Easy Summer Salad Recipes
Asian Noodle Salad, Chicken Pasta Salad, Blue Cheese Bruschetta
Jul 15, 2007
Quick and Easy Summer Salads
Picnics and barbeques are some of summer's simplest pleasures. And, while the idea of a picnic or barbeque is simple: 1) Make some food 2) head outside 3) eat, ...there still are challenges to the execution of the perfect picnic fare. You have to find food that is easy to transport, and can maintain a bit of a temperature transition.
When you're asked to bring a side dish to your next picnic or barbeque but don't want to go with the standard potato salad, try one of the following choices for a delicious, easy change of pace.
The following recipes make for perfect picnic and barbeque fare because they are easily transportable, and are delicious warm or cold. None contain milk, eggs, or mayonnaise, the ingredients that are most temperature sensitive. In addition, they can go from container to plate with ease.
Spicy Asian Noodle Salad
Ingredients
- 6 tablespoons peanut butter
- 1/4 cup low-salt chicken broth
- 3 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 tablespoon oriental sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon minced peeled fresh ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 8 ounces linguine
- 1 large orange bell pepper, thinly sliced
- ½ yellow pepper, thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup chopped green onions
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
- 1/4 cup chopped salted peanuts
Combine first 8 ingredients in small bowl; whisk to blend. Set dressing aside.
Cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water until just tender but still firm to bite, stirring occasionally. Drain pasta and rinse with cold water and drain again. In a medium bowl, stir together pasta, peppers and onions. Pour dressing over; toss to coat. Season salad with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with cilantro and peanuts. Serve warm or chilled.
Additions to make an easy main course:
- 1 cup cooked diced chicken
- or 1 cup cooked shrimp
Chicken, Feta Cheese and Sundried Tomato Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 2 chicken Breasts, diced
- 2 T olive oil
- 1 cup diced sundried tomatoes, with juices
- 1 cup cubed Feta cheese
- ½ red onion, diced
- 1 cucumber, diced, meat only
- 2 tsp. white wine vinegar
- 1 tsp. lemon juice
- 1 T garlic salt
- 1 tsp basil
- ½ tsp tarragon
- 8 oz. pasta noodles, such as Rotini or shells
Saute chicken breasts in 1 T olive oil on stove until cooked through. Let cool completely, Meanwhile, cook pasta according to package directions. Rinse in cool water, and drain completely. Stir chicken and remaining ingredients into pasta. Chill until ready to serve.
Tomato, Kalamata and Blue Cheese Bruschetta
Ingredients
- 1 tomato, diced
- ½ red onion, diced
- 1 cup diced Kalamata olives
- ½ cup crumbled Blue cheese
- 1 T Balsamic vinegar
- 1 T olive oil
- ½ tsp garlic salt
- ¼ tsp pepper
Mix all ingredients together. Serve on pita chips or firm toast points.
