Skip to content

Top Navigation

Food & Wine Food & Wine
  • Recipes & Cooking
  • Drinks
  • Travel
  • Holidays + Events
  • News
  • F&W Classic
  • Video
  • Lifestyle
  • F&W Pro
  • About Us

Profile Menu

Your Profile

Your Profile

  • Join Now
  • Newsletters
  • F&W Classic Insiders this link opens in a new tab
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Wine Club
  • Podcast
  • Food & Wine Books this link opens in a new tab
  • Logout
Login
Subscribe Subscribe
Pin FB

Explore Food & Wine

Food & Wine Food & Wine
  • Explore

    Explore

    • F&W Cooks

      F&W Cooks

      Food and Wine presents a new network of food pros delivering the most cookable recipes and delicious ideas online. Read More
    • Our 22 Best Crock Pot and Slow-Cooker Recipes

      Our 22 Best Crock Pot and Slow-Cooker Recipes

      Looking to amp up your beef stew but unsure where to start? A slow cooker can can take your comfort food to the next level. Read More
    • 50 Affordable Wines You Can Always Trust

      50 Affordable Wines You Can Always Trust

      We’ve assembled a list of 50 of the world’s most reliable, inexpensive wines – bottles that offer amazing quality for their price year in and year out. Read More
  • Recipes & Cooking

    Recipes & Cooking

    See All Recipes & Cooking
    • Chicken
    • Comfort Food
    • Breakfast + Brunch
    • Salads
    • Desserts
    • Vegetables
    • Pasta + Noodles
    • Chefs
    • Meat + Poultry
    • Soup
    • Appetizers
    • Side Dishes
    • Fruits
    • Seafood
    • Special Diets
    • Cooking Techniques
    • Steal This Trick
  • Drinks

    Drinks

    See All Drinks
    • Wine
    • Cocktails + Spirits
    • Coffee
    • Juices
    • Beer
    • Champagne + Sparkling Wine
    • Tea
  • Travel

    Travel

    See All Travel
    • Wine Regions
    • Restaurants
  • Holidays + Events

    Holidays + Events

    See All Holidays + Events
    • Valentine's Day
    • Halloween
    • Passover
    • Hanukkah
    • Christmas
    • Gifts
    • Super Bowl
    • Easter
    • Thanksgiving
    • New Year's Eve
    • Holiday Entertaining
  • News
  • F&W Classic

    F&W Classic

    See All F&W Classic
    • F&W Classic Insider
  • Video
  • Lifestyle
  • F&W Pro
  • About Us

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Profile

Your Profile

  • Join Now
  • Newsletters
  • F&W Classic Insiders this link opens in a new tab
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Wine Club
  • Podcast
  • Food & Wine Books this link opens in a new tab
  • Logout
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Home
  2. Salads
  3. 31 Simple Salads for Summer Picnics
Steal This Trick

31 Simple Salads for Summer Picnics

By Food & Wine Updated July 16, 2018
Skip gallery slides
FB Tweet
Tomato, Haricots Verts and Potato Salad
Credit: CON POULOS

Light, fresh, and seasonal, these filling salads will be the star of any picnic. Just make sure to bring lots of baguette and wine, of course.

Start Slideshow

1 of 31

FB Tweet
Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Summer Bean Salad with Potlikker Vinaigrette

Summer Bean Salad with Potlikker Vinaigrette
Credit: Eva Kolenko
Go to Recipe

Potlikker, as it's called in the South, is the savory, starchy liquid left over after cooking beans or greens. Here, chef Joe Kindred whisks the über-flavor liquid into a vinaigrette, but you can also use it in soups and pasta sauces, or thicken it with butter and drizzle over fish.

1 of 31

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 31

FB Tweet
Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Southern Cobb Salad with Roasted Sweet Onion Dressing

Southern Cobb Salad with Roasted Sweet Onion Dressing
Credit: Con Poulos
Go to Recipe

This fantastic salad gets a boost of flavor from a toasty roasted sweet onion and garlic dressing.

  • Summer Party Recipes

2 of 31

3 of 31

FB Tweet
Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Shrimp Salad with Hominy, Arugula and Lime

HD-201401-r-shrimp-salad-with-hominy-arugula-and-lime.jpg
Credit: © Sarah Bolla
Go to Recipe

With similar ingredients you'd find wrapped up in taco, this brightly colored shrimp salad is light but satisfying. Enjoy with chips and beer on a hot day.

3 of 31

Advertisement

4 of 31

FB Tweet
Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Fresh Snow Pea Salad with Pancetta & Pecorino

HD-201307-r-fresh-snow-pea-salad.jpg
Go to Recipe

Daniel Humm’s terrific summer salad is crisp and lemony, with bits of meaty pancetta and lots of fresh mint. Since the snow peas aren’t cooked, it’s best to buy them super-fresh, preferably from a farmers’ market.

