12 Delicious Vegan Salad Recipes For Every Taste
Coming from someone who used to think salads are boring, these delicious vegan salad recipes are anything but! Dive into the vibrant world of plant-based salads and you won’t regret it.
Growing up, I genuinely believed that salads were the blandest food reserved for someone on a diet. Although to be fair, back then rotated between the same three meals, so what did I know?
Even after turning plant-based, I avoided salad because all I could imagine are lettuce leaves. Turns out, salad is one of the most versatile meals out there, and you can add just about anything, as long as it comes with a killer dressing.
What Even Is Salad?
A salad typically consists of a mixture of vegetables, fruits, starch, proteins, and sometimes nuts and seeds. The ingredients can be raw, cooked, or a combination of both.
Vegan salad recipes mainly only differ from traditional salads when it comes to the proteins and dressings. There is still plenty of variety in both! For example, your plant-based protein sources can include:
- Beans
- Lentils
- Peas
- Edamame
- Tofu
- Seitan
- Chia or hemp
If you ask me, what makes or breaks the salad is the dressing. This is why, along with the 12 delicious vegan salad recipes, I’ve incuded my favorite salad dressings too!
1. Smashed Potato Salad
For many people in North America, potato salad was a staple growing up. This smashed potato salad is not only a great vegan alternative to the traditional dish, it adds extra crunch tp the overall texture.
Even better, this recipe comes with creamy high-protein dressing that also works as a delicious dip.
2. Warm Brussels Sprouts Salad
Just because it’s cold outside, doesn’t mean you have to give up on salads. This warm Brussels sprouts salad is the perfect addition to Thanksgiving or Christmas feast.
It comes with mouth-watering maple and mustard vinagrette, and works wonders as a side as well as main dish.
3. Shirazi Salad Pitas
My favorite way to eat salad is when it’s in a wrap, sandwich or pita. This way, you get the entire round-up of nutrients, and it’s easy to eat.
Shirazi salad is a traditional Persian salad that originates from the city of Shiraz in southwestern Iran. It’s a refreshing and light salad that’s commonly served as a side dish or appetizer in Persian cuisine.
4. Vegan Caesar with Crispy Tofu
There is no rule that says you have to give up your favorite dishes just because you switched to a plant-based lifestyle. If you loved Caesar salad before, you’ll love this vegan version too!
5. Lentil Quinoa Salad
Between quinoa and lentils, this delicious salad offers plenty of plant-based protein. Walnuts and olive oil are both great sources of fat, and the rest of the ingredients ensure that you have enough dietary fiber.
This is honestly one of the best vegan salad recipes I have ever created, even if I say so myself.
6. Fall Apple Walnut Salad
This indulgent autumnal recipe makes use of seasonal ingredients, including apples, walnuts, kale and sweet potato. It comes with tahini maple dressing, which is simply transformative!
Most importantly, it contains vitamins and other macronutrients so necessary to survive autumn and winter.
7. Street Corn Pasta Salad
Pasta salad is a classic you simply cannot ignore! This street corn pasta salad is bursting with flavor, and the texture is out of this world. Not to mention, a large batch of this salad will keep you happy and satiated for the entire week!
8. Vegan Greek Salad in a Jar
I don’t know what it is about Greek food, but in the summer I could eat it every day. This vegan Greek salad has it all – the flavors, the texture, the nutritional value, and the looks.
Even if you consider yourself a lazy cook, this is one of the easiest vegan salad recipes. Just mix the dressing, drop the rest of the ingredients into a jar, and you’ve got yourself a stellar salad.
9. Vegan Taco Bowl
If you love a meal that has all of your essential nutrients in one bowl, this vegan taco bowl will be your new obsession. This delicious salad is inspired by classic Mexican flavors, including avocado, spicy rice, cilantro, and chipotle dressing.
10. Broccoli Crunch Salad
Broccoli is an amazingly versatile ingredient. If you come across some fresh broccoli at your local store or farmer’s market, this salad is a great way to use it!
Plus, the ingredients in this salad may be the reason you get to live longer. Research shows that eating a variety of plants is the key to gut health and longevity.
11. Strawberry Cucumber Salad
Fruit salads and smoothies are not the only way to enjoy fresh fruit and berries! Especially when you are craving something that isn’t overly sweet.
This strawberry cucumber salad is a perfect combination of flavorful, crisp, refreshing, and crunchy. Not to mention, this salad is ideal for warm days in the spring and summer, and especially when strawberries are in season!
12. Mason Jar Kale Salad
Jars are a great way to store and transport meals. With a decent lid, you can be assured that nothing will spill, and you can mix your salad by simply shaking the jar!
This mason jar kale salad is a BEAST. Loaded with kale, broccoli sprouts, sunflower seeds, and creamy caesar-style dressing, you won’t be able to get enough!
Best Salad Dressing Recipes
Without a good dressing, a salad is just a pile of ingredients. A proper dressing brings the entire thing together through flavor and texture.
You know as well as I do that when you find the perfect dressing, it is love at first sight! As a bonus, I am including my Top-5 salad dressing recipes for you to try.
Vegan Green Goddess Dressing
Whether you pour it over salad or enjoy it as a dipping sauce, this green godess dressing is out of this world!
Zero-Waste Peanut Sauce
An amazing addition to Asian-inspired vegan salad recipes, this peanut sauce doubles as a Scrappy Recipe. Next time you want to use up the dregs of peanut butter inside of a jar, make this dressing!
Tahini Turmeric Dressing
With only four simple ingredients, this salad dressing is not only delicious but simple and healthy.
Oil-Free Strawberry Vinaigrette
A vibrant and tart salad dressing, this oil-free strawberry vinaigrette perfectly complements leafy greens.
Three-Nut Salad Dressing
Another deliciously nutty sauce, this three-nut dressing features peanuts, walnuts and pecans.
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