17 Bright Spring Salads We Love

By Maria Yagoda
Updated March 30, 2020
Eva Kolenko
From a refreshing, sweet-salty farro salad to a Niçoise with crunchy shaved artichokes, these spring salad recipes are perfect for highlighting spring produce.
Start Slideshow

1 of 17

Buttermilk-Dressed Spring Greens


Abby Hocking
Go to Recipe

Chef Eli Dahlin of Dame in Portland, Oregon, blends full-fat cottage cheese into this supereasy buttermilk dressing to add body and a luxurious creaminess.

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 17

Quinoa Salad with Spring Vegetables

Go to Recipe

When she’s cooking at home, The Chew co-host Carla Hall likes to prepare whole-grain salads. “They’re nutritionally awesome and really filling, plus they have a great neutral flavor that’s a blank canvas for anything,” she says. Here, she simmers red quinoa with white wine, tarragon and thyme, then tosses it with radishes, peas and lima beans. “It’s important to drain the cooked quinoa or the finished dish will be watered-down and clumpy,” Hall says.

3 of 17

Mascarpone-Stuffed Roast Chicken with Spring Herb Salad

© TINA RUPP
Go to Recipe

Geoffrey Zakarian likes this chicken even better when it's served at room temperature alongside a chilled wine.

Advertisement

4 of 17

Farro Salad with Spring Peas, Onions & Feta

Christina Holmes
Go to Recipe

Despite its name, the Purple Pig serves fantastic vegetarian dishes like this lovely, light grain salad. Red pearl onions are worth seeking out here; they lend a wonderful sweetness and a beautiful purple hue to the combination of tender peas, creamy feta and nutty, chewy farro.

5 of 17

Spring Lettuce Salad with Roasted Asparagus

Go to Recipe

The rolling hills surrounding Lexington, Kentucky—some of the country's most expensive rural real estate—are used primarily for Thoroughbred grazing. "But outside that 15-mile ring are great farms," says Amber Huffman, the Jackson family's private chef. She features farmers' market lettuces here, which get warmed by roasted asparagus.

6 of 17

Snapper Zarandeado with Cal-Mex Spring Salad

© Con Poulos
Go to Recipe

Guajillo chiles and soy sauce in the mayonnaise rub create a great spicy, extra-savory crust on this fish. Matt Gandin serves the snapper Cal-Mex-style with a grilled spring vegetable salad.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 17

Quinoa Salad with Sugar Snap Peas

Go to Recipe

Quinoa is one of the most versatile gluten-free ingredients. It's high in protein and fiber, and makes a fantastic healthy grain salad. This easy salad features crunchy sugar snap peas and roasted pumpkin seeds for salty crunch.  It can be made in advance and enjoyed at room temperature for picnics, cookouts or just a healthy brown bag lunch.

8 of 17

Asparagus Salad with Kaffir-Lime Curry and Peanuts

© Chris Court
Go to Recipe

This salad is a tribute to Carmellini’s former boss, Gray Kunz. The combo of kaffir lime leaf and curry powder in the sauce is “classic Kunz circa the mid-’90s,” when they cooked together at Lespinasse in Manhattan. The tangy sauce is also terrific with soft-shell crabs or steamed white fish.

9 of 17

Potato Salad with Green Beans and Salsa Verde

© Coral Von Zumwalt
Go to Recipe

A terrific salsa verde makes this velvety potato salad extraordinary. Here the salsa is made with parsley and chives; try making it with other summer herbs, like tarragon or basil, as well.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 17

Toasted Lavash with Dukka and Spring Salad

© Chris Court
Go to Recipe

Middle Eastern cooks add the nut-seed mix dukka to olive oil as a dip for bread. Lynch cleverly sprinkles it onto thin sheets of lavash to fold around asparagus, goat cheese and herb salad like a wrap sandwich.

11 of 17

Snap Pea–Radish Salad with Herbed Yogurt

© Con Poulos
Go to Recipe

The herbed yogurt in this dish from Portland, Oregon, chef Joshua McFadden is our new summer staple. Mix up the herbs (we like tarragon, dill and cilantro in here, too) or add in some minced shallot or chopped pickled ramps leftover from spring. The recipe is incredibly versatile—any peak-season summer produce will work.

12 of 17

Farro Salad with Radishes, Snap Peas, Olives, and Pecorino

Eva Kolenko
Go to Recipe

Chewy, sweet, and earthy, farro makes the perfect base for a springtime salad. (This one tastes even better the next day.)

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 17

Shaved Artichoke Salad

© John Kernick
Go to Recipe

To make sure your artichokes are super fresh, chef Chris Behr says that they should squeak when you squeeze them.

14 of 17

Little Gem Salad with Toasted Spice Vinaigrette

Eva Kolenko
Go to Recipe

Pair this colorful, refreshing salad with a lemony Sauvignon Blanc.

15 of 17

Charred Avocado Salad with Cilantro Mayo

Victor Protasio
Go to Recipe

Searing firm-ripe avocadoes transforms them into slightly smoky, creamy treats that can be the star protein of any salad.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 17

Grilled Asparagus Salad

Go to Recipe

Bobby Flay’s sweet and smoky salad brings together sweet grape tomatoes, briny kalamata olives, and sharp white cheddar.

17 of 17

Niçoise Salad with Baby Artichokes

© Con Poulos
Go to Recipe

Thinly shaved artichokes add the perfect crunch to just about anything.

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Up Next

Advertisement
© Copyright . All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.foodandwine.com