8218


67. Balsamic Honey Grilled Steak Salad and Vinaigrette

balsamic-honey-grilled-steak-salad-recipe


68. BBQ Chicken Salad

IMG_1836edit


69. Fig, Blue Cheese, and Bacon Salad with Fried Shallots

fig-blue-cheese-salad2


70. Caesar Salad

cardinis-caesar-salad-


71. Autumn Chopped Salad

AutumnChoppedSalad_02


72. Garlic-Roasted Butternut Squash and Kale Wheatberry Salad with Pomegranate

6573091263_4b3d6f27c3_z


73. Chopped Ahi Tuna Salad with Sesame Ginger Dressing

Chopped-Ahi-Tuna-Salad-with-Sesame-Ginger-Vinaigrette-3


74. Mushroom, Lemon and Lentil Salad

Recipe-Mushroom-Lemon-and-Lentil-Salad-Delicious-Everyday-1


75. Grilled Zucchini Ribbon and Kale Salad

2013-05-23-zucchini-kale-salad-586x322


76. Shrimp, Avocado & Roasted Corn Salad

shrimp-avocado-roasted-corn-salad1


77. Tuscan Kale Salad with Oranges, Currants and Feta

tuscan_kale_salad3


78. Citrus Lobster Salad

lobster-avocado-grapefruit-salad-easy


79. Southwestern Chopped Salad with Cilantro Dressing

southwesternsalad


80. Grape, Avocado and Arugula Salad

Grape-Salad-2


81. White Bean Spring Salad

IMG_0930


82. Jalapeño Cornbread Panzanella Salad

Jalapeno-Cornbread-Panzanella-Salad-8


83. Asparagus Egg and Bacon Salad with Dijon Vinaigrette

asparagus egg and bacon salad


84. Arugula Skirt Steak Salad with Caramelized Pears, Pecans, and Gorgonzola

IMG_6223-682x10241


85. Nuts About Berries Salad

Nuts-about-berries-salad


86. Honey Mustard Chicken Chopped Salad

honey-mustard-chicken-salad-3b3


87. Ramen Noodle Salad

Ramen-Noodle-Salad-Recipe


88. Kale Salad with Warm Cranberry Vinaigrette

Kale-Cranberry-Salad-1


89. BLT Chopped Salad

Featured-Image127


90. BBQ Salmon and Crispy Chickpea Salad with Greek Yogurt Ranch Drizzle

BBQ-salmon-salad-I-howsweeteats.com-5


91. Root Vegetable Salad with Balsamic-Date Dressing

aida-mollenkamp-roasted-root-vegetable-salad-recipe-portrait-2-590x885_medium


92. Grilled Summer Veggies Salad

grilled-vegetable-salad2


93. Quinoa Tabouli Salad

tumblr_me6hm08ffB1ry29sp


94. Grilled Balsamic Portobello Mushroom & Steak Salad

Amanda-2


95. Mojito Tofu Salad

d6c_0062


96. Curried Tofu Salad

Vegetarian Curried Tofu Salad Recipe


97. Sticky Caramel Pork Belly Salad

IMG_8097-1024x682


98. Avocado Strawberry Spinach Salad with Poppyseed Dressing

Strawberry-and-Avocado-Spinach-Salad1


99. Steak and Tortellini Salad

steak-and-tortellini-salad-32


100. Skinny Taco Salad

Skinny-Taco-Salad-31

Before you go! Autostraddle runs on the reader support of our AF+ Members. If this article meant something to you today — if it informed you or made you smile or feel seen, will you consider joining AF and supporting the people who make this queer media site possible?

Join AF+!

Carmen

Carmen spent six years at Autostraddle, ultimately serving as Straddleverse Director, Feminism Editor and Social Media Co-Director. She is now the Consulting Digital Editor at Ms. and writes regularly for DAME, the Women’s Media Center, the National Women’s History Museum and other prominent feminist platforms; her work has also been published in print and online by outlets like BuzzFeed, Bitch, Bust, CityLab, ElixHER, Feministing, Feminist Formations, GirlBoss, GrokNation, MEL, Mic and SIGNS, and she is a co-founder of Argot Magazine. You can find Carmen on Twitter, Instagram and Tumblr or in the drive-thru line at the nearest In-N-Out.

Carmen has written 919 articles for us.

18 Comments

  1. Hey Carmen, I have a confession. I am broke and in college and haven’t bought groceries for three weeks. It felt like it was getting to the point where I needed divine intervention to actually eat something healthy for once.

    This was it. This was the motivation I needed.

    #32 is dinner. bless you.

  2. Unfortunately I don’t think it’s possible to make some of these salads in full because pomegranate isn’t in season right now. :-( Otherwise, this all looks good, and almost makes me want to go back to eating meat and dairy.

    • i hate pomegranates (unpopular opinion) so definitely did not realize this but also, there’s so many salads to make in the meantime! salad all day salad all night etc.

  3. No joke i’ve made the #56 creamy mexican kale salad 5 times over the past two weeks without knowing it. Great minds think alike, people. This salad is bomb af (protip tho: use pre-made guac if you can, it cuts down on the chopping) Thanks for the great list, Carmen!

    • Also, #88 kale salad w/ warm cranberry vinaigrette is amazing. It may not look like much, but I made it for this past thanksgiving and everyone loved it (and my family hates vegetables)

      • i need you to send your salad spirit my way and give me the grace of god to make these complicated but amazing things right up there, okay? okay.

  4. This is overwhelming and inspiring and makes me even more excited for spring. I want to try them all! Especially #54, 58, and 73.

    • right?! i literally have wanted to put an entire head of lettuce in my mouth since i wrote this.

  5. This post came just in time, I’ve quite literally been searching for recipes just like these. My girlfriend just lost a lot of weight and has suggested (see: decided ;)) that we’re going to start eating healthier. I have no problem with this as that’s how I was brought up. However, it’s not how I was taught to cook. I figured I’d start with salads and here we are. Thanks so much!

  6. I see salads I have made and loved, and salads I WILL make and love.

    If you can’t be bothered with lettuce or it always goes bad before you use it all, grow a potted basil plant and use basil leaves instead. Time and money saver and it’s always fresh.

    2-minute salad:
    Sliced tomato, sliced avocado, basil leaves, gorgonzola, sliced carrot (or something else colorful and crunchy).
    Salt and pepper. Douse with balsamic. For extra protein and calories, top with peanuts / tuna / chick peas / hard-boiled egg / raisins / what-you-like. Cronsh away!

  7. YAY! Thank you! I’ve already made one of these salads (roasted mushroom&romaine) and it was delicious!

Comments are closed.