Summer Salad Round Up

Well it’s safe to say that summer has been kicked off with a bang around here. Our family from AZ has been visiting all week long and we’ve been hitting the beach…. often. These pictures of my boys make me smile, they are really living it up in the sunshine 🙂  Have I said how much I enjoy Instagram on the iPhone?! You must get it if you have an iPhone, such fun pictures.

To celebrate summer, I have highlighted some of my favorite summer salads, some older as you will be able to tell from the photos (however still delicious) and some newer. At any rate, they are perfect for any summer table to cool you off.

Enjoy!!

[ziplist]

Feta Mandarin Asian Quinoa Salad

1 Cup uncooked quinoa

1/4 Cup “Feast from the East” Sesame Dressing from Costco (this is such a great dressing)

1/4 Cup green onions, chopped (the green parts)

1/2 Cup crumbled feta cheese

1/2 Cup red bell pepper, chopped

1/4 Cup fresh chopped cilantro leaves

1. Prepare quinoa according to package directions. Transfer to a large bowl. Mix in dressing, onions, feta, peppers and cilantro. Cover and chill until serving.

8-10 servings

[ziplist]

Chicken Peanut Thai Noodles

1 lb whole wheat thin spaghetti noodles
2 Tablespoons sesame oil
1 garlic clove, peeled
1 (1 inch) piece of fresh ginger, peeled
1/2 Cup smooth peanut butter
1/4 Cup soy sauce
2 Tablespoons brown sugar
1 Tablespoon rice vinegar
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 Cup hot water
2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1/2 Cup finely chopped white onion
1/2 Cup finely chopped red or orange bell pepper
1 Cup cooked, shredded chicken breast
1/4 Cup finely chopped cilantro leaves (missing in picture, it’s much better with cilantro)
1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1/4 Cup dry roasted peanuts, chopped (optional)
2 Tablespoons sesame seeds (optional)1. Cook noodles according to package. Drain, rinse with cold water, place in large pasta bowl and toss with sesame oil. Set aside.

2. Place garlic and ginger in food processor until well chopped. Add peanut butter, soy sauce, brown sugar, vinegar and red pepper flakes. Pulse until well combined and slowly add hot water. Set aside.

3. Place olive oil in hot skillet over medium heat. Saute onion and bell pepper for 5 minutes or until softened. Stir in chicken breast, cilantro and salt. Stir until heated through.

4. Add sauce and chicken mixture to noodles. Toss to coat and garnish with peanuts and sesame seeds if desired.

6 servings

[ziplist]

Whole Grain Garlic Roasted Bruschetta

1 loaf whole grain baguette
4 large Roma tomatoes, seeded and diced
8 large fresh basil leaves, stacked, rolled then thinly sliced
3 cloves roasted garlic, smashed (Place bulb of garlic in lightly wrapped tin foil, bake in oven at 375 degrees F for 50-60 minutes, peel and ready to use)
2 pinches coarse salt
¼ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
1-2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Slice baguette in ½ inch slices and place on baking sheet or tin foil. Brush lightly with good extra virgin olive oil. Bake for 5-6 minutes until lightly toasted.

2. Place tomatoes, basil leaves, garlic, salt, pepper and olive oil into a large bowl and mix well, making sure garlic is well incorporated.

3. Place heaping Tablespoonfuls of tomato mixture over each toasted baguette slice and serve!

[ziplist]

Lemon Dressing Drizzled Chickpea and Sweet Pepper Arugula Salad

2 15 0z cans garbanzo beans, drained

1 Cup chopped roasted red pepper, drained

1/4 Cup extra virgin olive oil

1/2 fresh lemon squeezed

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1/4 teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper

1 bag of fresh arugula

1. Place garbanzo beans and peppers into a mixing bowl. Place olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper into a bowl and whisk to combine. Toss over garbanzo beans and toss to coat. Spoon over a bed of fresh arugula leaves and toss. Serve room temperature or chilled.

4 servings

[ziplist]

BBQ Chicken Salad with Cilantro Ranch Dressing

3 Cups thinly sliced Green Leaf Lettuce

1/4 Cup corn

1/4 Cup black beans

8 grape tomatoes, halved

1 cooked grilled chicken breast

1/4 Cup favorite BBQ Sauce

1/4 Cup shredded mozzarella cheese

1/4 Cup prepared ranch dressing

1 heaping Tablespoon fresh chopped cilantro leaves

1. Place lettuce into a salad bowl. Layer with corn, black beans and tomatoes. Dice cooked chicken breast and mix with BBQ sauce. Top over salad and sprinkle with mozzarella cheese.

