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
Marinated Celery and Avocado Salad
Blueberry, Nectarine and Shiso Salad
Thai Green Papaya Salad (Som Tum)
Thai Pomelo Salad (Dtam Som Oo)
Tricolore Salad with Grapefruit Saba Vinaigrette
Watermelon Salad with Cilantro, Radish Sprouts, and Cotija
Thai Green Mango Salad (Som Tum Mamuang)
Avocado-Mango Salad (Saladu Awooka ak Mango)
Hawaiian-Style Sesame Cabbage Salad
