Salads are our healthy go-to, but rarely do we leave the table feeling full. After all, lettuce can only do so much. Well, this year stick to your healthy eating goals and feel satiated with these good-for-you dinner salads that are heavy on vegetables and lean proteins and light on the not-so-exciting lettuce. Here, 5 filling salads to make right now.
Blackened Salmon and Citrus Salad
Make this gorgeous blackened salmon salad from Half Baked Harvest while citrus is still juicy and at its peak. The added quinoa also provides fiber and heft.
Roasted Cauliflower Salad with Lemon-Tahini Dressing
You won’t even miss the meat in this loaded roasted cauliflower salad from the blog Budget Bytes. Chickpeas add a vegetarian-friendly meatiness and roasted cauliflower is crispy and über savory. Tahini, a smooth sesame seed butter, also provides a creaminess that tastes incredibly decadent but without all of the fat.
Chopped Dinner Salad with Crispy Chickpeas
OK, so this salad does have some lettuce, but it has a lot else going for it, too. The crispy chickpeas, cubes of salty feta, crunchy vegetables and pulled chicken make this a quick-and-easy salad that will satisfy you and your family any night. Did we mention that this super-simple vinaigrette is great on just about everything? Memorize the recipe and whip it up whenever you need it. Recipe: Bon Appetit Magazine
Warm Mushroom Salad with Bacon Vinaigrette
The best part of this salad is the roasted mushrooms tossed in a homemade garlic oil. It makes the delicate fungi taste like a meaty roast. Save any leftover oil for whisking into homemade vinaigrettes or pan-searing fish.
Steak “Salad” with Green Goddess Dressing
If you live in a state where grilling is a year-round possibility (oh, hey Texas!), then this recipe from No Crumbs Left should be on your shopping list for this week. It falls somewhere between a mixed grill and a salad with almost every ingredient getting a kiss of smoke. The charred potatoes, peppers, tomatoes and steak are such a fantastic contrast to the crisp snap peas and the cooling Green Goddess dressing. Lay the whole platter out on the table and let people assemble their own plate.
Toni Legrand says
This is great. I will try each one. Luckily my husband likes salads but I run out of creative ideas.