Summer salads are fresh, light salads made of in-season fruits and vegetables in the summer months. You can use fresh produce from the farmers’ market to make cool and refreshing summer salads with a vinaigrette salad dressing. Popular summer salads also include mixtures of cut fruit with fresh herbs and grain-based salads with chickpeas and arugula.
A refreshing summer salad can feature a mixture of vegetables, fruit, grains, and cheese:

1. __Vegetables__: The veggies and herbs popular for summer salads include avocados, radishes, arugula, red onion, romaine lettuce, zucchini, cilantro, and fresh basil. 
2. __Fruit__: Popular in-season fruit for summer salads includes sweet corn, cucumber, heirloom tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, blueberries, strawberries, cantaloupe, honeydew, and watermelon.
3. __Grains__: Cold salads made with noodle, orzo, farro, pasta, and couscous are popular in warm-weather months.
4. __Cheese__: You can add a mild cheese to a summer salad, which will give it some creaminess and saltiness. Popular cheeses include feta cheese, Parmesan, and mozzarella.
You can make these summery salads with your farmers’ market bounty:

1. __Arugula avocado salad__: Pair peppery arugula with creamy avocado for the perfect [simple green salad](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/arugula-avocado-salad-recipe-with-tangy-lemon-vinaigrette). For an easy vegan, gluten-free lunch or weeknight dinner, add cooked quinoa and chickpeas to your arugula salad. For a non-vegan alternative, try crumbled feta cheese or shaved Parmesan cheese or goat cheese. 
2. __Caesar salad__: [Caesar salad](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-caesar-salad) is a salad of romaine lettuce, [croutons](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/salad-croutons-by-apollonia-poilane), Parmesan cheese, and dressing. Though the ingredients can vary, in general, the creamy dressing for Caesar salad is made from egg yolk, anchovy paste, Parmesan cheese, and lemon juice. The combination of refreshing, crisp lettuce and creamy, umami-rich dressing has made Caesar salad a tangy comfort food staple. To make a vegan Caesar salad, omit the Parmesan in the salad and dressing, substitute the egg yolk with tahini, and use capers instead of anchovy. 
3. __Chickpea salad__: Mediterranean [chickpea salad](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/simple-mediterranean-chickpea-salad-recipe) takes the flavors of a Greek salad and adds protein-packed garbanzo beans. It includes a combo of cucumber, cherry tomatoes, red onion, feta cheese, Kalamata olives, and chickpeas, and tosses it with a simple vinaigrette of red wine vinegar and <a href='https://masterclass.com/articles/complete-olive-oil-guide' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://masterclass.com/articles/complete-olive-oil-guide","linkCopy":"extra virgin olive oil","category":"automated-link"}' automatic='true'>extra virgin olive oil</a>. 
4. __Cobb salad__: [Cobb salad](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/quick-and-easy-cobb-salad-recipe) is a chopped salad, with ingredients that are chopped and arranged over a bed of mixed greens. Traditionally, the lettuces for cobb salad are romaine, iceberg, endive, and watercress, which all get topped with a combo of crispy bacon, crumbled Roquefort cheese, shredded cheddar, hard-boiled eggs, avocado, chopped chicken or turkey, and tomato. The whole thing then gets dressed with red wine vinaigrette and sprinkled with chives. To make a vegan cobb salad, substitute the meat with hearty protein sources such as chickpeas or nuts. Cobb salad can be served as a main dish. 
5. __Potato salad__: [Potato salad](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/potato-salad-recipe) is a side dish that combines cooked potatoes with mayonnaise, mustard, fresh herbs, and crunchy elements like pickles or crisp radishes, resulting in a harmonious balance between savory and sweet. As standard fare at BBQs, cookouts, potlucks, and deli lunch counters everywhere, potato salad is a simple, satisfying side dish with unlimited iterations. 
6. __<a href='https://masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-a-caprese-salad' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-a-caprese-salad","linkCopy":"Caprese salad","category":"automated-link"}' automatic='true'>Caprese salad</a>__: This [Italian tomato salad](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-a-caprese-salad) features fresh basil leaves, mozzarella, and heirloom tomatoes. The summer salad is typically served as an appetizer or side dish in the summertime when fresh tomatoes are abundant. 
7. __Mexican corn salad__: [Mexican corn salad](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-mexican-corn-salad) is topped with fresh lime juice, mayonnaise, butter, cheese, and chili powder or hot sauce. In Mexico and parts of the U.S. such as Texas, street vendors often sell these corn cups (aka elote en vaso, or “corn in a cup”) side by side with elotes, or grilled corn on the cob. At home, esquites make a refreshing side dish for tacos, quesadillas, or tamales. To make corn salad vegan, use vegan mayonnaise.
8. __Smacked cucumber salad__: A [smacked cucumber salad](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/cucumber-salad-recipe-by-yotam-ottolenghi) heavily features fresh cucumbers that you tap with a knife; this process breaks down cucumbers’ texture so they can better absorb flavors, particularly salt. A good smacked cucumber salad recipe includes sesame seeds, parsley leaves, garlic, and olive oil. 
9. __Papaya salad__: Green [papaya salad](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/papaya-salad-recipe), also known as som tam, is a Thai dish consisting of cool, crunchy strips of shredded unripe green papaya, green beans, cherry tomatoes, and cabbage. The salad is tossed with a tangy-sweet dressing made with a lime dressing of garlic, palm sugar, tamarind, lime juice, and crushed red chilies, then seasoned with dried shrimp and fish sauce. 
10. __Watermelon salad__: Sweet watermelon and salty feta cheese produce a stunning flavor combination in this easy [summer fruit salad](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/summer-watermelon-feta-salad-recipe). Watermelon feta salad is a refreshing side dish for a summertime cookout. Try it with Mediterranean lamb chops, crispy fried chicken, tacos al pastor, grilled chicken and zucchini, tomato and balsamic vinegar bruschetta, or arugula avocado pasta salad. 
Become a better chef with the [MasterClass Annual Membership](https://www.masterclass.com). Gain access to exclusive video lessons taught by the world’s best, including Alice Waters, Gabriela Cámara, Niki Nakayama, Chef Thomas Keller, Gordon Ramsay, Yotam Ottolenghi, Dominique Ansel, and more.
Summer is the time for picnics, cookouts, and barbecues. Consider these light and refreshing summer salad recipes for your next outdoor party.

