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    Home » Salads & Salad Dressings

    Published: Jun 18, 2020 · Modified: Jul 9, 2022 by Melanie McDonald · This post contains affiliate links · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. · 2 Comments

    Vegan Salad Recipes

    Vegan Salad Recipes

    Freshen up your table with these bright and fresh vegan salad recipes. Healthy and delicious, I can say with confidence that there’s a salad that you’ll love in this mix!

    Vegan Salad Recipes

    Great big, fresh, colourful vegan salads are the perfect way to celebrate delicious seasonal produce and you've got to love how easy they make throwing a meal together, whether it be for side dishes or a main meal.

    Here I've rounded up my best vegan salad recipes. All naturally vegan and dairy-free and most are gluten-free too.

    Jump to:
    • Vegan Salad Recipes
    • Kidney Bean Salad
    • Lemon Orzo Salad
    • Vegan Broccoli Salad
    • Strawberry Spinach Salad
    • Sugar Snap Pea Salad
    • Cucumber Avocado Salad
    • Watermelon Mint Salad
    • Quinoa Cranberry Salad
    • Peanut Crunch Salad in a Jar
    • Quinoa Butternut Squash Salad
    • Vegan Brussels Sprout Salad
    • Massaged Kale Salad with Savoury Granola
    • Green Bean Potato Salad
    • Vegan Asparagus Pasta
    • Tomato Chickpea Salad
    • Peanut Noodles
    • Gluten-Free Tabbouleh
    • Pear Walnut Salad with Maple Cinnamon Dressing
    • Vegan Avocado Dressing
    • Oil-free Strawberry Vinaigrette
    • Vegan Croutons
    • Salad Making Tips
    • Vegan Salad FAQs
    • More Recipe Collections
    • Comments & Reviews

    Vegan Salad Recipes

    Kidney Bean Salad

    a bowl of kidney bean salad with some salad servers and pita breads
    Simple, protein-packed Kidney Bean Salad with Lemon and Parsley. Filled with texture & bright, fresh, zesty flavours and perfect for a healthy, light lunch or tasty side!
    make this recipe

    Lemon Orzo Salad

    lemon orzo salad on a plate with some salad servers
    A super fresh, bright and summery Lemon Orzo Salad that is so simple and quick to make with minimal ingredients. Ready in under 15 minutes!
    make this recipe

    Vegan Broccoli Salad

    hands holding a plate of vegan broccoli salad
    This Vegan Broccoli Salad is made with a delicious blend of broccoli, red grapes, toasted slivered almonds and a tangy, creamy dressing. It’s perfectly crunchy, creamy, sweet and savoury and great for making ahead!
    make this recipe

    Strawberry Spinach Salad

    a bowl of strawberry spinach salad with avocado and vegan feta drizzled in strawberry vinaigrette
    A simple, super tasty Strawberry Spinach Salad made with soft, deep green spinach, ripe juicy strawberries & buttery avocado all finished off with a fresh, oil-free, strawberry vinaigrette and some optional creamy, salty crumbles of vegan feta cheese or crunchy nuts..
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    Sugar Snap Pea Salad

    sugar snap pea salad with lemon slice garnish
    Fresh, vibrant, crunchy and delicious Sugar Snap Pea Salad with a fresh and zingy lemon, mustard, garlic vinaigrette. It makes a great warm-weather side or light meal.
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    Cucumber Avocado Salad

    cucumber avocado salad
    A simple, lemony, avocado-creamy, crunchy and fresh Cucumber Avocado Salad that’s really quick and easy to make!
    make this recipe

    Watermelon Mint Salad

    A really simple, flavourful & super juicy, Watermelon Mint Salad that will keep you feeling cool as a cucumber during the warmer summer months!
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    Quinoa Cranberry Salad

    a whote bowl full of quinoa cranberry spinach salad with salad servers in it
    This Quinoa Cranberry Salad is full of fresh, feel good flavours that everyone will love! With nutrient rich spinach, sweet dried cranberries and a zippy lemon dressing, it is able to stand alone as a protein packed, healthy meal, or can be served as a side. It's easy to make ahead of time and is naturally gluten free.
    make this recipe

