It’s so hot in the summer and even through some of “fall”, in Florida. Sometimes the last thing I want to eat is a hot meal. When I was poolside recently at The Colony in Palm Beach, I ordered a delicious Cobb salad and shrimp cocktail to beat the heat. This made me think of what would be some of the best salads to eat during the summer. Here is my round up of my favorites below, and if you click through to each of these fabulous sites you will find the recipes to make these at home.

SUMMER PASTA SALAD – SPEND WITH PENNIES

This delicious pasta salad is light and creamy with the bit of cheese in it, but also contains a nice crunch with the vegetables. This is a super easy dish to make in the evening, let the flavors combine over night in the fridge and then either put out for a get together, or eat it for lunches during the week. Holly has a few other delicious pasta salads on her site as well like a Dill Pickle Pasta Salad, or a Greek Pasta Salad.

SUMMER SALAD WITH STRAWBERRIES – LEMON TREE LIVING

This is what I would consider the classic summer salad. It contains a base of greens topped with fruit, nuts and either goat cheese, or feta (your preference). This is the first type of summer salad I ever ate and you can’t go wrong with a classic.

SUMMER FRUIT SALAD – SIMPLY DELICIOUS

A fruit salad is a sweet and refreshing way to beat the heat. This can be eaten as a lunch side, or as a healthy dessert option. I love the mint and lime dressing that goes over the top which gives it a little something extra in the flavor department.

GRILLED CHICKEN SALAD – CRUNCHY CREAMY SWEET

This grilled chicken salad is not only a well rounded and healthy option, but one packed with flavor. I love the crunch from the corn and smoothness of the avocado. This one has some protein on top making it a perfect lunch, or dinner salad. You can even meal prep your chicken on a Sunday and make this yummy salad all week to take to the office, or to make sure you are keeping to a healthy eating habit during the day.

LIME SHRIMP & AVOCADO SALAD – SKINNY TASTE

Packed full of flavor with the zesty lime and shrimp, this salad makes me think of the tropics. It’s like a ceviche salad, or a party in your mouth. This is a great salad for lunch by the pool that won’t make you feel hot, but refreshed and there is no cooking involved. It could even be used as a party dip with tortilla chips.

SUMMER LOBSTER SALAD – AIMEE REIN

I have been eating a lot of lobster salad this summer whether it’s on an actual bed of lettuce, or a cold salad on a roll. I think fish is just such a healthy and light dish that makes it the perfect summer salad to not feel hot, or overly full.

GEM LETTUCE SALAD – WILLIAMS SONOMA

So I still need to figure out which store near me carries gem lettuce because it is my favorite. I went to Restoration Hardware in Palm Beach and had a great gem lettuce salad, which this Williams Sonoma recipe looks very similar too. This is a super simple and light salad for someone who wants some flavor and loves simple greens.

I feel like I included something for everyone’s taste buds. Do you have a favorite salad?

Xoxo, Nikki