5 Healthy Summer Salad Recipes

Salad can get a bad rap. People think of bland and watery iceberg lettuce, but in fact, salads are an art form, from the simplest rendition to a colorful kitchen-sink approach.

What I love about the term salad is that it can appear in so many different forms and says a lot about the cook. It could be a simple as fresh green lettuces tossed with a basic vinaigrette, or it could be as hearty as a couscous salad with grilled shrimp.

Eaters choose salad for reasons as varied as the ingredients in a salad bowl. A lightly coated dish of greens might offer cleansing, while a hearty pilaf that combines barley with vegetables, spices, and flavor-boosters like cheese, herbs, and seeds, offers a filling and delicious meal.

Whether you're on a diet, or you're looking for a go-to one bowl dinner recipe, salads should be thought of as crowd-pleasers, not a dreaded component of a meal. Salads are also an excuse to use up leftovers and eat all the colors in the rainbow. Perhaps best of all, salads allow you to be creative.

For inspiration, check out these great salads from MarcusSamuelsson.com