    Peanut Crunch Salad in a Jar

    3 jars of salad
    Make protein packed, super tasty Peanut Crunch Salad in a Jar as part of your meal prep and this tasty quinoa salad will be ready to grab-and-go all week!
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    Quinoa Butternut Squash Salad

    a bowl of quinoa butternut squash salad
    Quinoa Butternut Squash Salad featuring roasted butternut squash, peppery arugula, crunchy toasted hazelnuts, a grain of your choosing and a creamy apple tahini dressing to bring it all together. It's fresh, filling and full of fall flavors!
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    Vegan Brussels Sprout Salad

    Brussels Sprout Salad
    Cranberry Pecan Brussels Sprout Salad is fresh & absolutely packed with flavour & interesting textures. It's also hearty & warming thanks to the orangey cinnamon dressing. This vegan Brussels sprout salad is just perfect for all of your fall & winter entertaining!
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    Massaged Kale Salad with Savoury Granola

    massaged kale salad scattered with savoury granola
    This healthy Massaged Kale Salad is dressed in a deliciously tangy orange vinaigrette then scattered generously with savoury granola which is, for the record,  THE perfect salad topper. Period.
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    Green Bean Potato Salad

    a plate of green bean potato salad with lemon slice garnish
    Hearty, tangy and super-delicious Green Bean Potato Salad made with fresh green beans, new potatoes, red peppers and a lemon caper dijon vinaigrette. Served warm or cold it's the perfect side for any occasion.
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    Vegan Asparagus Pasta

    a bowl of vegan asparagus pasta
    Quick, tasty, protein-rich and super fresh Vegan Asparagus Pasta. Simple to prepare, ready in under 20 minutes and great served either hot or cold.
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    Tomato Chickpea Salad

    My Tomato Chickpea Salad is healthy, filling, packed with fresh, citrusy, herby flavour and can be made in minutes!
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    Peanut Noodles

    a bowl of peanut noodles with fresh vegetables and cilantro
    Quick, easy, versatile and very slurpable Peanut Noodles! Packed with raw veggies and perfect for midweek dinners and meal prep.
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    Gluten-Free Tabbouleh

    a bowl of tabbouleh
    Bright, herby Gluten-Free Tabbouleh using quinoa instead of bulgur wheat. Naturally vegan, easy to make & full of delicious fresh flavors and textures!
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    Pear Walnut Salad with Maple Cinnamon Dressing

    pear walnut arugula salad
    A fall-inspired Pear Walnut Salad featuring peppery arugula, sweet juicy pears, crunchy candied walnuts and a simple maple cinnamon dressing to bring it all together.
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    Vegan Avocado Dressing

    avocado dressing being spooned onto salad
    Super creamy, tasty and versatile Vegan Avocado Dressing made in a blender or food processor in minutes. Make it thick like mayonnaise or thin like vinaigrette, depending on your needs. Use it as a dressing for salad leaves, as a dip, spread in sandwiches, and dolloped on foods like bowl meals, tacos burritos and potato wedges.
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    Oil-free Strawberry Vinaigrette

    a bottle of strawberry vinaigrette
    A really simple and super tasty, completely oil-free Strawberry Vinaigrette. The flavour is amazing - Such a lovely balance of sweet & tangy. It's ready in only a couple of minutes & perfect when drizzled over fresh leafy greens!
    make this recipe

    Vegan Croutons

    Vegan Croutons
    Making vegan croutons is a great way to use up stale bread and they are so easy to make with only 2 ingredients plus salt and pepper. Use them to add extra texture and flavour to vegan soups and salads or eat them by the handful as a snack!
    make this recipe

    And now you've got some great vegan salad recipes up your sleeve, here are some tips for how to make and store your own vegan salad creations.

