With summertime upon us, it’s the perfect time to try new salads. Summertime brings with it a variety of vegetables and fruits that are in season and at their very freshest. Tired of the same old boring salad recipes and looking to shed a couple pounds effortlessly? Keep reading to learn how to make 5 yummy paleo summer salads!
In the summer we’re more inclined to eat lighter for a few reasons. One, we want that summer beach body, right? And two, heavy food just doesn’t sound good when the weather is hot. We no longer find ourselves reaching for hot soups and heavy pasta dishes, but rather cool foods that provide our bodies hydration, like fruits and vegetables. Arugula, cucumbers, radishes, and corn are all in season and ready to be utilized into a variety of delicious meals!
I used to think all salads were the same; like every salad ordered at a restaurant has to come out looking and tasting like the same one ordered at the last place. It would be a mix of chopped romaine, a few tomatoes and some croutons on top with a dressing of choice, usually ranch. Perhaps that’s the reason I’d never been into salads in my early twenties, they seemed so bland to me. When I discovered all the varieties of vegetable, protein, and even fruit combinations you can put into a salad, I was in for a very pleasant surprise! And so my love for salads was born.
The beautiful thing about salads is that they’re ridiculously and effortlessly nutritious! They’re a great meal idea if you’re following specific diets like the Paleo diet. Leafy greens like spinach, kale, romaine, swiss chard are all packed with tons of vitamins and nutrients like vitamin A, vitamin K, calcium, and folate. Most veggies are also super low in calories, so you don’t really have to worry about overeating a salad. Proteins like eggs, steak, chicken, and fish are amazing toppings for salads and an essential part of the paleo diet.
So if you’re anything like I was, and you consider a salad to be a tasteless pile of leaves on a plate, or if you’re tired of eating the same type of salad and looking for a few new fresh salads to try this summer, I’ve got just the recipes for you!
1. Charred Corn Salad
Salad doesn’t have to be a bunch of greens on a plate! Celebrate the taste of summer with this yummy charred corn salad!
What You’ll Need:
5 Shucked ears of corn
1 Cup halved cherry tomatoes
1 Cup fresh cilantro
1 Chopped red onion
1/4 Cup fresh lime juice
Sea salt
1 Tbsp coconut oil
Toss the onions, cherry tomato halves, sea salt, and cilantro in the coconut oil. Grill the corn for about 12 minutes, occasionally turning, and cut the corn from the cobs. Add the corn into the mixture and mix! Squeeze the fresh lime juice on top!
2. Radicchio Grilled Chicken & Avocado Salad
Once again, we’re swapping out the boring romaine but this time instead of a vibrant yellow, we’re adding a gorgeous pop of maroon color to our salad! Radicchio has a delicious crunch and won’t wilt quickly like other leafy greens. Also, if you’re a meat lover the paleo diet should be a piece of cake because meat is one of the stars of the diet. In this salad, we’ll combine both grilled chicken and bacon for smokiness along with fresh avocado!
What You’ll Need:
2 Cups chopped radicchio
1 Cup baby spinach
4 Grilled chicken thighs (chopped)
5 Thick cut strips of bacon (grilled and chopped)
1 Medium sliced avocado
1 Cup halved cherry tomatoes
Juice from 1/2 lemon
Sea salt
Grill your meats, and chop. Add chopped radicchio, baby spinach leaves, avocado, cherry tomatoes into a bowl and toss in grilled chicken and bacon. Sprinkle sea salt on top to taste, and squeeze 1/2 a fresh lemon all over the salad. Enjoy! Anything but ordinary!
3. Arugula & Shrimp Salad
Arugula offers a spicy, peppery, and nutty flavor that’s unique and perfect for a summer salad. Combine that with grilled shrimp and you have yourself an amazing summer evening dinner.
What You’ll Need:
1 Lb peeled & deveined shrimp
2 Cups arugula
2 Tbsp coconut oil
1 Cup halved cherry tomatoes
Juice from 1/2 lime
Sea salt
Grill shrimp for 5 minutes turning halfway through. Toss arugula and cherry tomatoes in coconut oil and throw shrimp on top. Sprinkle with sea salt and squeeze some fresh lime juice all over.
4. Boston Lettuce Strawberry & Bacon Walnut Salad
Boston lettuce is a close cousin of iceberg lettuce, but the flavors could not be any more different! The butteriness of the Boston lettuce combined with the freshness of strawberries and smokiness of bacon will have your mouth watering.
What You’ll Need:
2 Cups Boston lettuce
1 Cup strawberries (sliced)
1/2 Cup toasted walnuts
3 Chopped and cooked bacon strips
1 Tbsp coconut oil
Sea salt
Tear the Boston lettuce leaves and add sliced strawberries, chopped bacon, toasted walnuts and sea salt. Toss everything together in 1 tbsp coconut oil and enjoy this rich salad!
5. Creamy Radish & Cucumber Salad
This is one of my favorite paleo salads, and it’s so simple to make! It’s so fresh and summery it’s sure to become one of your favorites too.
What You’ll Need:
1 English cucumber (sliced thinly)
5 Radishes (sliced thinly)
1/4 Cup fresh cilantro (chopped)
1/2 Cup chives (chopped)
1/4 Cup homemade mayonnaise
3 Tbsp coconut oil
Sea salt
Slice the English cucumber and radishes extra thinly and combine in a bowl. Add fresh cilantro and chives and toss everything in coconut oil and homemade mayonnaise. Sprinkle with sea salt and enjoy outside with a cold drink on a beautiful summer evening.
See? Not all salads are created equal!