Summer is the time for picnics, cookouts, and barbecues. Consider these light and refreshing summer salad recipes for your next outdoor party. 

10 Summer Salad Recipes: Learn to Make Fresh Summer Salads

Summer salads are fresh, light salads made of in-season fruits and vegetables in the summer months. You can use fresh produce from the farmers’ market to make cool and refreshing summer salads with a vinaigrette salad dressing. Popular summer salads also include mixtures of cut fruit with fresh herbs and grain-based salads with chickpeas and arugula.

What Are Summer Salads? 

A refreshing summer salad can feature a mixture of vegetables, fruit, grains, and cheese:<ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. Vegetables: The veggies and herbs popular for summer salads include avocados, radishes, arugula, red onion, romaine lettuce, zucchini, cilantro, and fresh basil. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. Fruit: Popular in-season fruit for summer salads includes sweet corn, cucumber, heirloom tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, blueberries, strawberries, cantaloupe, honeydew, and watermelon. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. Grains: Cold salads made with noodle, orzo, farro, pasta, and couscous are popular in warm-weather months. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 4. Cheese: You can add a mild cheese to a summer salad, which will give it some creaminess and saltiness. Popular cheeses include feta cheese, Parmesan, and mozzarella. </li></ol>

4 Popular Ingredients for Summer Salads 

You can make these summery salads with your farmers’ market bounty:<ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. Arugula avocado salad: Pair peppery arugula with creamy avocado for the perfect <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/arugula-avocado-salad-recipe-with-tangy-lemon-vinaigrette' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/arugula-avocado-salad-recipe-with-tangy-lemon-vinaigrette","linkCopy":"simple green salad","category":null}'>simple green salad</a>. For an easy vegan, gluten-free lunch or weeknight dinner, add cooked quinoa and chickpeas to your arugula salad. For a non-vegan alternative, try crumbled feta cheese or shaved Parmesan cheese or goat cheese. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. Caesar salad: <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-caesar-salad' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-caesar-salad","linkCopy":"Caesar salad","category":null}'>Caesar salad</a> is a salad of romaine lettuce, <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/salad-croutons-by-apollonia-poilane' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/salad-croutons-by-apollonia-poilane","linkCopy":"croutons","category":null}'>croutons</a>, Parmesan cheese, and dressing. Though the ingredients can vary, in general, the creamy dressing for Caesar salad is made from egg yolk, anchovy paste, Parmesan cheese, and lemon juice. The combination of refreshing, crisp lettuce and creamy, umami-rich dressing has made Caesar salad a tangy comfort food staple. To make a vegan Caesar salad, omit the Parmesan in the salad and dressing, substitute the egg yolk with tahini, and use capers instead of anchovy. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. Chickpea salad: Mediterranean <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/simple-mediterranean-chickpea-salad-recipe' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/simple-mediterranean-chickpea-salad-recipe","linkCopy":"chickpea salad","category":null}'>chickpea salad</a> takes the flavors of a Greek salad and adds protein-packed garbanzo beans. It includes a combo of cucumber, cherry tomatoes, red onion, feta cheese, Kalamata olives, and chickpeas, and tosses it with a simple vinaigrette of red wine vinegar and <a href='https://masterclass.com/articles/complete-olive-oil-guide' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://masterclass.com/articles/complete-olive-oil-guide","linkCopy":"extra virgin olive oil","category":"automated-link"}' automatic='true'>extra virgin olive oil</a>. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 4. Cobb salad: <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/quick-and-easy-cobb-salad-recipe' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/quick-and-easy-cobb-salad-recipe","linkCopy":"Cobb salad","category":null}'>Cobb salad</a> is a chopped salad, with ingredients that are chopped and arranged over a bed of mixed greens. Traditionally, the lettuces for cobb salad are romaine, iceberg, endive, and watercress, which all get topped with a combo of crispy bacon, crumbled Roquefort cheese, shredded cheddar, hard-boiled eggs, avocado, chopped chicken or turkey, and tomato. The whole thing then gets dressed with red wine vinaigrette and sprinkled with chives. To make a vegan cobb salad, substitute the meat with hearty protein sources such as chickpeas or nuts. Cobb salad can be served as a main dish. