29 Epic Salad Recipes

This time of year, all I want to eat are big, fresh, colorful salads. So, I rounded up a casual twenty-nine of my favorites for you to…

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29 epic salad recipes

This time of year, all I want to eat are big, fresh, colorful salads. So, I rounded up a casual twenty-nine of my favorites for you to enjoy. You can always view my full salad archives here.

If you have a copy of my cookbook, crack open the salads chapter! You’ll find eleven more of my favorite salads, plus four of my go-to homemade salad dressings, side salad suggestions for each season, and a five-step guide to designing your own epic salad.

Salads keep best when the dressing is stored separately from the rest. I like to make a big batch of salad and keep it in the fridge for whenever hunger strikes. Just drizzle dressing into individual portions and enjoy. What kind of salad would you like to see next?

Truly the best Italian chopped salad recipe! It's vegetarian (easily vegan), too.

1) Vegetarian Italian Chopped Salad

Gluten free and easily vegan

“I made your vegetarian Italian chop salad recipe. I loved it. The Italian dressing was better the second day. Great recipe! I added some chopped grilled chicken for my husband who is not vegetarian. It is one of the best vegetable salads I have eaten. I will make it often” – Donna

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Mixed Berry Crisp (Gluten Free)

How about a fruity treat? On a summer evening, there’s not much better than a warm homemade crisp with cold vanilla ice cream. This mixed berry crisp…

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mixed berry crisp with serving spoon

How about a fruity treat? On a summer evening, there’s not much better than a warm homemade crisp with cold vanilla ice cream. This mixed berry crisp is the perfect use for those wonderful in-season berries. It’s easy to make (far less fussy than a pie) and just as good.

You can make this crisp with any combination of strawberries, blueberries, blackberries or raspberries—use all four or just a couple. Or, use it as a template for a single-berry crisp (here’s a more straightforward blueberry crisp recipe). You can’t go wrong.

berries for berry crisp

This mixed berry crisp recipe is the latest addition to my growing collection of crisps on the blog. Like most of the others, this recipe just so happens to be gluten free, easily made vegan, and naturally sweetened.

I love the combination of oats and almond flour in the topping—the result is golden and crisp on top, and tender underneath. The topping keeps well to enjoy leftovers for several days. I like to eat it for breakfast with plain Greek yogurt. Why not?

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Cilantro Hemp Pesto

Looking for an easy way to liven up your meals? Add a fresh sauce! Let me introduce you to my latest favorite—this refreshing cilantro and hemp seed…

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cilantro hemp pesto recipe

Looking for an easy way to liven up your meals? Add a fresh sauce! Let me introduce you to my latest favorite—this refreshing cilantro and hemp seed pesto. It’s made simply with fresh cilantro, hemp seeds, garlic, optional jalapeño (for some heat) and olive oil.

Even if you typically don’t love cilantro, there’s a strong chance you’ll enjoy this sauce. My husband is typically in the “no cilantro” camp, but he kept going back for spoonfuls of this pesto.

how to make cilantro hemp pesto

I’m using the term “pesto” loosely here, since traditional basil pesto is made with basil, pine nuts and Parmesan. Instead of pine nuts, I used hemp seeds, which are high in protein and key minerals, including potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron and zinc.

When blended, the hemp seeds become so nice and creamy that this sauce tastes complete without cheese. This nut-free and dairy-free pesto would be great with basil as well.

This recipe is inspired by a cilantro-hemp sauce that I enjoyed at True Foods Kitchen in Kansas City. They serve it on their “Ancient Grains Bowl,” which is topped with sweet potatoes, onions, portobello mushrooms and avocado. Naturally, this sauce goes well with all of the above, as well as almost any meal with Mexican-inspired flavors. You’ll find more ideas below!

