Favourite main course salads

[RockingMyFiftiesNot]

Made a salad nicoise the other night when it was far too hot to think of cooking, and very refreshing it was too.
Trying to think of other options such as Caesar salad, Greek salad.
I know you can put anything in a salad, and I know there are lots of hits if you Google. Just wondered if people had any tried and tested favourites?

I am so glad I started this thread, so many fantastic recipes. Google is great but tried and tested then recommended by MN is so much better!

That said, I found this recipe when looking for ideas for leftover gammon, which is on my list to try.

~We often bake a half side of salmon (in oven in baking paper)

~ Cous cous or microwave packet of wild rice or similar

Then mix together:
Tomato’s (mixed sizes)
Cucumber
Red onion
Green beans (cooked then cooked and halved)
Feta
Red pepper
Chopped fresh mint
Dressing is just red wine vinegar and olive oil

I love grilled cherry toms, grilled halloumi with lambs leaf lettuce and beetroot or cucumber.

Not quite a salad but chopped tomatoes, cucumbers, bit of onion, dressed with lemon juice salt and olive oil next to falafel and hummus.

My current favourite is: chop up red and yellow peppers, briefly saute with some chickpeas (preferably the ones in a jar, they’re much much nicer than from a tin) prob with a bit of turmeric and salt, or lemon and salt.
At the last minute pop watercress on top then immediately take off the heat.
Plonk on plate. Serve with a yoghurt and tahini dressing and nice bread. Sometimes I stuff it into pitta.

My very favourite book is Leon’s happy salads. www.amazon.co.uk/LEON-Happy-Salads-Leons/dp/1840917180?tag=mumsnetforu03-21 I’ve not had a duff recipe from it.

Salad leaves, halloumi, palma ham (??), toasted pine nuts, peaches and balsamic drizzle.

I think Americans are very good at this - I love a Cobb salad, and chopped salads can be good (and entirely made up!!).

Probably not for a main, but in the summer I often make a pea, broad bean and feta salad with some spring onions, maybe some couscous too to bulk it out, it's always really popular - nice with some cubed pancetta too (a local deli makes something similar, so I kind of tried it at home and have added some extras along the way).

Always love a tricolour salad - we have mozzarella, tomato and avocado, ripped basil leaves on top if we've got them, maybe a drizzle of pesto (although I tend to stick with EVOO, and DH balsamic).

I agree American salads are inspired- and some classic American dressings (blue cheese; ranch; caesar; green goddess) are truly fabulous.

I am not sure what a Cobb salad is so off to google (and no doubt drool).

Even in winter our go to Saturday evening meal is roast chicken and either ranch or Caesar salad (dressings from dietdoctor.com). Low effort cooking wise but really tasty

Love this thread. I’ve ordered the Leon happy salad book.

@Todayisanewday75

Even in winter our go to Saturday evening meal is roast chicken and either ranch or Caesar salad (dressings from dietdoctor.com). Low effort cooking wise but really tasty

We always did self catering holidays when our children were younger. We'd eat out a lot but at least once a holiday we'd stick a chicken in the oven, make a massive salad, and serve with crusty bread. Eaten outside. Always one of my favourite holiday meals and no effort whatsoever.

Back in the mid 80s I was sent out to a client's office to do the audit. While I was there one of the ladies who worked in the office made a salad as part of a buffet lunch. It was lovely and I've often made it for myself since, with a few tweaks, as I doubt she was able to get mixed salad leaves back then.

My ideal mix is:
Mixed salad leaves
Little Gem, separated out into leaves
Ripe avocado, sliced or cubed (add last so it doesn't discolour)
Slivers of red pepper (also orange and/or yellow if available)
Cherry tomatoes, ideally halved so they take up some of the dressing/seasoning
Little florets of broccoli
Slices of raw mushroom
Thin slices of raw courgette (baby courgette works well in terms of size)

Proportions to taste and of course taking into account what you have in. You could easily add other salad veg/herbs to this. I usually have it with king prawns scattered on the top.

Mix and dress with vinaigrette or just a glug of EVOO and then a good squeeze of lemon juice. Plenty of salt and pepper.

I make salad from the Joe Wicks book. Sweetcorn fried over with some chilli powder and cumin. Mix with tomatoes, avocado and fried halloumi, with sweet potato chunks cooked in the microwave with lime wedges. Lime from the sweet potatoes squeezed over as a dressing. It's yummy.

Feta and watermelon is lovely in a salad

Caprese is my favourite with fresh bread and olives (but you need to buy the nice mozzarella)

@RockingMyFiftiesNot it was made by my lovely mum.My aunt did a similar salad with tinned salmon straight from the tin complete with skin etc!

Half salad / half hot, but I made a Korean Chicken Bowl the other night. So easy!
Steamed carrots / tender stem broccoli. Matchstick cucumber. Avocado. Boiled rice, done sticky. Any type of chicken.
Top with a combo of Peanut Rayu, Katsu curry sauce, cashew nuts, soy sauce. Anything salty & crunchy!

Bean sprouts, mange tout, spring onion, tender stem and green beans ( lightly steamed and cooled) with noodles, prawns and cold shredded chicken, tossed together in a dressing of sesame oil, rice vinegar and chopped red chilli with half a spoon of sugar.

@sandgrown makes you appreciate the suggestions on this thread sooooo much more when you have experienced those kinds of salads!

So many wonderful ideas, thank you all x

Love all these ideas! I think pine nuts are always a really great addition, and balsamic vinegar (dipping in some amazing bread too...but not so great if trying to lose weight!)

Steak and blue cheese salad
Roasted veg and Cous Cous
Roasted sweet potato, carrots, red onion on a bed of mixed leaves and topped with goats cheese and pine nuts

I like having fruit in a savoury salad.
Apple
Pear (goes well with stilton)
Watermelon or pomegranate (goes well with halloumi)
Orange (goes well with carrot ribbons)
You could try adding bulghar wheat or quinoa too.