As the weather hots up and the barbecue comes out, say no to limp salad side dishes with the same old dressings. Here, we’ve created a rundown of our favourite summer salad ideas to enjoy this summer, whether that’s as a main, a side to accompany your favourite barbecued food, or a healthy light lunch. Whatever the scenario, tuck in to these delicious dishes below. 

It’s all about the aubergines

In our first salad, you’ll find plenty of healthy, filling ingredients such as aubergine, bulgur wheat and chickpeas, accompanied by juicy tomatoes, peppers and delicious spices. Who knew cinnamon could make such a difference to a savoury salad?

If you’re not keen on chickpeas, or simple want to mix it up a bit, try adding cannellini beans or butter beans instead. 

Pack up a punch

This Broccoli Super Bowl Salad is a great option for packed lunches. Deliciously balanced, it’s got everything you need to enjoy a complete meal, and you can always “top it up” by adding garlic bread or focaccia. It’s creamy thanks to the feta, crunchy thanks to the broccoli and carrot, and zesty and flavoursome thanks to the lime, orange segments and soy sauce - de-lish.

A touch of sophistication

A salad that’s easy to prepare, delicious, and can easily be used as a starter at a dinner party, this Clementine and Blue Cheese Salad is ideal. There are just five ingredients - clementines, watercress, blue cheese, cranberry sauce and a little olive oil, so it’s an excellent choice if you want sophistication that’s fuss-free.

Make a (main) meal of it

Chicken salad is a dish that’s passed the test of time, but in our take on the classic, you’ll find broccoli, a homemade garlic and chive dressing and the delicious addition of blackened cauliflower. There’s enough texture and variety of flavour in this dish to make one tasty main meal, or you could simply leave out the chicken and serve it as a side dish instead. 

Frying the cauliflower for a short time as this recipe explains means you can add a nice crunchy-nutty flavour to the dish, while still adding fresh and healthy ingredients (as opposed to relying on ingredients like croutons for this). 

Dinner in an instant

Another chicken recipe to grace our favourites list, this salad is packed full of flavour. Filling, tasty and healthy (you’ll find superfoods such as blueberries and almonds in this dish), you can whip it up quickly and easily for a midweek dish.

If you’re in need of a little more inspiration for your menu this season, take a look at our full range of summer dishes here.

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