My Top 5 Summer Salads

With summer being just around the corner now is the time to start bringing out summer produce along with those summer recipes. My favorite meals during the summer are fresh, color filled, refreshing salads that leave your taste buds bursting with flavor. Salads are the perfect meal for the summer because of their rich antioxidants and hydrating properties that help us feel our best. Here are my five go-to salads to try this summer that you won’t regret trying!

My Top 5 Summer Salads:

1) Summertime Watermelon Feta Salad

If you want a salad that is vibrant in color with an extraordinary presentation this is the salad for you! Also this is one of the easiest salads to make. To make, add the oil and vinegar into a serving bowl and whisk until both are blended. Then add your feta cheese, watermelon, basil, and spinach into the bowl. Toss everything gently into the bowl and you’re all set!Ingredients:

• ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil

• 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar or fresh lemon juice

• 3 cups cubed seedless watermelon

• ½ cup crumbled feta cheese

• 2 cups (about 2 ½ ounces) shredded spinach leaves

• ½ cup sliced fresh basil

2) Cranberry-Chicken Salad

For those wanting a little bit of protein in their salads with a sweet twist, this is the perfect recipe. To make, grab a medium bowl and add your raspberries to start mushing them with a fork. After, whisk in the vinegar and oil , and follow up with salt and pepper for flavor. Follow up with adding your diced chicken, cranberries, red pepper, celery, onion, and sunflower seeds. Toss everything together and it’s ready to eat!Ingredients:

• ¼ cup of fresh raspberries

• ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil

• 3 tablespoons apple-cider vinegar

• Salt and black pepper

• 2 cups of diced cooked white-meat chicken

• 1 stalk celery, thinly sliced

• ½ cup diced red bell pepper

• ½ cup of sweetened dried cranberries

• ½ cup salted sunflower seeds

• 2 tablespoons diced red onion (as preferred)

3) Romaine Chopped Salad

For those who love crisp romaine lettuce in their salads, this one's for you. This salad can be eaten as a small side dish for two, or it can be eaten as a main dish for one. Also, fun fact: this salad is both gluten-free and diabetic friendly! To make a large serving bowl, add your lemon juice, oil, mustard, salt and pepper, and whisk together to coat the ingredients. After whisking add your onion, lettuce, chickpeas, cucumber, and tomatoes. Gently mix everything together and you’re ready to eat.Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon of extra-virgin olive oil

• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

• ¼ teaspoon Dijon mustard

• Salt and black pepper

• 2 cups chopped romaine lettuce

• ¼ minced red onion

• 1 small tomato, diced

• 1 small cucumber, diced

• ¼ cup drained canned chickpeas

4) Litsa’s Cabbage Salad

This recipe is dedicated to the cabbage lovers. To make, shred your cabbage and once finished work salt into the cabbage (with your hands). After, place your cabbage into a strainer with a bowl underneath, and squeeze the cabbage to drain out the water. Next, leave the cabbage in the fridge for thirty minutes (or overnight). Next, add your lemon juice, olive oil,  garlic, and salt and pepper into the cabbage. Gently massage everything into the cabbage. After, move everything into a serving bowl to eat.Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon sea salt

• 1 small head of green cabbage, finely shredded

• ½ cup of olive oil

• ¼ cup of fresh lemon juice

• 2 tablespoons minced fresh garlic

• Black pepper

5) Summer Kale Salad

This kale salad is one of my favorites to make during the summer because of its rich nutrients (which comes from the kale). To make, grab a medium sized bowl and add apple cider, black pepper, and olive oil. Whisk together until a consistency develops.  After, add your chopped cabbage and leafy kale into the bowl. Gently toss all the ingredients together and you’ll have a super charged rich filled antioxidant salad!Ingredients:

• 1 cup of fresh kale

• 1 cup of chopped cabbage

• ¼ Apple Cider Vinegar

• Black Pepper

• 1 tablespoon of olive oil (from Greece of course!)

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I hope everyone can find a salad recipe they love on here. Whether you’re a  salad love or not! If you want to check out more of my favorite healthy recipes, you can purchase my cookbook here!

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