Our 34 Best Winter Salad Recipes For the Perfect Cold-Weather Crunch

Make the most of root vegetables and warm bases with these cold-weather salads

By January 02, 2020

Sweet Potato Collard Green Salad, Senegalese Thanksgiving
Ryan Liebe

Spring and summer provide a bounty of fresh produce that tastes amazing when tossed together in a mixing bowl, but that doesn’t mean cooler weather should come up short on the salad front. Whether you’re looking for a main course like goose confit and figs atop leafy greens or a side to accompany your holiday meal, we’ve got you covered. With seasonal flavors like sweet potato and apple, and warm bases like quinoa, our best winter salad recipes will satisfy your lighter cravings during the cold weather months.

Grilled-Cabbage Caesar Salad

Grilled-Cabbage Caesar Salad
Get the recipe for Grilled-Cabbage Caesar Salad » Jenny Huang

Root Vegetable and Quinoa Salad with Pickled Sunchokes

Root Vegetable and Quinoa Salad with Pickled Sunchokes

Three-Beet Salad with Orange-Yogurt Dressing

Three-Beet Salad with Orange-Yogurt Dressing

Soba Salad with Lemon-Miso Vinaigrette

This refreshing salad of soba noodles tossed with winter greens and mixed vegetables is brought together by a tart dressing of miso, ginger juice, and lemon. Get the recipe for Soba Salad with Lemon-Miso Vinaigrette »

Chicory and Herb Salad with Apple, Pomegranate, and Creamy Miso Dressing

Fennel and Citrus Salad with Charred Squid

Fennel and Citrus Salad with Charred Squid

Apple and Kale Salad with Black Sesame and Cashews

Crunchy cashews coated with maple syrup and sesame seeds, and a boldly piquant dressing of Shanxi vinegar, add texture and verve to the classic kale salad.

SHREDDED COLLARD GREEN SALAD WITH ROASTED SWEET POTATOES AND CASHEWS

The flavor of raw collard greens combines perfectly with tender roasted sweet potatoes and tangy, rich goat cheese in this hearty salad.

Fall Salad with Roasted Butternut Squash, Kale Chips, and Pomegranate Seeds

Crispy baked kale, sweet roasted squash, and peppery arugula and watercress are combined with pumpkin and pomegranate seeds in this colorful salad. Get the recipe foFall Salad with Roasted Butternut Squash, Kale Chips, and Pomegranate Seeds »

Arugula and Cashew Pesto Salad

A chunky cashew pesto made with sharp, pungent Västerbotten cheese is tossed with chopped arugula to yield an unctuous salad with a robust umami flavor. Get the recipe for Arugula and Cashew Pesto Salad »

Turnip Salad with Green Grape Vinaigrette

Turnip Salad with Green Grape Vinaigrette

Arugula, Pecorino, Pine Nut, and Pear Salad (Rucola con Pecorino, Pignoli e Pere)

Raisins add a subtle sweetness to this salad from Enoteca l’Alchimista in Montefalco, Italy. Arugula, Pecorino, Pine Nut, and Pear Salad (Rucola con Pecorino, Pignoli e Pere) »

Cooked and Raw Winter Salad

Bacon, parmesan, and pine nuts combine with a medley of cooked and raw vegetables to make a satisfying salad from The Canal House’s Christopher Hirsheimer. Get the recipe for Cooked and Raw Winter Salad »

Butter Lettuce Salad with Pistachios and Orange Crème Fraîche Dressing

Butter Lettuce Salad with Pistachios and Orange Crème Fraîche Dressing

Parsley and Onion Salad

Fresh red onions add cool spice to this simple parsley salad from Jeremiah Cooks (Stewart, Tabori and Chang, 2002), by Jeremiah Tower. Served on grilled bread with a touch of mint and a sprinkle of capers, the salad looks as appealing as it tastes. Get the recipe for Parsley and Onion Salad »

Goose Confit and Fig Salad

For this luxurious salad, top spicy arugula with a rich confit of braised goose leg and fresh black mission figs.

Sprouts, Kohlrabi, and Beet Salad with Herbed Crème Fraîche Dressing

Sprouts, Kohlrabi, and Beet Salad with Herbed Crème Fraîche Dressing

Sprouted Seed and Grain Salad with Spiced Prawns

Sprouted Seed and Grain Salad with Spiced Prawns

Raw Celery Root Salad with Apples and Parsley

Raw Celery Root Salad with Apples and Parsley

Cannellini Bean Salad with Radicchio and Celery

Cannellini Bean Salad with Radicchio and Cele

Watercress with Spicy Chile and Sesame Vinaigrette

Watercress with Spicy Chile and Sesame Vinaigrette

Rainy Day Chicken with Eggplant Salad

Rainy Day Chicken with Eggplant Salad

Seaweed Salad with Orange and Macadamia Nuts

Seaweed Salad with Orange and Macadamia Nuts

Lentil Salad with Pork

Lentil Salad with Pork

Radish and Cilantro Salad with Goat Cheese

Radish and Cilantro Salad with Goat Cheese

Japanese Tea Leaf Salad

Japanese Tea Leaf Salad

Winter Salad with Buttermilk Dressing

Walnuts, apple, and sliced beet add crunch and flavor to this wintertime salad.

Parsley and Pancetta Salad

Crisp, salty pancetta, earthy parsley, and lemon combine beautifully in this salad from Houston’s Dolce Vita restaurant.

Baby Kale Salad with Pine Nuts, Parmesan, and Lemon Vinaigrette

This quick, zesty kale salad from Florida chef Jeffery Jew gets a decadent touch from rich pine nuts and ribbons of parmesan cheese.

Green Cabbage Salad with Charred Cabbage Vinaigrette and Hazelnuts

Chef-owner of New York City’s Wildair and Contra, Jeremiah Stone combines the juice from grilled cabbage with vinegar and browned butter and tosses the resulting vinaigrette with raw cabbage and hazelnuts for an all-season slaw that showcases everything the brassica has to offer. Get the recipe for Green Cabbage Salad with Charred Cabbage Vinaigrette and Hazelnuts »

Cucumber, Pear, and Sumac–Onion Salad

Cucumber, Pear, and Sumac–Onion Salad

Marinated Mozuku Seaweed with Cucumber

Marinated Mozuku Seaweed with Cucumber

Shaved Cauliflower and Radicchio Salad

Aleppo pepper (a tangy Middle Eastern spice), raisins, and raw cauliflower marry in this simple yet unusual salad. Get the recipe for Shaved Cauliflower and Radicchio Salad »

Escarole with Confit Duck Gizzards, Comté, and Walnuts

Winemakers Alice and Olivier de Moor use confit duck gizzards in this simple winter salad, but confit duck legs make a fine substitute. Get the recipe for Escarole with Confit Duck Gizzards, Comté, and Walnuts »

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