Posted in #Recipes

30 Bright Winter Salad Recipes You’ll Crave All Season

There’s nothing I love more than enjoying a fresh salad that celebrates fruits and vegetables at their peak. In summer salads, that might mean bowls filled with sweet corn and peppery arugula or a sun-ripened peach Caprese salad with juicy tomatoes. As the weather cools, it’s all about roasted squash, blue cheese and crunchy pepitas. The best salad ingredients should shift with the seasons, and these winter salad recipes prove there’s zero excuse for sad meals, even in the coldest months.

Winter salads have their own magic. This is the moment for hearty greens like kale, radicchio and escarole that hold up beautifully to thick and creamy or light and zippy homemade salad dressings, as well as craveable add-ins, such as roasted root vegetables, caramelized squash, toasted nuts, warm grains and crumbly cheeses. It’s also peak season for citrus, pomegranates, pears and apples, bringing juicy sweetness, bright acidity and pops of color.

To add more heft and satiety to these leafy creations, top with your favorite protein, such as grilled chicken tenders, sliced flank steak or sauteed shrimp. With that in mind, get ready to bookmark these recipes that hit the sweet spot of seasonal produce, vibrant flavors and weeknight ease. They’re hearty enough for cold days and colorful enough to brighten your table.

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Posted in #Recipes

Sweet Potato Salad

Calling all potato salad lovers! Have you ever tried swapping your Yukon golds for orange-fleshed sweet potatoes? This sweet potato salad recipe is a nice change from the old-fashioned potato salad you’d expect at a cookout or potluck. Loaded with sweet potatoes, tart cherries, crunchy walnuts and fresh parsley, it’s full of nutritious whole foods that bring some color to the picnic table.

Sweet Potato Salad Ingredients

overhead shot of all ingredients for Sweet Potato Salad; white wooden background;
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  • Sweet potatoes: This roasted sweet potato salad calls for 4 cups of cubed sweet potatoes. Depending on the size, that’s about four to six whole sweet potatoes.
  • Olive oil: Coat the sweet potatoes in 1 tablespoon of olive oil to promote roasting and caramelization. The best part of roasted sweet potatoes is always the dark, caramelized bits!
  • Walnuts: Not usually a fan of walnuts? I find that toasting the nuts brings out their rich, nutty flavor better.
  • Dried cherries: Sweet with a tart aftertaste, dried cherries are an unexpected ingredient that adds a chewy bite and dynamic flavor.
  • Parsley: Since the sweet potatoes, cherries and walnuts are heavier, richer ingredients, we’ve added fresh parsley to break up the monotony and create a bright flavor.
  • Mayonnaise: Full-fat or reduced-fat mayonnaise would work in this sweet potato salad.
  • White vinegar: Tangy and bright, white vinegar imparts freshness. Apple cider vinegar, red wine vinegar or lemon juice would work in a pinch.
  • Honey: We sweeten this recipe just a touch with a bit of honey. Make sure you’re buying real honey, and leave the fake honey on the shelf. The quality makes a difference!
  • Lime zest: I absolutely love using grated citrus zest in my cooking. The simple ingredient imparts a bright acidity that tunes up the flavors to a 10 and makes the dish taste like it came straight out of a professional kitchen.

Taste of Home