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 SAVEUR Editors | Published Jan 2, 2020 8:22 PM

Sweet Potato Collard Green Salad, Senegalese Thanksgiving

Photography by 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

Root Vegetable and Quinoa Salad with Pickled Sunchokes

Three-Beet Salad with Orange-Yogurt Dressing

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

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

Fall 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

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

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

Sprouted Seed and Grain Salad with Spiced Prawns

Cannellini Bean Salad with Radicchio and Celery

Cannellini Bean Salad with Radicchio and Cele

Rainy Day Chicken with Eggplant Salad

Seaweed Salad with Orange and Macadamia Nuts

Lentil Salad with Pork

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

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 »

Salads

Seasons

Food

gallery

Recipe Roundups

roundup