Advertisement
Home Food & Recipes Salads (Summer)

22 summer salads that are big on flavour

Fresh bites and sunny delights.
Loading the player...

Dive into a symphony of fresh flavours and vibrant colours with our summer salad collection. 

WATCH: Fast Ed’s Aussie Caesar salad with king prawns

Advertisement

Each recipe will be a hit, from crisp greens to juicy fruits, chicken, beef, prawn and lamb.

Whether hosting a backyard barbecue, planning a picnic, or simply craving a light and refreshing meal, these salads are your ticket to savouring the best of summer’s produce. 

What makes a great summer salad?

The key to a great summer salad is the balance of flavours, textures, and fresh, seasonal ingredients. Here are the main components that contribute to making a delightful summer salad:

  • salad greens
  • dressing
  • creaminess
  • sweetness
  • nuts, seeds and grains 
  • protein
  • seasonal fruits and vegetables.

20 summer salads that are big on flavour

1. Seed-crusted striploin with egg salad

summer salad striploin

Fast Ed’s tender striploin steak with a crunchy fennel, cumin and peppercorn seed coating is too good to be true. Served with an egg, aioli and mint salad plus potato mash and red wine gravy, it’s a match made in heaven.

2. Lamb steak with beetroot and asparagus salad

lamb steak summer salad
Advertisement

Nothing says spring like lamb, but you don’t have to stick to a traditional roast. Instead, fry up leg steaks for a warm-weather salad.

3. Chicken, mango and prosciutto salad

chicken summer salad

Have this tasty chicken, mango and prosciutto salad ready on the table in four easy steps.

4. Kale falafel salad with toasted pine nuts and hummus

felafel summer salad
Advertisement

Using storebought versions of your favourite Middle Eastern mezze (appetisers) creates a salad that’s much more than a starter. Hummus serves as a creamy base for greens, tomatoes, quick-pickled red onion, herbs and falafel (chickpea patties).

5. Grilled salmon and cos salad

salmon summer salad

Fire up the grill to make a sunny salad full of contrasting tastes and textures, from warm grilled fish fillets to lightly charred cos and refreshingly sweet oranges. Adding substantial salmon turns this salad from a side into a main meal you’ll make on repeat this summer.

6. Greek-inspired quinoa salad with lemon-feta dressing

lemon feta salad
Advertisement

The famous Greek salad of cucumber, tomato, onion, olive and feta cheese was the flavour inspiration for this colourful quinoa dish.

7. Nicoise salad with seared tuna

nicoise salad

Feel free to swap the seared tuna for canned tuna in olive oil. Just be sure to drain the tuna before plating.

8. Aussie Caesar salad with king prawns and mango

king prawn caesar salad
Advertisement

Fast Ed’s giving the traditional Caesar salad an Aussie spin. He’s adding two classic summer flavours, prawns and mango, plus a host of other delicious ingredients, like pecorino and aioli. Yum!

9. Prawn, prosciutto, mozzarella and peach salad

prawn salad summer salad

It’s quite simply summer on a plate, ready in just 10 minutes and bursting with the freshest flavours, including in-season stone fruit, creamy mozzarella and prawns.

10. Fruit salad with lime syrup

fruit salaf
Advertisement

Sometimes dessert doesn’t have to be heavy like a rich and dense mud cake. This platter of fruit salad drizzled in vanilla lime syrup is light and refreshing and will go down a treat with even the kids. Serve with panna cotta for a decadent treat.

11. Chicken vermicelli, mango and peanut summer salad

chicken and mango salad

The addition of avocado, mango and strawberries packs a flavourful summer punch to this hearty salad.

12. Thai green mango salad with prawns and lime

thai green prawn salad
Advertisement

You can’t go past this Thai green mango salad with prawns and lime for a quick and easy lunch. It’s fast food with a healthy twist!

13. Mixed rice and garden vegetable salad

rice salad

Cook the rice, dice the veg and stir – this satisfying salad is full of crunch and colour! 

14. Mexican grilled prawn, corn and avocado salad

mexican grilled corn and prawn salad
Advertisement

Elevate your grilling game with this mouthwatering charred prawn and corn salad – marinated to perfection, bursting with vibrant flavours, and crowned with smoky harissa mayonnaise.

15. Prawn, corn and basil lettuce cups

prawn cups

Karen’s prawn, basil and corn salad is served with creamy mayo, yoghurt and lemon dressing, and it’s absolutely delicious.

16. Chicken, corn and quinoa salad

chicken and quinoa salad
Advertisement

The fiery spices of this colourful feast will have your tastebuds dancing the flamenco in a matter of minutes!

17. Quinoa greek salad

quinoa greek salad

Bulk up this classic Med-diet salad by stirring through the superfood quinoa for a generous helping of protein. 

18. Cucumber, broccolini and beef rice salad

cucumber beef and brocollini salad
Advertisement

This chargrilled beef and brown rice salad is packed full of goodness – a delectable blend of tender beef fillet, nutty SunRice Doongara Low GI Brown Rice, crisp broccolini, and an array of fresh veggies, all tossed in a zesty wholegrain mustard vinaigrette.

19. Mango, avocado and macadamia salad

mango and avocado salad

Bring the taste of summer to your next meal with this seasonal salad. 

20. Epic summer salad

summer salad
Advertisement

Perfect on its own or as a side with a meat dish.

21. Tomato, prosciutto and burrata salad with pine nuts

buratta salad

For a simple yet stunning take on Caprese salad, slice up juicy, ripe tomatoes and add salty prosciutto, velvety burrata and fragrant basil.

22. Za’atar salmon with couscous and grilled vegetable salad

summer-salad-salmon
Advertisement

Elevate a summery salmon salad with just the one ingredient: spice rub (za’atar). It adds so much extra flavour with very little fuss! 

Related stories


Advertisement