7 Salads That Know How to Celebrate Summer Fruit
Matt Armendariz, 2013, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved
Sweet strawberries. Juicy peaches. Luscious mango. If you're looking for ways to upgrade a salad, fruits in their prime are an excellent place to start.
Sweet figs are at hitting their stride right about now -- and are the perfect complement to bitter greens, bacon and black pepper in this frisee salad.
Matt Armendariz, 2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved
Here, honeydew melon sweetens up peppery arugula. Melon slices are pureed with fresh herbs, a bit of mayo and lime juice, creating a refreshing dressing that gets tossed with the greens and additional melon pieces.
Kana Okada, 2012, Kana Okada
Not your average grain salad, this sweet-spicy adaptation calls upon mango, cucumber, jalapeno, scallions, fresh cilantro and roasted peanuts -- all tossed with rice and quinoa.
Con Poulos, 2010. Con Poulos Photography
This restaurant-quality salad is easy to pull off at home. Boiling the peaches and tomatoes helps bring out their natural sweetness while pureeing basil with olive oil, salt and pepper creates a pesto-like sauce that keeps things fresh (and fancy). A dollop of ricotta cheese topped with toasted almond slivers makes for a savory finish.
Matt Armendariz, 2013, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved
Strawberries don't have to spell dessert. In fact, they offer a perfect way to temper a peppery green like arugula.
Tomatoes: Tomato Caesar Salad with Parmesan Crisps
Wherever you fall in the "are-tomatoes-a-fruit-or-a-vegetable" debate, there's no denying their awesomeness in this lighter take on a Caesar salad. Juicy heirloom tomatoes are sliced and topped with a homemade Caesar dressing, watercress and mouth-watering bacon-Parmesan crisps.
Anna Williams Prop Stylist: Marina Malchin 917 751 2855
Chunks of juicy watermelon and crunchy jicama get tossed in a zesty dressing starring fresh orange juice, lime juice and honey. A sprinkling of fresh mint at the end makes the whole deal utterly refreshing.
Abigail Libers is a freelance writer and editor living in Brooklyn. She is also the creator and editor of notesonfatherhood.tumblr.com.