40 delicious salads that will be huge this Christmas
Every Christmas feast needs a gorgeous salad, and these recipes are guaranteed to be a hit on your table this holiday season.
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All the festive staples like potato and pasta, some layered showstoppers and shareable platters, these are the Christmas salads we think everyone will be bookmarking not just for the big feast but for the whole of summer. Don’t worry, they’re not all super-fancy – there are lots of affordable options too that will still wow a crowd.
From a nice and simple Italian salad to a crispy fish taco salad with baja dressing, here are 40 recipes from taste.com.au that will go perfectly with your Christmas roasts.
Ancient grain salad with haloumi
There are many versions of ancient grain salad, which isn’t surprising after you’ve tried it: it’s hearty, healthy and incredibly delicious. It’s fabulous as a side to any meat dish, but also substantial enough to serve as a main for vegetarians.
Made of lettuce, tomatoes, red onion, olives, croutons and a flavour-packed dressing, Italian salad is one of the easiest and best out there.
Creamy Cajun chicken pasta salad
Packed with cajun-spiced chicken breast and a creamy chipotle dressing, this easy pasta salad is exploding with flavour.
With crispy garlic bread croutons and a creamy mayo dressing, this easy pasta salad will be a hit with the whole crowd.
Thai mango and noodle chicken salad
This quick and easy Thai salad is full of authentic and zesty Asian flavours.
Air fryer BBQ Shapes potato salad
Here’s what you get when you take everyone’s favourite potato salad and combine it with undoubtedly the nation’s most popular Arnott’s Shapes flavour: barbecue. Add in crispy bacon and a creamy dressing.
This imaginatively-named, colourful salad started out in life as a dip. Originating in Texas (hence the use of “cowboy” in the name), it’s usually served as a party appetiser with corn chips for scooping - you might have seen it doing the rounds on TikTok.
Bocconcini and tomato pasta salad
With 8 layers of ingredients and pesto aioli dressing, this easy layered pasta salad is anything but ordinary.
Protein-packed creamy chickpea salad
If you’re looking for a new summer salad that works as a light lunch or a side for dinner. The different flavour combinations come together through the creamy, slightly tangy sauce.
Barbecued honey prawn, grapefruit and barley salad
Whether you’re entertaining or just want a quick and easy dinner, this fresh prawn salad can do it all.
This easy salad is loaded with rice, pineapple, fried noodles, peanuts and fresh vegies, and covered in a chilli and lime dressing.
Potato, pea and mint salad with creamy yoghurt dressing
The easy potato salad uses store-bought ingredients, combined with fresh in-season produce, to create a vibrant side ready in no time.
Beetroot, orange and haloumi salad with honey dressing
A touch of citrus in the honey dressing gives this fresh spring salad a zesty-yet-light kick.
Tomato salad with garlic bread
Looking for a light and fresh lunch option? Whip up this delicious tomato salad with garlic bread and serve along with fish or tender slices of beef.
Spiced beef and sweet potato salad with beetroot hummus
This hearty Middle Eastern-inspired salad is packed with 4 serves of vegies and served with chargrilled Lebanese bread.
Ready in 5 minutes, this is the ultimate lazy dinner made from convenient basics like microwave rice and pre-shredded carrot.
Introducing the ingenious hand salad! Fill baby gem leaves with summer fruit and juicy prawns, so your guests can grab their own fresh and crunchy morsel.
Lemongrass prawns with zucchini salad
Need to impress anyone? Just serve them these lemongrass prawns with zucchini salad and watch them salivate!
Wholegrain brown rice combined with legumes (lentils and beans) makes this salad a great source of plant-based protein and rich in fibre, so it is guaranteed to keep you full for longer.
Creamy potato salad with maple syrup-candied bacon
With a decadently creamy dressing and candied bacon, this loaded potato salad will be a hit.
Tomato bread salad with BBQ eggplant and capsicum
This tomato bread salad with BBQ eggplant and capsicum is the perfect accompaniment to a roast lamb or spiced chicken main.
Layered crispy bacon and creamy potato salad
We’ve taken creamy potato salad to new heights with this amazing layered version, featuring cabbage, corn, radish and rocket.
Greek lemon & feta grain salad
The warmer weather is here and that can only mean one thing: salad season! This year, internationally-inspired salads will be gracing our picnics, our lunches, and our outdoor evening entertaining tables.
Freekeh with pickled spring vegetables
Packed with healthy greens, grains and veg, everyone will be going back for seconds of this delicious side.
Crispy fish taco salad with baja dressing
What happens when you turn easy Mexican fish tacos into a salad? THIS! Perfect for weeknight dinners or entertaining, it’s ready in just 35 minutes. Wait till you try that creamy chipotle sauce!
Herald in the warm, sunny days of summer with this tasty salad, ready to eat in just minutes.
Warm nectarine dirty rice salad with jalapeño dressing
This easy rice salad is a classic cajun dish that gets it name from the addition of spices.
BBQ prawn and rice noodle salad
This easy to make BBQ prawn and rice noodle salad screams summer!
Warm broccoli, avocado and smoked almond rice salad
Ready in 25 minutes, this easy rice salad has a creamy wasabi-laced dressing to add a spicy kick.
Cucumber salad with garlic dressing
Pair this refreshing summer salad with sweet and sticky chicken, beef or pork for an explosion of tangy flavour that will have everyone asking for seconds!
Rockmelon and honeydew melon give this Greek salad a fresh twist.
Sweet and sour crunchy pork salad
Ready in 25 minutes, this Asian fried noodle and cabbage salad with pork fillet is perfect for entertaining or as a midweek meal.
Smoky chipotle pumpkin and prawn salad
Served with a zesty lime chilli dressing, our Mexican-inspired pumpkin and prawn salad is sure to impress.
Thai smoked chicken salad with peanut and chilli brittle
Topped with homemade peanut and chilli brittle this smoked chicken salad is packed full of flavour and crunch!
Smoked salmon salad with green goddess dressing
This beautiful low-cal, gluten-free main is loaded with salmon – an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids.
Ready in 20 minutes, this fresh vegan pasta salad is mixed with peas, edamame and nuts, and is drizzled with a creamy avocado sauce.
Peach and prosciutto salad with honey basil dressing
This stylish yet simple salad combines sweet yellow peaches with salty prosciutto and creamy bocconcini.
Fully loaded vegan potato salad
This fresh and creamy potato salad is filled with corn, beans, avocado and radish, and topped with a vegan mayonnaise.
Roast pumpkin and couscous salad
Try our Moroccan-inspired roast pumpkin and pearl couscous salad this spring, packed with loads of fresh, in-season veggies
Mango and lychee crunchy noodle salad
Crunchy noodle salad gets a 2018-style update with the addition of mango and lychee – it’s perfect for summer barbecues!
For more recipe ideas, go to taste.com.au or check out the Taste Test Kitchen now.
Originally published as 40 delicious salads that will be huge this Christmas
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