Say Hello To Spring With These 12 Healthy Salad Recipe

Spring is in the air, and with that comes arugula, spinach, avocado, mangoes, fava beans, sweet peas and lots of greens. There is nothing like a fresh salad, especially when the weather is starting to get warm. 

Typically a salad is served before the main entrée, as a main course itself, or as a side dish accompanying the main dish. You can always use a little zesty flavor in your life, which is complemented perfectly in combination with a salad, especially because it comes from the Latin word salata, which means "salty."

Salads have multiple benefits as well, including vitamin sources of A, C, and K, in addition to minerals, such as iron and calcium. Salads are paired nicely with wine. If the salad has seafood or poultry with a cream based dressing, it goes well with a riesling or albarino. Pinot grigio, sauvignon blanc, and other white wines go well with lemon dressings.

For crisp, crunchy spring salads to try this season, check out our roundup of 12 salad recipes perfect for lunch on a warm, spring day.

Take a trip down under with this Australian pea salad! It switches up the typical salad, which is certainly refreshing! The peas, red pepper, and water chestnuts bring a savory flavor to life. You mix mustard, dill, yogurt, and salt and pepper together to create a nice dressing texture and flavor.

For the Australian Pea Salad recipe, click here.

This avocado salad steals the spotlight! Who doesn't love avocado? This delicious spring salad includes avocado, arugula, and parmesan cheese, creating a tasty contrast of flavors! You can add chicken to it and almonds as well. There's just so many ways you can have it! Enjoy!

For the Avocado Salad recipe, click here.

This delicious salad is famously made at the Sea Fire Grill. However; if you can't make it to the restaurant you can just make it at home yourself! The balsamic dressing complements the cheese, cranberries, and pecans nicely. It adds crunch and zest to the lettuce. Plus, who doesn't love blue cheese?! Indulge in this classic favorite, you deserve it!

For the Bibb Lettuce Salad With Blue Cheese and Candied Pecans recipe, click here.

Sometimes spring salads have a simplistic charm. This salad proves that! With an appropriate combination of tuna, butter beans, and celery — mixed in with lemon juice, chives, and Dijon mustard vinaigrette — it packs a punch. An added bonus: It only takes 20 minutes to make!

For the Butter Bean, Tuna, and Celery Salad recipe, click here.

My Big Fat Greek Salad! This classic, light, and tasty Greek salad can be a side dish or an entrée depending on how you dress it up. You can add chicken or shrimp to it to make it an entrée, or leave them out and keep it as a side dish or appetizer. The savory feta cheese, onion slices, tomatoes, and cucumbers go smoothly with the fresh mint. Indulge in this classic salad that is sure to please!

For the Greek Salad recipe, click here.

It's a colorful, pretty salad, which is why it's called the Photogenic Shaved Zucchini Salad. Trust us, it tastes as good as it looks. The cheese, tomatoes, and ribbons of zucchini create a beautiful and delicious salad.

For the Photogenic Shaved Zucchini Salad (Made for Instagram) recipe, click here.

There is nothing like a Middle Eastern dish in the spring and summer! This fattoush proves it. This dish is allergy-friendly and full of spring vegetables! (Which is just what you need this spring season.) It contains parsley, tomatoes, plentils, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and cider vinegar. It tastes like spring!

For the Plentil Fattoush (Israeli Salad) With Lentil Chips recipe, click here.

Who doesn't love strawberries? This salad tastes like spring. It features crisp, fresh, strawberries and tender, crunchy, chicken. When fruit is in season, you have to utilize it and take advantage. This is the season we have all been waiting for: strawberry season! The crumbled blue cheese, diced avocado, and fresh strawberries pair together gorgeously. This is a salad that can serve as a meal!

For the Spicy Chicken & Strawberry Salad recipe, click here.

This spinach and cranberry salad is just what you've been craving this spring! It has feta cheese, pumpkin seeds, cranberries, and spinach all whipped together to create a light dinner or a delicious and healthy side dish.

For the Spinach Cranberry Salad recipe, click here.

Sharp Cheddar cheese, sweet strawberries, and savory lemon dressing create the perfect spring salad. The chives added in give it the crunch you've been missing! This salad is a healthy choice as well; it contains loads of vitamins and calcium.

For the Strawberry, Cheddar, and Chive Spring Salad recipe, click here.

'Tis the season for quinoa! Right now healthy quinoa is all the rage. This salad features tofu, bell peppers, pine nuts, corn, and quinoa. It looks so colorful and cute! It has some major benefits as well, such as the fact it is cholesterol-free and low in saturated fat. Who says salads that taste good have to be fattening and unhealthy? This proves that stigma to be false!

For the Tofu and Quinoa Salad recipe, click here.

Mangia! Spring time calls for panzanella, also known as Tuscan Bread Salad. This goes great with any Italian dish that you are preparing, and it's perfect for the warm-weather months. It contains bread, anchovies, cherry tomatoes, celery, bell peppers, cucumber, onion, capers, garlic, and basil. Plus, red wine vinegar and olive oil give it the light flavor that this season calls for! We swear you'll feel like you're Under the Tuscan Sun. Make this and you can live la bella vita!

For the Tuscan Bread Salad recipe, click here.