Refreshing and Satisfying Salads for Summer

Midsummer may be behind us, but the heat’s still on! Besudes, more daylight doesn’t exactly feel like having more hours. Rather, making the most of summer light, gradually waning yet still stretching luxuriously into evening, typically finds us scrambling to throw together dinner at the end of the day. If you’re like me, daily experiencing the surprise, where did the time go?, then, let’s celebrate together what a beautiful fit the season is for salads. After all, salads are meant to be prepared by literally throwing things together, creating endless variations of something light, refreshing, and bursting with flavor.

As we gently begin the shift from summer to fall, make your salad bowl your canvas, one that welcomes creativity and invariably offers wholesome vibrance, fueling adventures without weighing you down. Here are a few of our favorite, simply wholesome, versatile vegan summer salads lately. Take them as a guide and add your own spin—the results will be perfect for everything from quick weeknight dinners to one last push for backyard barbeques.

Mediterranean Quinoa Salad

Bright, fresh, and richly savory, this satisfying hearty salad is easy to make ahead and can feed a family or please a crowd with minimal fuss. Adding to the ease, the secret really is in the sauce—simply the marinade from jarred artichokes!

Vermicelli Noodle Salad with Miso Ginger Tahini Dressing

Simple to prepare and customize, this refreshing salad blends noodliscious comfort with summery lightness!

Cucumber and Edamame Salad with Spicy Ginger Dressing

Quick to prep, easy to vary, and wholesomely energizing, this coolly delicious vegan cucumber and edamame salad is a regular power-up for me year-round.

Beet Carpaccio Salad

Rich, roasted beets, thingly sliced, are topped with crunchy walnuts, a sprinkling of spinach and microgreens, and a drizzle of maple-mustard vinaigrette in this oh so delicious vegan carpaccio.

BBQ Cauliflower Salad

This brightly inviting BBQ cauliflower salad can be both salad and grilled dish at once, or at least something reminiscent of the two. An easy, date-based homemade BBQ sauce is perfect for smothering over baked, grilled, or roasted cauliflower, tofu, and more, without all the usual sugar and preservatives.

Summer Pasta Salad with Creamy Herb Dressing

Showcase summer’s bounty with this versatile, simple pasta salad! Ever so easy to tailor to taste, anything goes with this hearty yet fresh and light dish, tied together with a creamy, herbaceous cashew-based dressing. Go with what’s growing, and enjoy!