  • Delicious Recipes for Peas

4 of 31

5 of 31

FB Tweet
Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Grilled Bread and Marinated Tomato Salad

Grilled Bread and Marinated Tomato Salad
Credit: © John Kernick
Go to Recipe

Grilling the bread for this panzanella (bread salad) adds a slight smokiness and crunch. Marinate the tomatoes ahead of time so all you have to do is grill the bread and assemble the salad to serve.

  • F&W's Ultimate Summer Grilling Guide

5 of 31

6 of 31

FB Tweet
Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Baby Lettuces with Feta, Strawberries and Almonds

Baby Lettuces with Feta, Strawberries and Almonds
Go to Recipe

This salad is an extraordinary combination of ingredients that wouldn’t seem to go together: feta, strawberries and almonds.

6 of 31

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 31

FB Tweet
Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Warm Corn Chowder Salad with Bacon and Cider Vinegar

Warm Corn Chowder Salad with Bacon and Cider Vinegar. Photo © Fredrika Stjärne
Credit: © Fredrika Stjärne
Go to Recipe

In this riff on corn chowder, Brent Ridge and Josh Kilmer-Purcell toss corn, potatoes and bacon with cider vinegar. They grow at least five varieties of sweet corn each summer, and they’re always coming up with new ways to use it. Because the corn for this salad is barely cooked, it’s best to use the juiciest kernels available.

  • Comfort Food Classics from F&W

7 of 31

8 of 31

FB Tweet
Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Crunchy Vegetable Salad with Ricotta Crostini

Crunchy Vegetable Salad with Ricotta Crostini
Go to Recipe

Michael White’s fennel-and-asparagus salad uses a variety of herbs, including chervil and lemon balm, but it’s equally delightful here made with just basil and tarragon.

8 of 31

9 of 31

FB Tweet
Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Poached Shrimp, Melon and Frisée Salad

Poached Shrimp, Melon and Frisée Salad
Credit: © James Merrell
Go to Recipe

To make the dressing for this pretty salad, Daniel Humm takes the zesty poaching liquid for shrimp—flavored with coriander seeds, garlic, peppercorns and orange zest—and reduces it. The salad is wonderful as both a first course or a light main course.

  • Video: How to Peel and Clean Shrimp

9 of 31

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 31

FB Tweet
Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Heirloom Tomato Salad with Anchovy Vinaigrette

Heirloom Tomato Salad with Anchovy Vinaigrette
Go to Recipe

This warm, garlicky anchovy dressing here is fantastic with an assortment of juicy, peak-season tomatoes. To finish the dish, Amelia O'Reilly and Nico Monday top it with tangy pickled shallots and an oozy, soft-boiled egg.

10 of 31

11 of 31

FB Tweet
Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Grilled Asparagus Salad with Fried Egg

Grilled Asparagus Salad with Fried Egg
Credit: © Tina Rupp
Go to Recipe

Chef Mark Broadbent upgrades the standard lemony arugula salad by topping it with grilled asparagus, butter-fried eggs—duck eggs, when available—and freshly shaved Parmigiano-Reggiano.

11 of 31

12 of 31

FB Tweet
Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Green Mango Salad

Green Mango Salad
Credit: © Maura McEvoy
Go to Recipe

The mangoes in this jalapeño-spiced salad are full of vitamin C. Be sure to use firm, underripe fruit: They add an essential tang to the recipe.

  • More Healthy Recipes to Try from F&W

12 of 31

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 31

FB Tweet
Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Green and Yellow Bean Salad with Ricotta Salata

Green and Yellow Bean Salad with Ricotta Salata
Go to Recipe

Daniel Boulud’s foolproof recipe is perfect for a French picnic.

13 of 31

14 of 31

FB Tweet
Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Yellow Wax Bean and Radish Salad with Cannellinis

Yellow Wax Bean and Radish Salad with Cannellinis
Go to Recipe

For a crunchy, summery salad, Chris Cosentino tosses yellow wax beans, radish slivers, red onion slices, cannellini beans and fresh basil in a simple vinaigrette. To save time, you can also substitute canned cannellinis for the dried ones here.

  • Amazing Vegetable Recipes

14 of 31

15 of 31

FB Tweet
Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Tomato Salad with Pickled Walnuts and Blue Cheese

Tomato Salad with Pickled Walnuts and Blue Cheese
Go to Recipe

Richard Blais garnishes his take on a caprese salad of tomato and mozzarella with pickled walnuts, made by tossing candied walnuts with a little vinegar. (Alternatively, use British pickled walnuts, available at some specialty food stores.) “The blue cheese and the celery give this dish a little ‘adultness,’” he says.