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Gluten-Free Banana Bread (Made with Almond Flour)

Are we still baking banana bread? Is that still a thing? Of course it is. I developed this gluten-free banana bread recipe in response to one of…

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gluten-free banana bread recipe

Are we still baking banana bread? Is that still a thing? Of course it is. I developed this gluten-free banana bread recipe in response to one of the most common questions on my healthy banana bread recipe: “Can I make this with almond flour?”

While my go-to banana bread recipe offers other gluten-free options within the post (including a delicious oat flour option), the almond flour answer is not as straightforward. I think it took me seven tries to get this recipe just right!

This version required several modifications, so I’m sharing it as its own recipe today. I’ll also walk you through how I modified the recipe to work with almond flour, which might be helpful if it’s your preferred flour, or you happen to have a surplus in your pantry.

gluten-free banana bread ingredients

This banana bread is very tender, moist and decadent. These qualities are natural by-products of using almond flour and additional eggs to hold the bread together. This “bread” almost reminds me of pound cake in texture, and it could definitely pass as banana cake—perhaps you’d like to top it with cream cheese frosting.

While it’s different in texture from my favorite banana bread, this gluten-free banana bread is awesome in its own right. Like the other recipe, it’s easy to mix together—by hand, in one bowl, no less! It’s also naturally sweetened with honey or maple syrup. And, I believe it qualifies as paleo as well. Ready to make some?

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Easy Pineapple Mint Popsicles

Craving a refreshing summer treat? An easy little project? Something sweet, but not too sweet? These minty pineapple ice pops are just the ticket. They’re made with…

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pineapple mint popsicles recipe

Craving a refreshing summer treat? An easy little project? Something sweet, but not too sweet? These minty pineapple ice pops are just the ticket. They’re made with just two ingredients—pineapple and mint!

These popsicles are naturally sweetened with fruit alone. I actually make my pops with frozen pineapple, which is easy and inexpensive.

how to make pineapple popsicles

This recipe was inspired by a popsicle we enjoyed on a hot summer afternoon in Nashville last year. I insisted that we stop at Las Paletas for popsicles, even though our bellies were still full from lunch.

As our popsicles dripped onto the porch in the heat, I made a mental note to make similar popsicles at home. We can’t hop over to Nashville right now, but at least we can enjoy some cold pops in the backyard!

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Tangy Lentil Salad with Dill & Pepperoncini

Some of my recipes start off with a strong concept or challenge, while others are designed to satisfy a craving. This lentil salad falls into the latter…

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tangy lentil salad in blue bowl

Some of my recipes start off with a strong concept or challenge, while others are designed to satisfy a craving. This lentil salad falls into the latter camp. It’s exactly what I’ve been craving lately.

This salad is tangy, crisp-tender, a little spicy, and quite satisfying. The earthy lentils and carrots ground the more bold flavors, so they’re not too overwhelming.

tangy lentil salad ingredients

Dill, tahini and pepperoncini peppers aren’t everyone’s favorite ingredients, I know. I love them—the more, the better. If you’re not a fan, you’ll find some options to change up the recipe in the notes.

Better yet, try my Greek lentil salad with spinach and sun-dried tomatoes, or my lemony lentil and chickpea salad with mint. Those are both safer bets!

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What to Cook This June

Hooray for June! The sun is shining and I’m looking forward to summertime activities with Grace. I’ve been brainstorming fun recipes for summer produce (my favorite) and working…

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Learn what's in season this month at cookieandkate.com!

Hooray for June! The sun is shining and I’m looking forward to summertime activities with Grace. I’ve been brainstorming fun recipes for summer produce (my favorite) and working on our garden lately.

Since I reach for fresh chives so often when cooking scrambled eggs, I’m also growing some herbs by the window. I found this narrow planter (affiliate link) that has a water reservoir at the bottom. So far, so good! Herbs are so thirsty!

This month, seasonal produce options are expanding to include fresh fruit like blueberries and strawberries, rhubarb and cherries. I think I’ll make a crisp soon. The only question is which kind—blueberry, mixed berry or strawberry rhubarb? Asparagus and spring peas are on their way out, so get your fill of them while you can.

