Top 10 summer salads

Make the most of long summer days by feasting outdoors with stress-free seasonal salads. These vibrant sharing dishes show just how creative you can be with a few simple ingredients. Combine fresh fruit and veg with nuts, seeds, cheese and meat for a mouthwatering medley of colour, flavour and texture. Our summer salad recipes are perfect for al fresco dining – either as a barbecue side or the centrepiece.

If you want beautiful vibrant salads but don’t want to break the bank, take a look at our store cupboard salad recipes and budget summer recipes. Enhance these recipes further with a flavourful salad dressing recipe. Next try our summer pasta salad recipes, chopped salad recipes, salad ideas for dinner and easy summer sharing recipes.

1. Epic summer salad

This colourful salad screams summer. Throw together vibrant fruit and veg, add black beans, salty feta and a zesty dressing packed with fresh herbs. All the chopping will be worth it when you dig into a salad that tastes every bit as good as it looks.

2. Peach panzella

Who doesn’t want bread in a salad? The golden brioche croutons go perfectly with juicy peaches, lettuce and mozzarella. It’s fantastic on its own, but pairs very well with barbecued chicken, too.

Discover more brilliant Italian-style bread salads from our panzanella recipe collection.

3. Marinated tomato salad

Give juicy heirloom tomatoes their time in the limelight with a simple tangy dressing of soy sauce, rice vinegar, chilli and garlic. Serve on a bed of lemony ricotta for an easy but impressive-looking dish to contribute to a barbecue.

4. Roast new potatoes and radishes

Potato salads are a summer staple. This unique take on the classic features roast new potatoes, radishes, pumpkin seeds and spring onions on a bed of creamy Greek yogurt. Sprinkle over chilli flakes for an extra kick.

5. Ham & piccalilli salad

Ideal for a hot summer’s day – this easy no-cook salad combines tender ham hock with cheddar, fresh peas, pea shoots and cucumber. Wipe up the last of the zingy piccalilli dressing with some crusty bread.

6. Tomato, goat’s curd & basil salad with raspberry vinegar dressing

Tomatoes are the star of the show here – use a variety of colours and shapes if you can. They taste even better thanks to vinegar puréed with fresh raspberries, creamy goat’s curd, aromatic basil and pistachios.

7. Seared tuna & cucumber salad

Try something different with our flavoursome Asian-inspired salad. Barbecued tuna steaks are mixed with radishes, cucumber, ginger, mooli, nori and herbs. Lime juice, wasabi, mirin and soy sauce make this an unforgettable lunch or dinner.

8. Summer allotment salad

Whether you have a bountiful allotment or not, this stunning salad is a celebration of seasonal produce. Spruce up new potatoes with whatever vegetables you can find. We’ve opted for a crunchy combination of cucumbers, radishes and onions, but you could easily customise with fennel, celery or spring onions.

9. Egg & parsley salad with watercress dressing

It’s not a proper picnic without an egg salad! As the star ingredient of this dish, the higher quality the eggs, the better. Top them with a punchy watercress dressing, shallots, parsley and chilli flakes.

10. Halloumi & quinoa fattoush

Our twist on the Middle Eastern classic, this fattoush has griddled halloumi and quinoa for extra protein and texture. The lemon, mint and dill add an irresistible, aromatic brightness.