While grilled, roasted, and boiled components can make for a lovely salad experience, when it comes to flavorful bang-for-your-buck, nothing beats the bright, refreshing ease of a raw salad. These no-cook, easy salad recipes come together in minutes without a stovetop or oven in sight.
Fresh summer tomatoes are so sweet and juicy as to not need any cooking. We love to highlight them in caprese, a classic Italian salad made with fresh burrata and basil and top-shelf extra-virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Tomatoes and basil also match wonderfully with green and romano beans.
Tomatoes play supporting roles in many other salads. Our New Jersey fattoush is an Americanized take on a traditional Middle Eastern bread salad made with iceberg lettuce and crushed pita chips. Tomatoes add a pop of color to traditional Greek and wedge salads.
A fresh fruit salad is incredibly refreshing during the height of summer. Try pairing nectarines and blueberries with bright shiso leaves and lime juice and earthy sesame oil. For a sweet-salty treat, toss watermelon with briny cotija cheese and spicy radish sprouts.
Looking to warm climates can yield inspiration for no-cook recipes. Thailand is a great example. Som tum is a traditional green papaya salad flavored with tamarind juice and fish sauce and packed with all sorts of fresh vegetables. Green mango can be used to make a refreshing variation. For something citrusy, pair sweet pomelo with chiles, peanuts, and mint.
Find all of these dishes and more in our collection of refreshing easy salad recipes.
Arugula, Radicchio, and Fennel Salad
Walnuts and parmesan add richness to this crunchy salad from The Yellow Table’s Anna Watson Carl. Get the recipe for Arugula, Radicchio, and Fennel Salad »
Marinated Celery and Avocado Salad
Crisp celery and radishes are lightly pickled in lemon juice in this salad from chef Juan Pablo Mellado Arana of Las Cabras in Santiago, which makes a perfect addition to any heavy Chilean meal.
Blueberry, Nectarine and Shiso Salad
Bright shiso leaves and a touch of earthy sesame oil enhance this stone fruit and berry salad. Get the recipe for Blueberry, Nectarine and Shiso Salad »
New Jersey Fattoush
Helen Rosner’s mother-in-law is Palestinian, but over forty years of living in the U.S., her fattoush has evolved into something decidedly (and deliciously) Americanized: crushed pita chips, a dressing of lime juice and dried mint, and crisp, sweet iceberg lettuce. Get the recipe for New Jersey Fattoush »
Thai Green Papaya Salad (Som Tum)
Crusted dried shrimp add an umami boost to this papaya salad. Get the recipe for Thai Green Papaya Salad (Som Tum) »
Thai Pomelo Salad (Dtam Som Oo)
Sweet pomelo pairs beautifully with chiles, peanuts, and mint in this recipe for a classic Thai salad from Talde in Brooklyn, New York. Get the recipe for Thai Pomelo Salad (Dtam Som Oo) »
Tricolore Salad with Grapefruit Saba Vinaigrette
Grapefruit supremes (segments of pulp separated from the membrane) and aged balsamic vinegar brighten this classic Italian salad from author Dana Bowen. Get the recipe for Tricolore Salad with Grapefruit Saba Vinaigrette »
Watermelon Salad with Cilantro, Radish Sprouts, and Cotija
In this refreshing salad, watermelon at the peak of its sweetness is tossed in a zesty vinaigrette with spicy radish sprouts. Get the recipe for Watermelon Salad with Cilantro, Radish Sprouts, and Cotija »
Thai Green Mango Salad (Som Tum Mamuang)
This dish is a refreshing adaptation of a more widely known version made with papaya. Get the recipe for Thai Green Mango Salad (Som Tum Mamuang) »
Kohlrabi and Watercress Salad
For a twist on the classic Waldorf salad, try tossing sweet apples with crisp watercress and nutty kohlrabi in a sumac-infused yogurt dressing.
Avocado-Mango Salad (Saladu Awooka ak Mango)
The creamy avocado, sweet mango, and bright citrus in this salad make a refreshing counterpoint to Senegal’s rich and savory stews. Get the recipe for Avocado-Mango Salad (Saladu Awooka ak Mango) »
Greek Salad (Horiatiki)
This refreshing salad takes on various guises in Greece depending on what vegetables are in season, but it almost always features feta and a dusting of dried oregano. Get the recipe for Greek Salad (Horiatiki) »
Hawaiian-Style Sesame Cabbage Salad
Cabbage salads featuring dried noodles are a staple of Hawaiian home cooking, adding crunch, texture, and sweetness to this terrifically versatile slaw. Get the recipe for Hawaiian-Style Sesame Cabbage Salad »
Blue Cheese Wedge Salad
Both blue cheese and Italian dressings adorn the classic iceberg wedge salad. Get the recipe for Blue Cheese Wedge Salad »