15 of 31

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 31

FB Tweet
Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Beet Salad with Watercress and Fresh Pecorino

Beet Salad with Watercress and Fresh Pecorino. Photo © John Kernick
Credit: © John Kernick
Go to Recipe

Seattle chef Ethan Stowell uses beets two different ways in this recipe. He roasts some of them, giving the salad a sweet flavor, and he thinly shaves the rest for a fresh, earthy crispness.

  • Summer Produce Guide

16 of 31

17 of 31

FB Tweet
Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Marinated Carrot Salad with Ginger and Sesame Oil

Grilled Carrot Salad with Brown Butter Vinaigrette
Credit: © Anna Williams
Go to Recipe

Grilling concentrates the sweet flavor of fresh baby carrots. (Bagged “baby” carrots will never taste the same.) Bryce Gilmore marinates them, then tosses them with a wonderful and unusual dressing he makes by cooking butter until brown, then pureeing it with marcona almonds and sherry vinegar.

17 of 31

18 of 31

FB Tweet
Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Avocado, Orange and Jicama Salad

Avocado, Orange and Jicama Salad
Go to Recipe

Feta is a fun, briny addition to this salad’s Mexican mix of jicama, avocado and cilantro.

  • Incredible Mexican Recipes from F&W

18 of 31

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

19 of 31

FB Tweet
Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Tomato-and-Anchovy Salad with Garlic Cream

Tomato-and-Anchovy Salad with Garlic Cream
Credit: © James Merrell
Go to Recipe

Daniel Humm varies the ingredients for this lovely appetizer depending on what he finds at the farmers’ market—on good days, beautiful heirloom tomatoes. He tosses them with briny oil-and-vinegar-marinated white anchovies, also known by the Spanish name boquerónes, which are available at the deli counter of many specialty-food stores.

19 of 31

20 of 31

FB Tweet
Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Warm Summer Vegetable Salad

Warm Summer Vegetable Salad
Go to Recipe

In this hearty salad, chef Marco Canora cooks the vegetables until their flavor is fully developed before tossing them with a pungent anchovy dressing.

  • Expert Tips: How to Wash and Prep Vegetables

20 of 31

21 of 31

FB Tweet
Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Carrot-and-Chickpea Salad

Carrot-and-Chickpea Salad
Go to Recipe

Chef Charles Kelsey tosses chickpeas and carrots with a deliciously unusual combination of smoked paprika, cumin and cilantro.

21 of 31

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

22 of 31

FB Tweet
Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Charred Corn Salad with Mint, Parsley and Cilantro

Charred Corn Salad with Mint, Parsley and Cilantro
Go to Recipe

London chef Yotam Ottolenghi created this quick corn-and-herb salad that’s delicious alongside grilled meats.

  • More Great Corn Recipes

22 of 31

23 of 31

FB Tweet
Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Israeli Couscous and Tomato Salad with Arugula Pesto

Israeli Couscous and Tomato Salad with Arugula Pesto
Go to Recipe

Arugula pesto is peppery and bright. The trick is to blanch the arugula and squeeze it dry, so when you blend it with the pine nuts, garlic, olive oil and cheese, the resulting pesto isn’t too wet.

23 of 31

24 of 31

FB Tweet
Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Spinach and Smoked Salmon Salad with Lemon-Dill Dressing

Spinach and Smoked Salmon Salad with Lemon-Dill Dressing
Credit: CHRISTINA HOLMES
Go to Recipe

Melissa Rubel’s refreshingly crunchy, tangy salad makes for an excellent summer lunch or super quick dinner.

  • More Fast and Easy Recipes

24 of 31

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

25 of 31

FB Tweet
Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Pea Shoot and Arugula Salad with Radishes and Hazelnuts

Pea Shoot and Arugula Salad with Radishes and Hazelnuts
Go to Recipe

With their sweet, mild pea flavor and their juicy stems, pea shoots are becoming a popular salad addition. Here, they're the perfect foil for sharp arugula and radishes, herbal fennel and toasty hazelnuts.

  • More Arugula Recipes

25 of 31

26 of 31

FB Tweet
Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Grilled Tomato Salad with Mozzarella and Unagi Sauce

Grilled Tomato Salad with Mozzarella and Unagi Sauce
Credit: JOHN KERNICK
Go to Recipe

Chicago chef Stephanie Izard makes the ultimate summer salad with a creamy version of sweet-salty Japanese unagi sauce, which is typically brushed over eel.

  • Tomato Recipes

26 of 31

27 of 31

FB Tweet
Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Okra Summer Salad

Okra Summer Salad
Credit: © Emily Farris
Go to Recipe

This hearty salad features some of summer's most bountiful crops: okra, tomatoes and sweet corn straight from the cob, with black beans, onion and avocado. Canned beans and an easy dressing make preparation quick and easy.