2. Place ranch dressing and cilantro leaves into a small bowl to combine. Drizzle over salad and serve.

**This recipe is for 1 large serving, double accordingly**

[ziplist]

Mediterranean Couscous Salad

1 box Near East couscous, cooked according to package

3/4 Cup red bell pepper, diced

1/2 Cup yellow bell pepper, diced

4 oz container crumbled Feta Cheese

3/4 Cup Kalamata Olives, sliced

1 Tablespoon fresh minced garlic

1/4 Cup extra virgin olive oil

1 1/2 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar

Pinch of salt and fresh black pepper

1/2 Cup fresh parsley, chopped

1. Place cooked couscous into a large bowl. Let cool (put in the fridge to speed up the process). Add the bell peppers, feta cheese, olives and garlic to the couscous. Mix to combine.

2. In a separate bowl whisk the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper until well combined. Pour over couscous and mix to combine. Stir in fresh parsley and serve! Refrigerate leftovers.

4 servings

_______________________________

Had a blast at Balboa Island last week 🙂

Hope everyone has a great rest of your week and weekend!

Be sure to stop by tomorrow for a Big and I mean BIG giveaway!

Two bowls of feta mandarin Asian quinoa salad.

Summer Salad Round Up 2011

If you're looking for super easy Summer Salad recipes, you're in the right place! Here are six side salads/light lunches that you might like to try!
Course: Salad
Cuisine: American
Print Pin

Ingredients

Feta Mandarin Asian Quinoa Salad:

  • 1 cup uncooked quinoa
  • ¼ cup “Feast from the East” Sesame Dressing from Costco (this is such a great dressing)
  • ¼ cup green onions chopped (the green parts)
  • ½ cup crumbled feta cheese
  • ½ cup red bell pepper chopped
  • ¼ cup fresh chopped cilantro leaves

Chicken Peanut Thai Noodles:

  • 1 pound whole wheat thin spaghetti noodles
  • 2 tablespoons sesame oil
  • 1 clove garlic peeled
  • 1 piece fresh inger peeled (1 inch)
  • ½ cup smooth peanut butter
  • ¼ cup soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1 cup hot water
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • ½ cup white onion finely chopped
  • ½ cup red or orange bell pepper finely chopped
  • 1 cup shredded chicken breast cooked
  • ¼ cup cilantro leaves finely chopped
  • ½ teaspoon salt or to taste
  • ¼ cup dry roasted peanuts chopped (optional)
  • 2 tablespoons sesame seeds (optional)

Whole Grain Garlic Roasted Bruschetta:

  • 1 loaf whole grain baguette
  • 4 large Roma tomatoes seeded and diced
  • 8 large fresh basil leaves stacked, rolled then thinly sliced
  • 3 cloves roasted garlic (Place bulb of garlic in lightly wrapped tin foil, bake in oven at 375 degrees F for 50-60 minutes, peel and ready to use)
  • 2 pinches coarse salt
  • ¼ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
  • 1-2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil

Lemon Dressing Drizzled Chickpea and Sweet Pepper Arugula Salad:

  • 30 ounces garbanzo beans drained (I used 2 15-oz cans)
  • 1 cup chopped roasted red pepper drained
  • ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
  • ½ fresh lemon squeezed
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper
  • 1 bag of fresh arugula

BBQ Chicken Salad with Cilantro Ranch Dressing:

  • 3 cups green leaf lettuce thinly sliced
  • ¼ cup corn
  • ¼ cup black beans
  • 8 grape tomatoes halved
  • 1 cooked grilled chicken breast
  • ¼ cup favorite BBQ sauce
  • ¼ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • ¼ cup prepared ranch dressing
  • 1 heaping tablespoon fresh chopped cilantro leaves

Mediterranean Couscous Salad:

  • 1 box Near East couscous cooked according to package
  • ¾ cup red bell pepper diced
  • ½ cup yellow bell pepper diced
  • 4 ounce container crumbled Feta Cheese
  • ¾ cup Kalamata olives sliced
  • 1 tablespoon fresh minced garlic
  • ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 ½ tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • pinch of salt and fresh black pepper
  • ½ cup fresh parsley chopped

Instructions

Feta Mandarin Asian Quinoa Salad:

  • Prepare quinoa according to package directions. Transfer to a large bowl. Mix in dressing, onions, feta, peppers and cilantro. Cover and chill until serving.

Chicken Peanut Thai Noodles:

  • Cook noodles according to package. Drain, rinse with cold water, place in large pasta bowl and toss with sesame oil. Set aside.
  • Place garlic and ginger in food processor until well chopped. Add peanut butter, soy sauce, brown sugar, vinegar and red pepper flakes. Pulse until well combined and slowly add hot water. Set aside.
  • Place olive oil in hot skillet over medium heat. Saute onion and bell pepper for 5 minutes or until softened. Stir in chicken breast, cilantro and salt. Stir until heated through.
  • Add sauce and chicken mixture to noodles. Toss to coat and garnish with peanuts and sesame seeds if desired.

