Recipe for Summer Salad – This Recipe for Summer Salad is filled with all of the delicious flavors of summer! Loaded with raspberries and walnuts, and drizzled with a tart and tangy homemade raspberry vinaigrette, this is one of my absolute favorite summer salads!
The best part about this recipe is that it really is so simple. Requiring only a few ingredients, yet full of flavor, and easy to make! Keep reading to learn more, and enjoy this salad all summer long!
Recipe for Summer Salad
What makes the perfect summer salad? Well, in my mind, it’s one that includes fresh, light ingredients, and has some of my favorite summer produce. For me, raspberries are an absolute must each summer, and a fruit that most definitely makes it feel like summer time.
The best thing about this particular salad dish is that it is incredibly versatile and can easily be dressed up or down all summer long. It fits right in as a dinner party starter, makes the perfect baby shower luncheon salad, and yet still manages to be right at home at the family summer BBQ.
Ingredients
Like I mentioned above, this Recipe for Summer Salad is simple, and light. Here are the ingredients I used to whip up this sweet salad.
Butter Lettuce: Lately, I’ve been all about using butter lettuce in my recipes. And while it includes incredible vitamins and nutrients, I have been particularly attracted to it due to its soft and buttery texture, and ability to be easily digested. Having IBD means that in many cases, raw veggies can be very abrasive on my digestive tract. However, butter lettuce is a different story! Known for its tender leaves, this lettuce is great for those who have difficulty with raw foods. Learn more about butter lettuce here!
Raspberries: A must-have summer berry offering a sweet and tangy flavor, raspberries were are perfect for light and fresh salads like this one! One cup of raspberries delivers a whopping 8 grams of fiber plus calcium, magnesium, vitamin C, and potassium. They really are one of those special foods that are just as healthy for you as they are delicious!
Walnuts: While more of a fall nut, walnuts are full of omega 3’s, protein, antioxidants, and more. They’re great for brain health, help support a healthy gut, and overall, just taste amazing! Read more here.
Vegan Feta: While adding cheese is totally optional for this salad, something about a soft and smooth feta cheese just really amps of the flavor for me! Want to learn how to make a clean vegan feta on your own? Try this one!
Recipe for Raspberry Vinaigrette
As for my homemade raspberry vinaigrette, I’ve actually been collecting a variety of raspberry vinaigrette recipes for a while now. As I started digging through my recipe pile, I noticed that just about every recipe for homemade raspberry vinaigrette didn’t actually use fresh raspberries, but raspberry vinegar instead. Unfortunately I did not have raspberry vinegar on hand, and besides, I really wanted to make homemade raspberry vinaigrette with fresh raspberries. These, I just so happened to have tons of.
I figured I had nothing to lose experimenting to see what sort of tart and tangy raspberry vinaigrette I could concoct. I tried several versions but the one below was clearly the hands-down winner. Tangy and sweet, this Recipe for Raspberry Vinaigrette is one I’ve used time-and-time again ever since!
Raspberry vinaigrette even makes a great dip for carrots, celery, red pepper strips and fennel strips (a fun alternative to celery strips.)
Oh! and be sure to use fresh not frozen raspberries when making homemade raspberry vinaigrette. While I do use frozen raspberries a lot for smoothies, for this recipe fresh is really best.
Summer Salad Recipes
Looking for more summer salad recipes? Look no further! Here are some of our favorites.
Recipe for Thai Salad: Made with only gluten and dairy-free ingredients, this Recipe for Thai Salad is one you can feel confident serving for all to enjoy!
Chopped Cabbage as Salad: Chopped Cabbage as Salad is the perfect crunchy summer salad. This recipe for Cabbage as Salad is a little tangy, a little sweet and savory.
Healthy Pasta Salad Recipe: Healthy Pasta Salad Recipe is both gluten free and very, very healthy. It’s loaded with vegetables, super easy to make & delicious to eat!
Now since we’ve talked all about our salad, let’s get into the full recipe!
Kitchen Favorites
Recipe for Summer Salad
This Recipe for Summer Salad is loaded with raspberries, walnuts, and drizzled with a tart and tangy vinaigrette.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Ingredients
Recipe for Summer Salad
- 4 cups butter lettuce
- 2 cups fresh raspberries
- 1/4 cup raw walnuts
- 1/4 cup vegan feta, or desired amount
Recipe for Raspberry Vinaigrette
- 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 pitted dates
- 1/4 cup fresh raspberries
- 1/4 cup flax oil
- Himalayan pink salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
Recipe for Summer Salad
- Begin by washing and thoroughly drying butter lettuce, and raspberries.
- Combine all ingredients in a large salad bowl. Toss to combine.
Recipe for Raspberry Vinaigrette
- Combine all ingredients in a high speed blender, and blend until smooth.
- Drizzle on top of Summer Salad.
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[...] 1 bottle or 8 oz organic raspberry vinaigrette (or similar homemade dressing) [...]