    Salad Making Tips

    • Season well - Even greens benefit from some salt and pepper. Every component of your salad should taste good so season everything, including your salad leaves, the dressing, mix-ins like roasted veg or toasted nuts etc. Toss it, taste it, and add more seasoning if it needs it.
    • Don't just use lettuce - Shredded Brussels sprouts, kale, collard greens, endives, chicory, chard, arugula, radicchio, cabbage, bok choy, broccoli, spiralized or shredded kohl rabi, celeriac (celery root), carrots or sweet potato are all great in salads.
    • Add roasted vegetables - Sweet, caramelized roasted vegetables like sweet potato, carrots, beetroot, broccoli, cauliflower, squash, rutabaga etc add another dimension to your salads, improving the texture and the flavour.
    • Add grilled vegetables - Sweet potato, bell peppers, zucchini, eggplant etc all grill really well. Cut them into large slices, brush with a little oil and leave them on the grill until you get the fancy black lines!
    • Add pickled vegetables - Any you like. They are crunchy and tangy and add so much interest.
    • Use fresh herbs - Just a handful mixed with your other greens adds bursts of flavour throughout. Parsley, cilantro, dill, chives, mint, tarragon and basil are great to use. My herby green sauce is also greta on salads.
    • Add healthy fats and protein - They add flavour and interest and make salads more satisfying. Tofu (like my baked tofu or crispy tofu), crumbled vegan feta cheese, toasted nuts or seeds, thinly sliced vegan beef or vegan turkey roast, avocado, chickpeas, beans, pan seared tempeh bacon and hummus are all great additions.
    • Add cooked grains - Great for making salads more filling and they add interest too.
    • Dried fruit - Raisins, sultanas, cranberries, apricots and dates are all great in salads and add a lovely chewy texture as well as bursts of sweetness.
    • Fresh fruit - Sound weird but works so well! Strawberries, blueberries, grapes, pomegranate seeds, chopped apple, pear, citrus, all work really well in salads.
    • Add texture - A good blend of soft (like avocado, cooked potatoes, strawberries, or soft vegan cream cheese), chewy (like dried fruit or roasted tofu), crunchy (like raw red onion, nuts & seeds or vegan croutons) makes a salad a lot more interesting.
    • Balance - Make sure the flavours balance well. There should be a mixture of sweet, salty, acidic and also maybe bitter and spicy ingredients. Maple syrup and different vinegars like balsamic vinegar, raspberry vinegar, sherry vinegar, and white wine vinegar are all great for experimenting with.
    • Use a great dressing - Most store bought one's aren't the best and the dressing is key to bringing everything together and great flavour. My Oil-Free Strawberry Vinaigrette and Avocado Dressing are both really tasty.
    2 salad servers digging in to a vegan broccoli salad - taken from above

    Vegan Salad FAQs

    What can I put in my salad instead of meat?

    There are so many delicious meat-free alternatives you can add to your vegan salad recipes. Vegan chicken breasts, tofu (my baked tofu is really great in salads), vegan beef, tempeh, nuts, grains, seeds, vegan cheese, avocado, lentils, black beans, white beans, potato, sweet potato, falafel and cold veggie/bean burgers are all satiating and add protein, great texture, interest and flavour to your salad.

    How do you store salad?

    The best way to keep lettuce and other leafy greens fresh is to wash and dry them thoroughly then store them in an airtight container with a layer of kitchen paper across the top and bottom of the container. The paper absorbs any moisture/condensation and by changing it as it becomes damp you keep your salad leaves nice and dry. Try to only dress the amount that will get eaten, then store leftover salad and dressing separately. That way the salad isn't sitting in moisture and won't get soggy.

    Is a salad spinner worth investing in?

    I love my salad spinner! The amount of water they remove that would otherwise be sitting on the leaves the whole time is impressive. This not only makes the salad leaves last longer, it also makes your salad taste better because the dressing isn't being diluted by that excess water.

    How do you use a salad spinner?

    Fill the outer bowl of the salad spinner with cold water. Enough to completely submerge the salad you're going to be washing. Place the salad leaves in the spinner basket and gently lower it into the cold water. Use a hand to gently agitate the leaves and rinse off any dirt.
    Lift the basket out and pour the water away. I use mine to water my house plants. Put the basket back in, put the top on the spinner and spin it really well. Pour out any water and repeat until the leaves look nice and dry. That's it. You're done!

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    1. Kim Arsenault says

      June 19, 2020 at 6:10 pm

      Thanks for all these wonderful salad recipes, Mel! You are seriously our go-to for all our recipes and we appreciate you so much! Although sometimes my finished results are not always perfection, it's usually my rushing through a recipe and NOT reading your TIPS, which can totally make the difference! Can't wait to try out some of these !

      Reply
      • A Virtual Vegan says

        June 19, 2020 at 7:06 pm

        Thank you Kim. I hope you enjoy these salad recipes too!

        Reply

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