5 Delightful Spring Salad Ideas
These salads will be the star of your spring picnic or summer barbecue. Whether as a side dish or the main event, we’ve curated a few of our favourite recipes for packing full of flavourful herbs. Dill, mint, basil, cilantro, chives, parsley, and thyme are all wonderful choices for the savvy spring gardener. Pair these recipes with your favourite herbs to find a dish you’ll love.
Soft Herb Salad
Credit: Nytimes Cooking
This light and crunchy salad is delicious as an appetiser or a refreshing side dish. Cilantro, parsley, dill, and mint, make this salad a flavourful accompaniment to any dish.
Prep time: 1 hour
Ingredients
For the Loosely Packed Greens2 c. cilantro leaves
1 c. flat-leaf parsley leaves
1 c. small dill sprigs
1 c. basil or mint leaves
1 c. arugula leaves
2 c. purslane, mâche or hearts of Boston lettuce leaves
For the Dressing
4 tbsp. unsalted butter
1 c. sliced almonds
Salt and coarsely ground black pepper
¼ tsp. red chile flakes or ½ teaspoon crushed pink peppercorns (optional)
3 tbsp. lemon juice, more to taste
2 tbsp. olive oil, more to taste
Spinach Salad with Roasted Sweet Potatoes, White Beans & Basil
Prep time: 40 mins
A gorgeous and hearty dish that can serve as a main or a side. Roasted sweet potatoes, spinach, and basil make for a vibrant and tasty pairing.
Ingredients
1 sweet potato (12 ounces), peeled and diced (1/2-inch)5 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, divided
½ tsp. ground pepper, divided
¼ tsp. salt, divided
½ c. packed fresh basil leaves
3 tbsp. cider vinegar
1 tbsp. finely chopped shallot
2 tsp. whole-grain mustard
10 c. baby spinach
1 (15 oz.) can low-sodium cannellini beans, rinsed
2 c. shredded cabbage
1 c. chopped red bell pepper
⅓ c. chopped pecans, toasted
Click here for instructions
Spring Salad with Radishes and Fresh Herbs
Prep time: 15 mins
This simple, easy to make salad features crunchy radishes, bright vinaigrette, and juicy fresh spring herbs. This is a great dish for using up any extra herbs.
Ingredients
1/2-lb. (250-g) loaf sweet batard, crust removed, bread torn into
1-inch (2.5-cm) pieces
2 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil plus 3/4 cup (6 fl. oz./180 ml)
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
1/4 cup (2 fl. oz./60 ml) Champagne vinegar
1 1/2 tsp. fresh lemon juice
1 1/2 tsp. Dijon mustard
10 oz. (315 g) mixed baby greens
1 c. (1 oz./30 g) fresh herbs, such as parsley and chervil
leaves, dill fronds, snipped chives and torn basil leaves
5 radishes, very thinly sliced
Shaved ricotta salata cheese for serving
Click here for instructions
Mixed Green and Herb Toss Salad
Credit: Good House Keeping
Prep time: 10 min
Usher in the spring with this light salad full of garden goodness. This dish is super easy to make, and can be made with any of your favourite herbs.
Ingredients
6 c. mixed spring greens (like Bibb, pea shoots and mâche), torn
2 c. mixed herbs (like tarragon, dill, mint and chives), chopped
1 c. shelled edamame
1/4 c. olive oil
1 tbsp. lemon juice
2 tsp. Dijon mustard
1 tsp. honey
Kosher salt
Pepper
1 small shallot, finely chopped
Soft-cooked eggs and edible flowers, for serving
Click here for instructions
Creamy Basil Potato Salad
Credit: Good House Keeping
A healthier take on the tried-and-true potato salad. This dish is delicious, light, and easy to make.
Prep time: 50 mins
Ingredients
3 lb. baby red and gold potatoes, scrubbedKosher salt
Pepper
8 oz. crème fraîche, at room temp
1 tbsp. Dijon mustard
2 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
3 scallions, thinly sliced, plus more for topping
3/4 c. packed fresh basil, thinly sliced, plus more for serving
Click here for instructions
