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    Home » Recipes » Salads & Salad Dressings

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

    Vegan Salads & Tips For Making Them Great!

    vegan salad recipes

    Get my tips for making great vegan salads and get inspired by my go-to vegan salad recipes!

    Vegan Salads

    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. Put everything in a big bowl, toss with dressing and yep, that's it. You're done.

    But do you struggle to make satisfying vegan salads or wonder what to put in them? Do you want to know how to make a really great salad? And do you struggle with keeping your salad and leftovers fresh?

    Let me help. Here I'll give you some tips for how to make a really great salad, including how to make your salad more interesting, tips for storing your leafy greens and prepared salads, and I'll also share some of my favourite vegan salad recipes.

    2 salad servers digging in to a vegan broccoli salad - taken from above

    How can I make my salads more interesting?

    • 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, 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 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, 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 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.
    • 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.

    Storing salad

    Storing leafy greens - 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 bottom of the container and across the top. The paper absorbs any moisture/condensation and by changing it as it becomes damp you keep your salad leaves nice and dry.

    I recently invested in a salad spinner after just using a colander before and the difference it makes is amazing. The amount of water it removes 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.

    Storing prepared salad - The best way to keep prepared salad fresh is to only dress the portion you need right away and to store leftover salad and salad dressing separately. That way the salad isn't sitting in moisture and won't get soggy. Keep the salad in an airtight container in the fridge with a layer of kitchen paper on the top and on the bottom to absorb condensation. Change the paper as needed to keep it dry. Keep the dressing in a small jar in the fridge. Only mix the two when you are about to eat them and try to only dress what you're physically going to eat and no more.

    How to use a salad spinner

    Do you have a salad spinner lurking in the cupboard that you've never used? Wondering what the proper way to use it is? Here's how:

    • Step 1 - Fill the outer bowl of the salad spinner with cold water. Enough to completely submerge the salad you're going to be washing.
    • Step 2 - 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.
    • Step 3 - Lift the basket out and pour the water away. I use mine to water my plants.
    • Step 4 - 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.

    Vegan Salads you need to make

    And now you've got some great salad making tips up your sleeve, here are some vegan salad recipes to inspire you!


    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

    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..
    make this recipe

    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.
    make this recipe

    Cucumber Avocado Salad

    Cucumber Avocado Salad with fresh dill in a bowl with salad servers
    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

    watermelon mint salad in a bowl
    A really simple, flavourful & super juicy, Watermelon Mint Salad that will keep you feeling cool as a cucumber during the warmer summer months!
    make this recipe

    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 healthy, protein packed, super tasty Peanut Crunch Salad in a Jar as part of your meal prep and you'll have grab-and-go lunches all ready for the entire week!
    make this recipe

    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!
    make this recipe

    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!
    make this recipe

    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.
    make this recipe

    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.
    make this recipe

    Creamy Lemon Asparagus Pasta Salad

    Creamy Asparagus Lemon Pasta Salad in a red bowl on a rustic wood backdrop
    This Creamy Asparagus Lemon Pasta Salad is fresh & delicious, super easy to make, and perfect for quick mid week meals, make ahead lunches and gatherings!
    make this recipe

    Tomato Chickpea Salad

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

    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!
    make this recipe

    If you have a favourite salad recipe that you'd like to share drop a link to it in the comments.

    Happy salad making everyone!


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    Comments

    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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    Melanie McDonald

    I'm Melanie McDonald (but you can call me Mel), best-selling cookbook author and creator of A Virtual Vegan. I share well-tested, flavour-packed vegan recipes with clear, step-by-step instructions. My goal is to give you the confidence to cook amazing vegan food from scratch.

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