The Best Cold Summer Salads – Perfect for Labor Day Outdoor BBQ Picnic!

Another light and refreshing BBQ summer salad is this Salmon Kale Salad! Made with the best whole-food ingredients, this salad is complete in all the micro and micronutrients that can support your body and help you feel satisfied and energized. Plus, grilled salmon is truly on another level! To top this light salad, my incredible Lemon Black Pepper Vinaigrette. A creamy and light dressing that can turn even the saddest salads happy! For a plant-based dish, you can swap the salmon with some marinated tofu or tempeh!

Perfect for both an outdoor BBQ dinner with family or friends, but also to bring at work the day after, this cold broccoli salad is the perfect compromise between health and taste! The colorful raw veggies contained in this cold summer salad are not only richer in vitamins and minerals than cooked ones. They also give a special crunch to the mix! In contrast, my creamy and light pear vinaigrette (made with pureed pear, vinegar, extra-virgin olive oil, and honey) perfectly complements the texture of the salad, in a harmony of flavors and consistencies. I love to pair it with some grilled tofu or chicken for some protein. Plus, a couple of slices of sourdough bread for some healthy carbs!

This healthy cherry gorgonzola salad is an alternative way to consume this amazing fruit, rich in powerful antioxidants, potassium, magnesium, and calcium. Plus, juicy cherries along with creamy gorgonzola are certainly a match made in heaven! Additionally, the shaved almonds give a crunchy element to the mix! Last but not least, the sour-sweet vinaigrette made with lemon, maple, and mustard goes so well with the sweetness of the cherries and the tanginess of the arugula and gorgonzola. For a fully plant-based BBQ salad, swap the honey in the vinaigrette with an equal amount of maple syrup. In addition, substitute the gorgonzola with some plant-based feta cheese.

Sometimes a BBQ salad just doesn’t do it without all the fixings! Therefore, this cold broccoli salad still includes cheddar and bacon but is made lighter to greatly reduce the guilt. Plus, the tangy and creamy dressing I came up with is super tasty and will give a lot of taste to this healthy salad recipe, without adding unnecessary calories. To make it, all you need are some Greek yogurt, lemon, mustard, and just a touch of mayonnaise. Everyone will ask you for the recipe! For a plant-based salad, swap the cheese and yogurt with their plant-based counterparts and omit the bacon.

This colorful Mexican Street Corn Salad recipe is great for a trip to the beach or picnic. Contrarily to traditional Mexican salad, this one contains lots of colorful veggies, hence the name “healthfully loaded”. I recommend serving it with some grilled chicken, or tofu for a plant-based salad.