Avocado

Mexican avocado dip recipe

Creamy Avocado Dip

Gluten free and vegan

“Another dinner success! This was surprisingly tasty. I honestly passed this up thinking “eh” but then my friends had a fiesta dinner and I was dying for an excuse not to eat their steak or ground beef tacos so I made the refried beans for my tacos. Tonight I made the avocado sauce and pickled onions with it….YUM. And super easy!!” – Erin

More avocado recipes »
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50+ Fresh Memorial Day Recipes

We’ve almost made it to the weekend! Here are 50+ fresh, healthy and delicious recipes to commemorate Memorial Day. I’ve organized them by breakfast and brunch, appetizers…

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healthy memorial day recipes

We’ve almost made it to the weekend! Here are 50+ fresh, healthy and delicious recipes to commemorate Memorial Day. I’ve organized them by breakfast and brunch, appetizers and dips, salads and sides, main dishes, desserts and sweet treats, and cold drinks.

I pulled all of these recipes from the “Independence Day” category, so check there for even more options. In actuality, these recipes are perfectly suited for summer parties from now through Labor Day.

This is our first Memorial Day with Grace, and my parents are coming up to see her. We’re looking forward to some low-key family time and the farmers’ market. Cheers to the long weekend!

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How to Make Flax “Eggs”

Let’s talk about flax eggs! We’re living in a strange alternate reality where flaxseed is often easier to find than actual eggs. Flax eggs, made simply with…

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how to make a flax egg

Let’s talk about flax eggs! We’re living in a strange alternate reality where flaxseed is often easier to find than actual eggs. Flax eggs, made simply with ground flaxseed and water, are a pantry-friendly substitute that just might save you a trip to the store. In fact, you can also make chia seed “eggs” using this technique, if you have those on hand.

If you’re vegan or have an egg allergy in your family, you may be well familiar with flax eggs already. I didn’t invent them and I don’t know who did, but I’ve learned a lot about them over the years.

I’ve been guilty of referencing flax eggs as a substitution option without providing more detail. Now, I can link to this page so you’ll know what the heck I’m talking about. Today, you might learn more than you ever wanted to know.

flax egg ingredients

Flax eggs work well when they’re a small component in baked goods, pancakes, and other flour-based recipes. Flax eggs yield a “gluey” substance similar to egg whites, which helps bind ingredients together. They also contain some fat, like real yolks do. As a bonus, they also offer some fiber, which you won’t find in real eggs.

Unfortunately, flax eggs don’t offer as much structural support as real eggs, and they definitely don’t work in egg-focused recipes like scrambled eggs or frittatas.

Flax eggs are an imperfect substitute, but in the right recipe, they can work great!

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25 Fresh Mother’s Day Recipes

Mother’s Day snuck up on me this year! I’ve rounded up my favorite spring-y recipes for the last-minute people like me. Let’s celebrate our loving mamas with…

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Find 25 fresh vegetarian recipes for Mother's Day, plus last-minute gift ideas from Cookie and Kate!

Mother’s Day snuck up on me this year! I’ve rounded up my favorite spring-y recipes for the last-minute people like me. Let’s celebrate our loving mamas with home-cooked meals all weekend long.

If you’re looking for a way to connect virtually this weekend, I have an idea for you. Maybe you could schedule a virtual baking session together? My muffin recipes, for example, are simple enough to make while you’re chatting. They’re all stirred together by hand, so you won’t be interrupted by any loud mixers. I’d make the blueberry muffins! (If you’re out of regular flour, homemade oat flour is a viable alternative.)

Below, you’ll find fresh, vegetarian recipes organized by category—from savory and sweet brunch options, to salads and sides, main dishes and desserts. For even more options, you could peruse my spring brunch roundup. I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Brunch Recipes

healthy blueberry muffins recipe

Looking for a simple, foolproof brunch combo? Make a frittata and breakfast potatoes, and serve with mimosas.

Savory

Sweet

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