Being the middle of summer, we are now in prime salad season! There are so many incredible vegetables that can be enjoyed – but sometimes making everything come together to form a delicious meal can be a little bit tricky. We wanted to make things easier for you by pulling together 6 simple and tasty summer salad recipes!
Chickpea and Sweet Potato Rainbow Salad
We love this salad because it’s quick and simple to prepare and also contains one of our favourite ingredients – chickpeas! Chickpeas are a great source of protein and fibre to help keep you feeling full. We use canned chickpeas to keep it simple but make sure you rinse them to reduce the sodium content by 50%! Very few Aussies consume their recommended serves of legumes so this can be a delicious and convenient way to up your intake for the day.
Kale & Berry Coleslaw
This is the perfect salad to take to a summer BBQ as an alternative to a traditional creamy coleslaw. The avocado and berries are our favorites here – providing a dose of satiating healthy fats and lots of antioxidants. Not to mention the kale and carrots for a hit of vitamin A which supports eye health.
Roasted Pumpkin and Capsicum Salad
A crunchy crowd pleaser with roasted veg and Haloumi. What a combo! Chickpeas are the nutritional superstars here, not only are they packed with protein to keep you feeling fuller for longer, but contain loads of fibre for a healthy digestive system, too. They also contribute a serve of veggies (if there is at least ½ a cup per serve) and provide an array of other nutrients like B vitamins, iron and zinc. They have been linked to a reduction in the risk of diabetes and heart disease as well.
Quinoa Tabouli Salad
Do you know that half a cup of cooked quinoa counts as a serve of grains, of which young adults are recommended to have 6 serves every day? Grains are an important food group as they provide a range of B-group vitamins required for energy metabolism, amongst many other functions. Quinoa is also a ‘wholegrain’, so it contains a higher level of nutrients than it’s refined counterparts (like white rice), and also provides a good dose of fibre.
Tofu Soba Noodle Salad
Have you tried Soba Noodles? Soba is the Japanese name for buckwheat and hence these noodles are made from buckwheat flour. They are gluten free and high in manganese, which helps form collagen to keep our bones and cartilage strong.
Caramelised Pear, Walnut and Goats Cheese Salad
This beauty made our list because it ticks off a serve of fruit and is beautifully refreshing. Including fresh fruit in salad is a great way to add a summery vibe and will give you a nice boost of Vitamin C. Vitamin C is key in the production of collagen, so it helps to keep your skin looking smooth and radiant. It also acts as an antioxidant, working to protect your body from damage by rogue cells. An added bonus of Vitamin C is that it helps your body to absorb dietary iron!
So there you have it! Our six favourite summer salads. We’d love to hear your favourite summer salad recipes – please feel free to comment below!
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