Being a vegetarian doesn’t mean you can’t vary up the plain old salads you eat every lunchtime.
There is a bundle of different recipes to change up those lettuce leaves and leave your mouth bursting with flavor and this article is about to take you through some of these. With so many easy and delicious recipes out there, we’ve narrowed them down to the ones you are going to want to keep making and eating every day.
The list includes both summer favorites and winter warmers including quinoa recipes, chickpea salads, different types of bean salads, egg salads, and of course, a firm favorite, the avocado salad.
These salads are not only great for lunch but are also super versatile meaning you could whip one up quickly as a side salad at your next dinner party or bulk one out to make it for you and your partner as an evening meal.
So, let’s jump to it!
Avocado and Cucumber Salad
This salad takes a little bit extra preparation and involves you making a ribbon out of your cucumber with your peeler. Add some avocado, tamari sauce, sesame and garlic oil, and sesame seeds and you’re on to a winner.
This type of salad is filling enough to be a substantial snack but served up with some veggie sushi and you’ve got yourself a Japanese banquet.
Egg Salad with Avocado
This avocado egg salad is simply a classic egg salad with an avocado twist. Forget the mayo and instead use avocado, dill, red onion, basil, and some red peppers. It’s low carb, yet when used as a dip for some crusty bread can make a healthy, delicious, and filling lunchtime favorite.
Chickpea Avocado Feta Salad
Packed with veggies and packed with protein, this avocado chickpea salad is perfect for those colder winter days. With chickpea, feta cheese, avocado, cabbage, and beetroot, your plate promises to be not only packed with flavor but also packed with color.
Arugula Salad with Avocado and Tomatoes
Enjoy this salad with some crusty loaf bread and houmous for your new favorite lunch. It’s made with arugula, basil, tomatoes, avocado, cucumber, green pepper, olive oil, lemon juice, sesame seeds, and plenty of salt and pepper and can be surprisingly filling.
It’s the perfect summer recipe, packed with healthy vitamins and antioxidants.
Mashed White Bean Salad
Although this is technically a salad, this recipe works well as a spread to put on some wholegrain bread. It’s not mashed but uses a food processor instead.
It only takes five minutes and is filled with white beans, capers, garlic, arugula, basil, cilantro, paprika, lemon juice, and olive oil. Top with some avocado and sesame seeds if you want to bulk it out even more or you’re feeling extra hungry.
Tomato Mint Salad
This salad is great if you have tomatoes that need using up and the mint and sesame seeds mean it’s bursting with flavor. It’s simple to make and can be super refreshing in the summer.
It can be eaten on its own but as a side dish, works well with pretty much everything. All you will need is some fresh and juicy tomatoes, mint, sesame seeds, onion, and olive oil.
Mediterranean Black Bean Salad
This black bean salad is packed full of fiber, antioxidants, vitamins, and most of all protein thanks to the generous amount of black beans, fresh herbs, and veggies.
It can be made in ten minutes and all you need is black beans, herbs and arugula, feta cheese, olives, sesame seeds, roasted peppers, pickled jalapenos, garlic, scallions, lemon juice, and some olive oil.
The combination of flavors in this salad is like no other and it’s also nut-free, grain-free, and gluten-free for those with intolerances or food sensitivities.
Avocado Corn Feta Salad
If you have some corn on the cob left over or some zucchini that needs to be used up, this could be the salad for you. It’s delicious, filling, simply satisfying, and super simple to make for lunch or as a side plate at dinner. It is however made up of so many ingredients that your plate will turn into a rainbow.
These ingredients include avocado, corn on the corb, lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, zucchini, olives, red onion, parsley, garlic, olive oil, feta cheese, lemon juice, flax or sesame seeds, and plenty of salt and pepper.
Quinoa Tabbouleh Salad
A quinoa salad that promises to impress, tabbouleh is a traditional famous salad that originates from Lebanon and Syria. In its original form, it is usually made with bulgur, parsley, and mint but this gluten-free vegan version is made with quinoa and tastes great with a big dollop of houmous.
