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It’s potluck season again and whether it’s the company picnic or a backyard barbecue, you’re going to need a few potluck salads you can be proud of.
image source: Issuu
image source:Bean Salads
Take the good old 3 bean salad Grandma made, for instance. It was good, if a little slimy, and I’d argue that you can still make a killer bean salad from canned beans. With a little creativity and some great fresh ingredients, the bean salad can once again rule the potluck table!
- Edamame Salad ~ an Asian inspired bean salad employing creamy edamame beans and lots of colorful crunch!
- Chickpea Salad with Pesto ~ vibrant basil pesto makes a fabulous and unexpected dressing for this Mediterranean bean salad ~ the deeply toasted pine nuts are the bomb.
- Charred Corn and Bean Salad ~ grilled and slightly blackened corn gives this salad a sweet smokey edge.
Pasta Salads
It’s the ultimate warm weather comfort food, who doesn’t love a pasta salad? But the same old mayo-drenched elbow macaroni doesn’t cut it anymore. Here are some inspiring pasta salad updates…
- Mediterranean Pasta Salad ~ this gorgeous pasta salad is a meal in itself.
- BLT Pasta Salad ~ takes your favorite sammie and turns it into the best summer side ever.
- Thai Spaghetti Salad ~ a classic with a Thai spin, peanut dressing and all.
Chopped Salads
This might just be my favorite potluck category. I love a great chopped salad; they’re colorful, and so bamboo plate and fork friendly.
- Arabic/Israeli Salad Recipe with Za’atar Dressing ~ an old favorite on the blog, the fresh crunch of this salad is epic. In Israel they eat it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner!
- Chopped Asparagus Salad ~ this colorful salad makes a beautiful presentation.
- Cowboy Caviar ~ this micro-chopped salad can double as a dip!
Vegetable Salads
Summer’s bounty is starting to pour in, and vegetable salads are a great way to celebrate it.
- Broccoli Salad with Pineapple, Bacon, and Spiced Pecans ~ this is the loaded version of everybody’s favorite broccoli salad.
- Farmer’s Market Vegetable Salad ~ when you can’t decide which fresh veggies to buy, buy them all! (The tarragon anchovy lemon vinaigrette is to-die-for.)
- Cauliflower Rice Tabbouleh ~ a light grain free version of one of my favorite salads, it keeps well, too.
Fruit Salads
Fruit salads can be amazing, or they can be downright yucky ~ it’s all in the details. Try one of these, there’s not a mushy banana or canned mandarin in the bunch.
- Creamy Fruit Salad with Coconut Dressing ~ the fruit salad that thinks it’s dessert!
- Berry Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing ~ a celebration of summer’s best berries.
- Red White and Blueberry Salad ~ we make this patriotic fruit salad all season long.
Grain Salads
Hearty grain salads are the comfort food of the salad world. They’re especially helpful to vegans and vegetarians who have to hunt and peck their way through a potluck lineup.
- Jeweled Tabbouleh ~ a dressed up version of the classic Middle Eastern cracked wheat salad.
- Couscous Almondine Salad ~ a light airy salad with a sweet savory combination of chopped veggies and dried fruit. Made with no mayo to spoil on the potluck table, this makes a great working lunch, too.
- Wheat Berry Salad with Beets ~ hearty and really delicious, the sweetness of the beets plays well with the earthy wheat berries.
Potato Salads
Potato salads can be incredibly…boring, so I suggest boosting them with extra flavor. For instance, how about dill pickles, a garlicky aioli dressing, or eggs, herbs and mustard seeds?
- Mom’s Creamy Potato Salad Recipe ~ we spruced mom’s recipe up for a new generation!
- French Potato Salad ~ proof once again that the French do everything better.
- Greek Lemon Potato Salad ~ this bright lemony version will perk up your potluck table for sure.
Green Salads
Green salads are not super common at potlucks but if you use sturdy greens and keep them chilled, they provide a welcome bit of freshness to the table.
- Rainbow Chard Salad ~ this unusual salad is guaranteed to break up the potluck monotony. Rainbow chard is gorgeous and unexpected.
- Loaded Wedge Salad ~ my loaded wedge salad is always a crowd pleaser. Can you say bacon and blue cheese?
- Avocado and Herb Salad ~ the health nuts will flock to this salad.
Slaws
No collection of summer potluck salads can be complete without the slaws. Light, bright, and so delicious, I load them on anything and everything.
- Red Cabbage and Dill Slaw ~ slaw doesn’t get any prettier than this, so festoon all your summer meals.
- Green Goddess Coleslaw ~ the herbaceous flavors just pop!
- Sweet Vidalia Onion Slaw ~ a sweet Southern style slaw made with their famously mild onions. It’s amazing on hot dogs, grilled sausage, and brats.
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