Welcome back to the time of year that encourages us to swap soup for salads on account of it being a little bit warmer outside. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for a salad but let's be frank about them. As good for you as they may be, they're not often associated with being the most filling of meals now are they?
Turns out the key having is stuff like high fibre, high protein ingredients mixed in with all of those leaves. So, to keep things interesting and to keep you from resenting that same sad lunch you've been eating for the last month or so, we scoured Pinterest to find the yummiest looking, actually satisfying salads that'll keep you going all afternoon without needing to gorge on entire loaves of bread/blocks of cheese/bags of chips/whatever else is easy and within reach of your hungry hands afterwards.
1. Crispy Jamaican Jerk Salmon Salad
Okay, this is your chance to cause all that office food envy you’ve been suffering from recently. You might not know it yet but a spicy crispy salmon salad with a casual mango-basil dressing with a sprinkling of blueberries is what’s missing from your lunch life. Honest. And the whole fruit in your salad thing is still A Thing too. The Roasted Root recipe requires quite a few ingredients but don’t be intimidated, the chopping and ovening of the salmon is all very straight forward.
2. Halloumi And Peach Salad With Lemon Pesto
While we’re on the subject of the magical meeting of fruit and veg to make the most exciting salads, you might want to check out the Kitchen Sanctuary’s halloumi, peach and courgette salad. If you’re neither vegetarian or used to meat-free meals, you might assume that this sort of salad will barely touch the sides of your very empty belly, but that’s where you’re wrong. Halloumi is a sneaky filler, as is the handful of pine nuts that go on top.
3. Sweet Potato, Pea And Feta Salad
Who doesn’t love sweet potato? If you raised your hand I don’t believe you. Sweet potato is the one. Sweet potato is also the key ingredient of this amazing Nourish Every Day salad. Minus having to cook the sweet potato and thaw the peas, the salad takes next to no time to assemble. Kind of. Also, you’ll find both walnuts, sunflower seeds and spinach in this one so if you fancy something super nutritious to humble brag about on the ‘gram, this one's for you.
4. Grilled Teriyaki Chicken Salad
If you’re committed to the salad cause but are so over the Pret chicken Caesar, take matters into your own kitchen and make a way more exciting Teriyaki Chicken salad like on Crème de la Crume. There’s grilled pineapple in it and everything in case you wanted to inject a little extra summer into your lunchbox. And if you die hard avo fans have been wondering where on earth your beloved fruit is on this list, it’s somewhere in here too.
5. Thai Chicken Satay Salad
I’m pretty sure someone once said something about eating a rainbow of different coloured food was good for making sure you’re getting lots of different nutrients. Whether or not that rings any bells, the Club NarwhalThai chicken satay noodle salad is a colourful dream of a concoction. Nothing fancy shmanchy with the veggies, just chop ‘em up, throw on top of some noodles and finish with the chicken. The coconut-peanut dressing takes a bit of effort, but that’s just how you know it’ll taste good, right?
6. Roasted Vegetable Couscous Salad With Peanut Butter Dressing
Yep more nutty dressings and yes, it’s a bit of a theme among the most filling of salads and let’s be honest, perks the most boring of salad leaves up in the yummiest of ways. The couscous, butternut squash and extra roasted peanuts in the Blondelish recipe will keep you going for long enough after lunch. The only issue you might have is running out when you promised yourself you’d save the other portion for tomorrow.
7. Coconut Mango Noodle Salad
If you’re ever in a rush (read: don’t have the patience for faff filled Sunday night meal prep), Salted Mint’scoconut mango noodle salad is your new go-to. 15 minutes all in (provided you’re comfortable with the chopping of stoned fruit such as mango and avocado) and don’t be intimidated by the long list of ingredients, most require very little doing to them. It’s all in the assembly.
Like this? You might also be interested in…
Here’s Some Easy Pinterest-Worthy Salads To Make To Take For Lunch
Super Easy Smoked Mackerel Grapefruit And Goat’s Cheese Salad To Make For Lunch This Week
Follow Jazmin on Instagram @JazKopotsha
This article originally appeared on The Debrief.