Simply mix together quinoa, parsley, arugula, onion, tomato, lemon and lemon juice, olive oil, and generous amounts of black pepper.
Avocado Quinoa Salad with Herbs
If you’ve got some extra quinoa lying around, add it to this delicious salad for a tasty lunchtime treat. This salad is a great detox that is anti-inflammatory and packed with vitamins, fiber, iron, and protein.
Add your quinoa to a bowl along with bell peppers, olives, spring onions, avocado, tomatoes, arugula, basil, parsley, vinegar, lemon juice, olive oil, and salt to season.
Tomato and Cucumber Salad
Tomato and cucumbers are a staple to any salad but why not try creating one simply made of just the two ingredients? Add some olive oil and dried herbs, as well as some parsley and garlic, and finish with some feta cheese for the ultimate side salad.
Serve with grilled veggie kebabs off of a BBQ, with Mexican dishes such as quesadillas, or even with your favorite veggie burger. We promise this salad is full of spice, flavor, and punch.
Tomato Chickpea Salad with Basil
If your tomatoes are perfectly ripe, go ahead and make this protein-packed salad filled with basil, chickpeas, peppers, cilantro, spring onions, carrot, and of course tomatoes. Add sesame oil and seeds for flavor, along with balsamic vinegar and nigella seeds and you will be full for hours.
It’s simple to make and the most work you’ll be doing is chopping your veggies and working in a can of chickpeas. It’s also bursting with color and the nigella seeds make it extra pretty.
Quinoa Roasted Vegetable Salad
Roast all of your favorite veggies and whack them in a bowl with some quinoa for a simple, delicious dish. We recommend using cauliflower, bell pepper, sweet potato, and carrot, but change these veggies up to whatever is in season.
Add in some feta cheese, fresh greens, tomatoes, and plenty of garlic to taste.
Garlic Chickpea Salad
If you’re a fan of garlic, you’re going to love this garlic chickpea salad packed with tomatoes and greens. The ingredients include chickpeas, garlic, tomatoes, arugula, and bell pepper with mint, olive oil, lemon juice, and plenty of salt and pepper.
The mint balances out the garlic and we promise it’s a lunchtime special infused with flavor.
Avocado Millet Salad
If you have some cooked millet in the house, this is your chance to use it up. Millet is an ancient grain and is healthy and nutritious, perfect for vegetarian salads. It’s also gluten-free and works well with a range of different plant-based recipes.
This salad recipe calls for millet, tomatoes, cucumber, avocado, onion, lettuce, arugula, soy sauce, sesame oil, sesame seeds, flaxseed, and lots of salt and pepper.
It’s refreshing and satisfying at the same time and makes a change from your simple everyday salads. If you don’t like millet, you can use another whole grain instead such as quinoa, brown rice, or bulgur.
High-Fiber Salad
This high-fiber salad can be made in eight minutes and promises to leave you feeling great. It will improve your overall gut health and is also vegan and gluten-free.
It’s packed with veggies, lettuce, and olives, with white beans, walnuts, and corn as well as lemon and balsamic vinegar to taste. Adding walnuts keeps those omega-3 levels up whilst also adding extra crunch and flavor.
Simple Avocado and Chickpea Salad
Avocados and chickpeas are two staple ingredients in vegetarian dishes, both filling and packed with health benefits. They can also make the perfect summer salad.
Add in tomatoes, radishes, and arugula along with your scallions, cucumber, olives, and feta, and mix with some olive oil and vinegar. If you want to spice things up a bit, pop some walnuts on top for extra crunch.
Final Thoughts
We hope by reading this article you’ve got some inspiration to change up your everyday lunchtime salad and are keen to try out some of these new recipes for yourself.
Serve them up on their own for a filling and delicious lunch or turn them into a side salad to dish up at your next dinner party. A lot of these salads are also gluten-free and vegan, so are perfect for those with dietary requirements.
Feel free to change and adapt these recipes to your liking and before you know it, you’ll have a new firm favorite.
