I rely on main dish salads during the spring and summer months. There's something so wonderful about making a salad in the early morning and letting it chill and marinate throughout the day. Then at dinner time all you do is pull the salad out of the fridge, add some breadsticks, and you're eating. It's almost as good as a crockpot. And these salads keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
I have noticed that most of my salad recipes use a mayonnaise based dressing. There's a good reason for this - those are the kinds of salads my husband likes! When I make an oil based dressing, he usually adds some mayonnaise to the salad at the table. When I make a creamy salad dressing myself, I can control the fat content by using yogurt and low fat mayo and he can't tell the difference. Of course, now he knows! I tried to concentrate more on non-mayo salads this time around.
These excellent salad recipes focus on grains like barley and rice, beans and legumes, and pasta, with meat as an accent and vegetables or fruit for color, taste and nutrition. You can use any type of purchased salad dressing you enjoy instead of making your own; just think about what dressing would taste good with the ingredients you are using.
Main Dish Salad Recipes
- Orange Chicken and Wild Rice Salad
Tender and chewy wild rice combines with juicy moist chicken in an orange dressing for a wonderful taste. - Shrimp and Vegetable Salad
Tarragon vinaigrette flavors this fresh and crunchy salad. - Shrimp and Snap Pea Salad
Oh, this recipe is so fabulous. It was created at the last minute with ingredients I had on hand in my pantry and freezer. Yum. - Barley, Wild Rice, and Black Bean Salad
The combination of tender barley, nutty wild rice, and chewy black beans in a honey mustard dressing is really fabulous. - Tuna Fruit Salad
This delicious salad, spiked with dry mustard, combines juicy fruit with savory chunks of tuna. - Wheat Berry Tabbouleh
Wheat berries are a wonderful addition to any main dish salads. They have a perfect chewy texture and nutty taste. You can add any cooked, chopped meat to this salad for a more substantial meal. - Shrimp and Avocado Radiatore Salad
Okay, this salad is more indulgent than most, but I just can't resist the combination of tender shrimp and smooth and buttery avocado. - Chicken Tortellini Salad
Combining vinaigrette dressing, lots of fresh basil, chicken and tortellini makes a delicious main dish salad. - Curried Chicken and Orange Salad
There's something about the combination of chicken, curry and orange that is so satisfying. The contrast of flavors, colors and textures in this salad is perfect. - Minestrone Salad
The flavors of minestrone are combined in a salad for a new, healthy twist. - Couscous Chicken Salad
Couscous and chickpeas have the most fabulous texture when combined in a salad with a lemon dressing and tender chicken. - Tortellini Bean Salad
Use your favorite purchased Italian salad dressing in this super easy nutritious recipe. - Chicken, Barley, and Corn Salad
This salad is not only delicious to look at, but is so good to eat and very healthy.
