Summer Sides & Salads Round Up
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Not sure what to cook up as a side for your Memorial Day BBQ or summer picnic? Here is a round-up of some of my favorite recipes to make your weekend memorable and delicious!
Salads
Cauliflower Pasta Salad
I love using Cali’flour Foods pasta since it is cauliflower based and allows you to get a nice serving of veggies in. This summer salad is so light and refreshing with Kalamata olives, cherry tomatoes, Kasandrinos olive oil and fresh basil and oregano. A sprinkling of Parmesan cheese is totally optional since the recipe barely needs it, but it is a delicious addition nonetheless. Get the recipe on the blog.
Cucumber, Avocado, Jicama Salad
Jicama has a sweet taste which pairs incredibly well with refreshingly crisp cucumbers and creamy avocado. Find this recipe and more in my book The Wandering Palate.
Grilled Peach and Burrata Salad
Noting says summer like ripe stone fruit. Peaches are one of my favorite summer treats and trying them grilled in my peach and burrata salad is a perfect addition to your holiday BBQ. If you are dairy-free, you can skip the burrata and pair it with the arugula instead.
Paleo Potato Salad
Whip up a batch of my easy homemade potato salad using Primal Kitchen Mayo. It Is the only mayo I use since it’s made with avocado oil and not a bunch of toxic oils like canola or soy. The addition of olives and celery gives this salad flavor and crunch.
Shaved Brussel Sprout Salad
Brussels sprouts are a classic Autumn vegetable that are often cooked rather than served raw. In this shaved salad recipe, you can appreciate Brussels sprouts’ natural, crunchy texture and earthy taste, which is wonderful paired with the mint-flecked lemony dressing which makes it perfect for a summer side salad.
Watermelon Cucumber Mint Salad
Want to take your watermelon to the next level? Try this simple and refreshing watermelon, mint and cucumber salad with a light lime and mint dressing. It is sure to be a healthy party pleaser this holiday.
Chicken Cobb Salad
This chicken cobb salad is a refreshing combination of crisp vegetables and plenty of protein on top of a bed of greens. Enjoy this lunch or dinner salad with a tangy, bright-tasting lemony dressing any night of the week when you don’t want to do a lot of cooking. Find this recipe and more in my book The Wandering Palate.
Greek Salad
Greek salad is incredibly colorful and refreshing with plenty of crisp cucumber and fruity tomatoes. You can pair it with my kalamata olive dressing and it pairs great with a grilled lamb. Find this recipe and more in my book The Wandering Palate.
Mint, Dill & Cucumber Salad
Cooling mint and fragrant dill add complexity of taste to this simple salad. Coconut yogurt makes this salad dairy-free and vegan, which means you can serve it to almost anyone you choose. Find this recipe and more in my book The Wandering Palate.
Asian Chicken Salad
A myriad of crisp and colorful vegetables combines in this crunchy Asian-inspired salad. A screaming hot skillet ensures the chicken breast cooks quickly so that you can have lunch or dinner on the table within moments. Find this recipe and more in my book The Wandering Palate.
Niçoise Salad
Nicoise salad is a French salad filled with plenty of vegetables and hearty ingredients. As a result, this dish can be served as a main meal since you have your protein, starch and vegetables all in one. Find this recipe and more in my book The Wandering Palate.
Dairy Free Chicken Caprese Salad
This chicken caprese salad has everything you would expect minus the cheese. It is vibrant and colorful with your choice of tangy, lemony dressing or a basil pesto drizzle. Serve this as easily for a lunch main as a side dish to go along with a barbecue menu.
Asian Slaw
Crisp red cabbage and orange carrots combine into a vibrantly colored salad with tremendous texture and an Asian-inspired dressing. Find this recipe and more in my book The Wandering Palate.
Chicken Caesar Salad
Chicken Caesar is a favorite among so many and here it gets a new treatment with the addition of caper berries and toasted tortillas instead or croutons. Find this recipe and more in my book The Wandering Palate.
Grain Free Tabbouleh Salad
The secret to this grain-free tabbouleh salad is to use riced cauliflower instead of the usual bulgar. Otherwise, expect the herbal freshness of traditional tabbouleh with copious amounts of parsley and mint. Cherry tomatoes add some sweetness, color, and a fruity note.
Beet and Grapefruit Salad
Grapefruit and beets are an unusual pairing, but work so well together in the hearty dinner salad. The beets are earthy and sweet, while grapefruit segments add even more complexity of flavor with their tanginess. Try this with some crumbled goat cheese for some creaminess and salty kick. The lavender in this dressing gives it a nice light and delicate flavor and goes great over earthy beets or heartier salads.
Sides and Appetizers
Shrimp Ceviche
Ceviche is a tasty dish that involves marinating seafood in acidic ingredients like citrus for a short time. This version is bright and refreshing with shrimp, lemon, and lime, and is great served on warm, summery days.
Simple, Amazing Corn
This may not be 100% paleo, but if you tolerate corn on occasion, this is the way to eat it. Get the recipe that all our party guests rave about on the blog now.
Kalamata Olive Tapenade
Tapenade is an easy Provencal dip consisting of olives and olive oil. This dip is excellent served for a summer holiday appetizer or picnic with crackers or vegetables for dipping, but it can also be spread onto sandwiches, tossed into pasta or dolloped on Buddha bowls as well.
Perfect Guac
Have you ever tried using a stand mixer to make perfectly creamy guac? It's so easy and only takes 4 ingredients. It is really all about the ratio with guacamole so depending on how much you have to make use this ratio and go up from there. Of course, Guac is personal so make sure to taste and adjust lime and salt ratios to your liking.
Spinach Artichoke Dip with a Vegan option!
Most people love spinach artichoke dip and with these two recipes, most will be able to enjoy it without any issues to their diets. Moreover, the prep on this dip is so easy that you will be able to whip it up for any last-minute plans.
Dressings
Herbed Dressings
A lot of my dressings are easy to make on a whim. Often, store- bought dressings have so many hidden ingredients including, gluten! With these simple recipes, you can prepare larger batches in advance and keep your fridge stocked with dressings ready to go for any dish, salad or snack. You would be surprised how flavorful fresh herbs, lemon juice and some pantry staples can be sure to make the perfect dressing.
Get a copy of my book, The Wandering Palate for all my favorite dressing recipes and more. You’ll find herb dressings like Cilantro Lime, Lemon and Herb, Lemon Basil, Green Goddess and Olive Tapenade.
Creamy Dressings
Many people think of creamy dressings being full of dairy, heavy and fattening! When I started creating my own clean dressings from home, I discovered how clean you can make them and still achieve that delicious creamy taste and texture. Be sure to grab a copy of my book for dressing recipes like Dill Cream Dressing, Creamy Artichoke, and more and I promise they will be refreshing summer dish or salad!
Beverages
Rosemary Blood Orange Cocktail
This sweet and savory cocktail has festive flair with the taste of ruby blood orange juice and rosemary’s piney scent. Although this recipe serves only two, it is easy to scale up in a pinch, especially when hosting during the summer bbq season.
Watermelon Cooler
This refreshing watermelon cooler with mint is delicious whether you drink it as a mocktail or make it festive with the addition of tequila, mezcal or vodka. It is sure to be a party pleaser either way and perfect for your summer grilling.
