Epic Summer Salads!
Whether you’re looking for a summer salad for one, for five or for a fourth of July crowd of 20, here are some quick fix greens, fruit and pasta salads to make when the sun’s shining bright on your outdoor meals.
Fruit Salads Reimagined
You can always make a run to the Costco in Lone Tree, about 15 minutes from Castle Rock, for the makings of a big-batch fruit salad for a crowd. But this recipe adds orange juice and honey to grapes, pineapple, cantaloupe and berries for a crowd-pleaser that’s guaranteed sweet and refreshing nutrition.
The Ambrosia Salad from Delish is a classic, with fresh pineapple, mandarin oranges, mini-marshmallows, whipped cream (or a non-dairy substitute) mixed with sour cream, shredded coconut, maraschino cherries and toasted pecans. Sounds good enough for a helping now, right? Delish has 10 more not-so-basic salads to make or take to a summer picnic or barbecue, too, like Watermelon Caprese and Mojito Fruit Salad that tastes a lot like the cocktail. Who knew?
But leave it to Food and Wine to come up with 11 different fruit salads that take summer produce to tasty, new and imaginative heights! From the Beet and Raspberry Salad with cilantro and dill sprigs, to the Mango and Avocado Salad with agave nectar, cumin, chile powder and jalapeño!
And if you’re more of a peachy person, try the Burrata Salad recipe with peaches pickled peppers and pea tendrils. Try saying that three times fast!
Super-Satifying Summer Salads
We tend to think the best salads combine all kinds of ingredients – grains, proteins, greens, beans and a scrummy dressing. Cookie and Kate has a few of those kitchen- sink salads like the Italian Chopped Salad – which Kate makes vegan, but you could add a bit of meat if you like. Kate combines chopped romaine, radicchio, onion, celery, cherry tomatoes, pepperoncini peppers, sun-dried tomatoes, chickpeas and provolone.
And the Food Network summer salads, all super-satisfying for a crowd include Ina Garten’s Roasted Shrimp Salad, a Farro Salad with tomatoes, onions, garlic and chives and a Salmon Cobb Salad which makes us want to go outside and fire up the grill.
Make-it-a-Meal Salads
The Dixie Chicken Salad from Southern Living is a quick-fix entree with almonds, grapes, lettuce and broccoli with chicken (dredged and fried or you can use rotisserie chicken) and topped with a honey Dijon mustard vinaigrette. Apple cider vinegar in the mustard dressing helps give this salad a powerful kick, perfect for a warm weather dinner – or supper if you’re from the South!
Another salad-makes-the-meal from Southern Living is a grilled chicken entrée with Toasted Couscous and Lemon-Buttermilk Dressing. This salad also adds fresh asparagus, thyme and red onions – three of our favorites — with toasted couscous, plus lemon peel in a bit of oil — a unique prep method we’re anxious to try.
Fourth of July in Crystal Valley
The grills will be grilling and Pinnacle Park will be humming with dogs and families celebrating this epic summer holiday in the master-planned community of Crystal Valley. If you’re looking for a brand new home check out the 10+ amazing models from Richmond American Homes, Kauffman Homes, Century Communities and D.R. Horton – ranch and two-story designs, priced from the $300s. You’ll find a floor plan that fits your needs and your budget!
