In fact, TikToker Justine Doiron (who describes herself as a recipe developer, highly dedicated eater and overall carb queen) says that you should bake your salads to help winterize them. She swears it’s not odd to switch from raw to baked this time of year. She also explains that a warm salad is where everything in it is baked. It’s not just a roasted vegetable bowl. To her, fall and winter vegetables are yearning to be served warm and we happen to agree, which is why we’ve compiled this list of 40 best winter salads that include warm (and room temp) options). Time to eat your greens!
What Are Winter Salads?
Winter salads are fresh and tasty, usually made with seasonal fruits and vegetables like carrots, turnips, cauliflower, beets, onions, cabbage, potatoes, broccoli and celery. In-season winter fruits include apples, grapefruit, bananas, kiwi and pears.
Why Should I Eat Seasonal Produce?
It’s smart to go for seasonal produce because it’s full of more nutrients, fresher and cheaper than when you eat fruits out of season. (I’m talking about paying $7.99 for a box of strawberries that taste anything but fresh in the dead of winter.)
How Do You Eat Salad in the Winter?
The leafy greens of your salad should be a leaf that can be warmed like spinach, kale or veggies. Stick with in-season vegetables like tomatoes, onions and carrots. Then add some protein like chicken, fish, beans or eggs. Choose carbs like potatoes and quinoa, then top with fats like nuts, avocados and seeds.
What Are the 5 Basic Salads?
Salads fall into five main categories: green salads, vegetable salads, salads of pasta, legumes or grains, mixed salads with meat, poultry or seafood and fruit salads.
What Is the Most Popular Salad in the World?
This answer can vary depending on where you live, but some of the most popular salads in the world include:
Caprese salad: Red tomatoes, white mozzarella and green basil, which represent the Italian flag’s colors.Salade Niçoise: Canned or seared tuna or anchovies set amongst raw seasonal vegetables and served on a platter.Cobb salad: Finely chopped iceberg and romaine lettuce, tomatoes, avocado, hard-boiled eggs, bacon, blue cheese, chicken or turkey breast and French dressing.Caesar salad: Romaine lettuce leaves, Parmesan cheese, garlic croutons and Caesar dressing.
What Are Some Good Salad Fixings?
The sky’s the limit when it comes to salad toppers. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
eggs (hardboiled, poached)seeds (sunflower, sesame)seafood (tuna, salmon, shrimp)meat (steak, pork)dried fruit (cranberries, cherries, raisins)
40 Best Winter Salads
Winter Chicory Salad with Blood Oranges, Pomegranates and Creole Mustard Vinaigrette
If you can’t find blood oranges, try another variety, such as Cara Cara or regular navel oranges. Get the recipe here
Warm Kale Salad
Vitamin C-rich kale and beta carotene-packed butternut are the stars of this winter salad that has bits of bacon to add smoky flavor without driving up fat and calories. Get the recipe here
Kale Bacon Salad with Candied Walnuts
This salad is simple to put together. You can even make it hours in advance. Get the recipe here
ABC Winter Salad
This basic slaw of grated raw apples, beets and carrots is a bright delight on the darkest days of the year. The citrus and ginger make it so refreshing, you’ll find yourself craving it in summer, too. Get the recipe here
Harvest Honeycrisp Apple and Feta Salad
If you don’t love arugula, use kale. Just make sure to massage the kale with some olive oil and salt before tossing it up in the salad. Get the recipe here
Citrus Strawberry and Avocado Salad
Filled with seasonal oranges, avocado slices and strawberries, the salad is topped with tangy goat cheese and a drizzle of sweet and savory poppy seed dressing. It boasts flavor, color and texture in every bite. Get the recipe here
Harvest Salad with Pumpkin Vinaigrette
Combine quinoa, kale, delicata squash, chickpeas, apples, parmesan cheese and pumpkin seeds to enjoy a salad inspired by the flavors of the season. Get the recipe here
Roasted Vegetable Winter Salad
This warm salad is comforting, but we promise it’s still light and fresh like a salad should be. Get the recipe here
Warm Honey Mustard Salad
Doiron says this salad is an ideal set-it-and-forget-it recipe. Plus, it’s an affordable and easy lunch, especially if you’re working from home and want a healthy meal in between Zoom meetings. Get the recipe here
Baked Cabbage Salad
This baked cabbage salad boasts Doiron’s two favorite vegetables, savoy cabbage and delicata squash. Both are thinly sliced, making them an ideal texture for a baked salad. Get the recipe here
Citrus Cabbage Salad
This napa cabbage salad showcases colorful winter produce. It’s sweet and tangy with plenty of veggie crunch. Get the recipe here
Winter Salad with Homemade Vinaigrette
This salad is overflowing with winter produce. Mix things up with different nuts and cheeses. Get the recipe here
Warm Lentil and Sweet Potato Salad