Whole Grain Garlic Roasted Bruschetta:

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Slice baguette in ½ inch slices and place on baking sheet or tin foil. Brush lightly with good extra virgin olive oil. Bake for 5-6 minutes until lightly toasted.
  • Place tomatoes, basil leaves, garlic, salt, pepper and olive oil into a large bowl and mix well, making sure garlic is well incorporated.
  • Place heaping Tablespoonfuls of tomato mixture over each toasted baguette slice and serve!

Lemon Dressing Drizzled Chickpea and Sweet Pepper Arugula Salad:

  • Place garbanzo beans and peppers into a mixing bowl. Place olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper into a bowl and whisk to combine. Toss over garbanzo beans and toss to coat. Spoon over a bed of fresh arugula leaves and toss. Serve room temperature or chilled.

BBQ Chicken Salad with Cilantro Ranch Dressing:

  • Place lettuce into a salad bowl. Layer with corn, black beans and tomatoes. Dice cooked chicken breast and mix with BBQ sauce. Top over salad and sprinkle with mozzarella cheese.
  • Place ranch dressing and cilantro leaves into a small bowl to combine. Drizzle over salad and serve.

Mediterranean Couscous Salad:

  • Place cooked couscous into a large bowl. Let cool (put in the fridge to speed up the process). Add the bell peppers, feta cheese, olives and garlic to the couscous. Mix to combine.
  • In a separate bowl whisk the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper until well combined. Pour over couscous and mix to combine. Stir in fresh parsley and serve! Refrigerate leftovers.

Notes

  • Feta Mandarin Asian Quinoa Salad: 8-10 servings
  • Chicken Peanut Thai Noodles: 6 servings
  • Whole Grain Garlic Roasted Bruschetta: Serves 6
  • Lemon Dressing Drizzled Chickpea and Sweet Pepper Arugula Salad: 4 servings 
  • BBQ Chicken Salad with Cilantro Ranch Dressing: This recipe is for 1 large serving, double accordingly
  • Mediterranean Couscous Salad: 4 servings
Keywords: quinoa salad recipe, summer pasta salad recipes, summer salad recipes

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36 Responses
  1. Sjove billeder

    whoah this blog is great i like studying your articles. Keep up the good paintings! You already know, many individuals are looking around for this information, you could help them greatly.

  2. The Healthy Apple

    Love this idea of these fun summer dishes. The quinoa is a great gluten-free option that I can’t wait to make.
    Thank you; I just found your blog and it’s wonderful!

  3. Marina {Yummy Mummy}

    Oh this is such a great round up of salads! I’m a huge salad lover. Especially with quinoa.

  4. tara @ the pleased plate

    You provided a plethora of salad recipes. Thank you, thank you! You have inspired me for the weekend!

  5. Jessica

    How adorable! I love those photos of the boys at the beach, they look so much like you! It’s always so much fun to have family in town. Can’t wait to see what the giveaway is! 😉

  6. Libby

    Jenny-Your boys are so cute! We just got back from Cali last week. I could seriously sit on the beach each and every day and just watch my kids play. How fun for you guys. I’ve decided that it’s time for my Spritz Sister to go on the Next Food Network Star show. You would take it all girl. Tell Cullen hi. Enjoy your summer.

    1. Jenny

      I agree Libby, it’s so nice to just sit on the beach and watch the kids play. Glad you guys had fun!! …Lol on FN Star…no way girl!!

  7. Risa

    All these recipes look delicious and easy to make! I can’t wait to try the bruschetta, chickpea, and cous-cous salad! Thank you for posting!

  8. Kati Mora, MS, RD, Kellogg's FiberPlus(R) Wellness Advocate

    All of these salads look amazing and I love that each has a little fiber mixed in! I’m not sure which is my favorite – perhaps the Feta Mandarin Asian Quinoa Salad? YUM!

  9. Emily

    Oh love these recipes! I am all for the bruschetta and thai noodles! Hmmm mm! You’ve ot such great recipes! Check out my walnut-coconut crusted tilapia with pineapple salsa! 🙂

    http://www.MrsCapretta.com
    Recipes Fashion Marriage

  10. jenna

    i love salads! I don’t get how some people say they are boring! you can do so much with a salad! I’m loving your bbq chicken salad! sounds and looks amazing!

  11. Jennifer @ Jane Deere

    Gorgeous salads! The Chicken Peanut Thai Noodles is right up my alley…I can’t wait to make it!

  12. Tania

    Isn’t instagram great I love it! What beautiful photos of ur family. You’re salads look so delish I just got a basil plant (my very first time testing out my green thumb I was told to try basil because it’s easy hehehe) so I’m excited to try out your bruschetta recipe thanks for sharing! 🙂

    My Adventures in Mommyland

  13. The Mrs @ Success Along the Weigh

    What wonderful shots of your family! The quintessential summer photos! 🙂 Thanks for the great salad ideas. Can’t wait to try them!

  14. Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga

    Jenny all your salads look great! I love salads in any form..especially those with peanut sauce, or any of the GREAT and creative dressings you posted with them. YUM!

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