27 of 31

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

28 of 31

FB Tweet
Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Summer Chopped Salad with Quick-Pickled Vegetables

Summer Chopped Salad with Quick-Pickled Vegetables
Go to Recipe

Paul Newman, the late co-owner of Dressing Room, Michel Nischan's restaurant in Westport, Connecticut, loved a good chopped salad. To add a tangy burst of flavor, Nischan pickles the carrots, celery and peppers before tossing them with the rest of the salad.

28 of 31

29 of 31

FB Tweet
Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Summer Vegetable and Potato Salad with Anchovy Dressing

Summer Vegetable and Potato Salad with Anchovy Dressing
Credit: © Quentin Bacon
Go to Recipe

This colorful salad of green and yellow beans and waxy potatoes reminds Jonathan Benno of his brief stint in the kitchen at Al Di La, a wildly popular Italian restaurant in Brooklyn, New York. His friend Anna Klinger, the chef and co-owner, taught him how to make this deliciously tangy dressing, a mix of anchovies, poached garlic and olive oil.

29 of 31

30 of 31

FB Tweet
Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Watermelon, Feta and Almond Salad

Watermelon, Feta and Almond Salad
Credit: © Christina Holmes
Go to Recipe

Chef Scott Conant likes serving summer's juiciest, sweetest watermelon just with feta, salt and crunchy toasted almonds.

30 of 31

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

31 of 31

FB Tweet
Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Tomato, Haricots Verts and Potato Salad

Tomato, Haricots Verts and Potato Salad
Credit: CON POULOS
Go to Recipe

This rustic Italian salad is a great way to showcase perfect, in-season produce. Swap out the summer tomatoes and green beans for roasted root vegetables and fennel in the winter, or asparagus and shaved artichokes in the spring--the possibilities are endless.

31 of 31

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Food & Wine

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    Steal This Trick
    View Series
    • Secrets of a Professional Palate
    • Butter Mochi Will Help You Win Every Potluck
    • Snack Like a Chef
    • Nora Ephron’s Vinaigrette Is My Go-To Salad Dressing
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 31 Summer Bean Salad with Potlikker Vinaigrette
    2 of 31 Southern Cobb Salad with Roasted Sweet Onion Dressing
    3 of 31 Shrimp Salad with Hominy, Arugula and Lime
    4 of 31 Fresh Snow Pea Salad with Pancetta & Pecorino
    5 of 31 Grilled Bread and Marinated Tomato Salad
    6 of 31 Baby Lettuces with Feta, Strawberries and Almonds
    7 of 31 Warm Corn Chowder Salad with Bacon and Cider Vinegar
    8 of 31 Crunchy Vegetable Salad with Ricotta Crostini
    9 of 31 Poached Shrimp, Melon and Frisée Salad
    10 of 31 Heirloom Tomato Salad with Anchovy Vinaigrette
    11 of 31 Grilled Asparagus Salad with Fried Egg
    12 of 31 Green Mango Salad
    13 of 31 Green and Yellow Bean Salad with Ricotta Salata
    14 of 31 Yellow Wax Bean and Radish Salad with Cannellinis
    15 of 31 Tomato Salad with Pickled Walnuts and Blue Cheese
    16 of 31 Beet Salad with Watercress and Fresh Pecorino
    17 of 31 Marinated Carrot Salad with Ginger and Sesame Oil
    18 of 31 Avocado, Orange and Jicama Salad
    19 of 31 Tomato-and-Anchovy Salad with Garlic Cream
    20 of 31 Warm Summer Vegetable Salad
    21 of 31 Carrot-and-Chickpea Salad
    22 of 31 Charred Corn Salad with Mint, Parsley and Cilantro
    23 of 31 Israeli Couscous and Tomato Salad with Arugula Pesto
    24 of 31 Spinach and Smoked Salmon Salad with Lemon-Dill Dressing
    25 of 31 Pea Shoot and Arugula Salad with Radishes and Hazelnuts
    26 of 31 Grilled Tomato Salad with Mozzarella and Unagi Sauce
    27 of 31 Okra Summer Salad
    28 of 31 Summer Chopped Salad with Quick-Pickled Vegetables
    29 of 31 Summer Vegetable and Potato Salad with Anchovy Dressing
    30 of 31 Watermelon, Feta and Almond Salad
    31 of 31 Tomato, Haricots Verts and Potato Salad

    Share & More

    Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print
    Food & Wine

    Magazines & More

    Learn More

    • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
    • Books from Food & Wine
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Content Licensing
    • Accolades this link opens in a new tab

    Connect

    Follow Us
    Subscribe to Our Newsletter
    Sign Up
    MeredithFood & Wine is part of the Meredith Corporation Allrecipes Food Group. © Copyright 2022 Meredith Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright Food & Wine. All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.foodandwine.com

    Sign in

    View image

    31 Simple Salads for Summer Picnics
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.