This salad features sautéed kale and balsamic dressing. It’s a perfect lunch or dinner recipe for any night of the week. Get the recipe here
Warm Kale and Quinoa Salad
This salad is made even better by warming it up. Cooked quinoa is tossed with kale, carrots and bell peppers in a hot skillet here. Get the recipe here
Winter Salad with Roasted Vegetables
Take your salad up a notch with roasted veggies! Then try using the optional pomegranate seeds and pecans for toppings. Get the recipe here
Warm Winter Salad with Vegetables
This recipe combines both cooked and raw veggies to give it even more textures and flavors. Adding seeds makes this salad even more special. Get the recipe here
Warm Winter Salad with Rice and Tahini Sauce
Make a big batch of this salad and eat it for days. It’s coated in a rich and creamy cilantro tahini dressing. Get the recipe here
Winter Salad with Pears, Pomegranates and Walnuts
This salad is made with some of winter’s stars like pomegranates, pears and oranges. They’re piled on a bed of fresh greens and topped with walnuts, feta and dressing. Get the recipe here
Butternut Squash Salad
Here, squash pairs with apple, cranberries and a dressing. All the best flavors of winter ingredients work in harmony. Get the recipe here
Winter Salad with Tangy Homemade Vinaigrette
This salad is full of rich, earthy textures and flavors. A tangy homemade vinaigrette adds a tart finish. Get the recipe
French Lentil Salad with Goat Cheese
This recipe is made with French green lentils. They are ideal for salads because they hold their shape when cooked. Get recipe here
Buffalo Ranch Pretzel Chicken Caesar Salad
This salad certainly isn’t typical, but that’s just what you need in the winter. Get the recipe here
Warm Kale Salad
Eat this as a side dish or main meal. This simple recipe has Parmesan and red pepper flakes, plus leafy kale. Get the recipe here
Warm Kale Salad with Butternut Squash
Here, you’ll massage the dressing directly into the salad. Swap butternut squash for sweet potato if that’s all you have on hand. Get the recipe here
Layered Taco Salad
This layered taco salad couldn’t be easier to make. The heat is supplied by a layer of chili and the spice by chili peppers or salsa. Get the recipe here
Roasted Beet and Kale Salad with Maple Candied Walnuts
This healthy salad is tossed in a maple balsamic dressing and includes roasted beets, maple candied walnuts and goat cheese. If you make it for friends, they’ll definitely ask for the recipe. Get the recipe here
Winter Citrus and Pomegranate Fruit Salad
These fruits are soaked in their own juices. That creates a syrup that you’ll want to drink from the bowl. Enjoy it for breakfast, brunch or dessert. Get the recipe here
Lentil and Pancetta Warm Salad
Lentils offer a great source of fiber and B vitamins. Plus, they absorb flavors well, especially salty pancetta juices. Get the recipe here
Warm Winter Sheet Pan Salad
This entree salad is made on a sheet pan. It boasts roasted cauliflower, carrots, fennel and chickpeas, plus it’s vegan, gluten-free and low-carb. Get the recipe here
Warm Winter Vegetable Salad
Use whatever root vegetables you can find here. Options include carrots, potatoes, beets, turnips, parsnips and sweet potatoes. Get the recipe here
Best Winter Salad
Make this salad in advance or get it on the table in 30 minutes. All you have to do is roast, whisk, toast and serve. Get the recipe here
Warm Salad with Creamy Dressing
This recipe has a 3-step process: oven-bake the vegetables, whisk together the salad dressing and toss it together. All that takes less than 30 minutes. Get the recipe here
Hot Skillet Salad
Enjoy a salad and a stir-fry at the same time. Leafy greens kale and bok choy are steam-fried along with cabbage and carrots in this oil-free kale salad. Get the recipe here
Warm Balsamic Kale Salad
Feel free to make the salad your own. The recipe creator suggests fresh basil, dried cherries, feta or brown rice. Get the recipe here
Winter Salad with Kale and Pomegranate
The flavors and colors here can sit proudly alongside even the most cheesy of potato dishes. It’s sure not to be overlooked. Get the recipe here
Roasted Broccoli Salad with Feta, Barley and Pomegranate
Roasted broccoli is something special. The florets become tender and the edges that touch the pan caramelize and become crispy. Get the recipe here
Warm and Roasted Winter Salad Bowl
Enjoy a warm bowl of comfort on even the coldest winter day. Get the recipe here
Roasted Broccoli Salad with Bacon and Pecans
You’ll be coming back for more. This salad is loaded with bacon, pecans, red onion and a sweet dressing. Get the recipe here
Lemon Parmesan Quinoa Salad
This easy-to-make salad is warm and filling. Serve it as a side, or add a protein for a quick and easy dinner idea. Get the recipe here
Pretzel Panzanella Salad
A Panzanella salad has stale bread mixed with tomatoes, onions, cucumbers and other veggies. It’s tossed in a vinaigrette dressing and the vegetables and bread soak up the dressing. Get the recipe here Next: 30 Best Summer Salad Recipes and Easy Ideas