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 5. Potato salad: <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/potato-salad-recipe' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/potato-salad-recipe","linkCopy":"Potato salad","category":null}'>Potato salad</a> is a side dish that combines cooked potatoes with mayonnaise, mustard, fresh herbs, and crunchy elements like pickles or crisp radishes, resulting in a harmonious balance between savory and sweet. As standard fare at BBQs, cookouts, potlucks, and deli lunch counters everywhere, potato salad is a simple, satisfying side dish with unlimited iterations. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 6. <a href='https://masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-a-caprese-salad' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-a-caprese-salad","linkCopy":"Caprese salad","category":"automated-link"}' automatic='true'>Caprese salad</a>: This <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-a-caprese-salad' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-a-caprese-salad","linkCopy":"Italian tomato salad","category":null}'>Italian tomato salad</a> features fresh basil leaves, mozzarella, and heirloom tomatoes. The summer salad is typically served as an appetizer or side dish in the summertime when fresh tomatoes are abundant. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 7. Mexican corn salad: <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-mexican-corn-salad' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-mexican-corn-salad","linkCopy":"Mexican corn salad","category":null}'>Mexican corn salad</a> is topped with fresh lime juice, mayonnaise, butter, cheese, and chili powder or hot sauce. In Mexico and parts of the U.S. such as Texas, street vendors often sell these corn cups (aka elote en vaso, or “corn in a cup”) side by side with elotes, or grilled corn on the cob. At home, esquites make a refreshing side dish for tacos, quesadillas, or tamales. To make corn salad vegan, use vegan mayonnaise. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 8. Smacked cucumber salad: A <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/cucumber-salad-recipe-by-yotam-ottolenghi' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/cucumber-salad-recipe-by-yotam-ottolenghi","linkCopy":"smacked cucumber salad","category":null}'>smacked cucumber salad</a> heavily features fresh cucumbers that you tap with a knife; this process breaks down cucumbers’ texture so they can better absorb flavors, particularly salt. A good smacked cucumber salad recipe includes sesame seeds, parsley leaves, garlic, and olive oil. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 9. Papaya salad: Green <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/papaya-salad-recipe' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/papaya-salad-recipe","linkCopy":"papaya salad","category":null}'>papaya salad</a>, also known as som tam, is a Thai dish consisting of cool, crunchy strips of shredded unripe green papaya, green beans, cherry tomatoes, and cabbage. The salad is tossed with a tangy-sweet dressing made with a lime dressing of garlic, palm sugar, tamarind, lime juice, and crushed red chilies, then seasoned with dried shrimp and fish sauce. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 10. Watermelon salad: Sweet watermelon and salty feta cheese produce a stunning flavor combination in this easy <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/summer-watermelon-feta-salad-recipe' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/summer-watermelon-feta-salad-recipe","linkCopy":"summer fruit salad","category":null}'>summer fruit salad</a>. Watermelon feta salad is a refreshing side dish for a summertime cookout. Try it with Mediterranean lamb chops, crispy fried chicken, tacos al pastor, grilled chicken and zucchini, tomato and balsamic vinegar bruschetta, or arugula avocado pasta salad. </li></ol>

10 Perfect Summer Salads 

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Summer is the time for picnics, cookouts, and barbecues. Consider these light and refreshing summer salad recipes for your next outdoor party.

Summer is the time for picnics, cookouts, and barbecues. Consider these light and refreshing summer salad recipes for your next outdoor party. 
