If you've been a vegetarian for a while, I know this has probably happened to you: you're at a restaurant or maybe someone's house and they don't have anything for you to eat, so you end up with a side salad as a meal. And obviously, it's the thought that counts--I mean, they tried right? But a plate full of lettuce and a stray tomato or two isn't exactly filling. Well, these aren't those kinds of salads. These are meal-worthy vegetarian salads! 50 of them! Salads full of vegetables, beans, grains, tofu, and other delicious, satisfying things.
Butternut Squash, Lentil & Kale Salad with Tahini Dressing
Grilled Veggie Salad with Basil Parmesan Polenta
Kale and Delicata Squash Salad with Citrus-Maple Vinaigrette
Sesame-Crusted Tofu Salad with Spicy Peanut Dressing [Savory Simple]
Indian Chickpea Yogurt Salad [Healthy Slow Cooking]
Summer Samosa Salad [Earthy Feast]
Vegetable Nicoise Salad [Saving Room for Dessert]
Feta and Kalamata Olive Tortellini Pasta Salad [The Little Kitchen]
Tofu Greek Salad with Char-Grilled Vegetables and Lemon-Dill Dressing [Greek Vegetarian]
Warm Cauliflower & Israeli Couscous Salad
Freekeh, Zucchini & Pistachio Salad
Mango Black Bean Salad
Brown Rice Greek Salad [The Lemon Bowl]
Strawberry Feta Salad [Kitchen Treaty]
Roasted Garbanzo and Vegetable Salad with Garlic, Feta, Olives & Basil [Kalyn's Kitchen]
Southwestern Black Bean Salad [Cookie Monster Cooking]
Asian Quinoa Salad [Two Peas & Their Pod]
Layered Raw Taco Salad for Two [Oh She Glows]
Thai Tofu and Noodle Salad
Chopped Power Salad with Baked Tofu and Almond-Miso Dressing
Roasted Butternut Squash Kale Salad with Orange-Sage Dressing
Lentil Salad with Brown Rice & Veggies [Persnickety Plates]
Cashew Cabbage Crunch Salad [Spabettie]
Chickpea Cobb Salad Cups [Vegetarian Ventures]
Greek Salad in Whole Grain Spelt Mini Pitas [Food Doodles]
Shredded Brussels Sprout Salad with Warm Lemon-Chili Vinaigrette [Culinary Colleen]
Roasted Summer Panzanella [Vanilla and Spice]
Herbed French Lentil Salad
Cucumber Chickpea Salad with Lemony Tahini Dressing
Grilled Peach Salad with Jalapeño Vinaigrette [Healthy Delicious]
Sweet + Spicy Thai Farro Salad [The Fig Tree]
Crunchy Asian Chopped Cabbage Salad with Peanut Dressing [The Spicy RD]
Garden Farro Salad with Feta [Aggie's Kitchen]
Green Bean & Avocado Summer Salad [Cooking & Beer]
Three-Grain Salad with Sweet Red Onion Dressing [A Farmgirl's Dabbles]
Soba Noodle & Vegetable Salad [In Pursuit of More]
Inside-Out Chinese Spring Roll Salad [The Daily Dish]
Summer Orzo Salad
Mediterranean Kidney Bean Salad
Pesto-Bean Topped Salad [Diet, Dessert and Dogs]
Spinach, Avocado & Artichoke Salad [Mountain Mama Cooks]
Pad Thai Salad [Leaf + Grain]
Curry Lentil and Roasted Butternut Squash Salad [Noshing with the Nolands]
Tomato, Peach and Burrata Salad [What's Gaby Cooking]
Falafel Salad [The Flourishing Foodie]
Vegetarian Salad Cookbooks!
If you're looking for more vegetarian and vegan salad recipes, here are some additional resources:
Mollie Katzen's Recipes: Salads
132+ Delicious Salads, Dressings And Dips: (Gabrielle's FUSS-FREE Healthy Veg Recipes)
Anele @ Success Along the Weigh says
Great recipe round up! If I had any veggie friends to cook for, I would certainly come here because you always have such creative recipes (and round ups like these!) I'm a people pleaser when it comes to entertaining and a side salad just wouldn't do! I'd want people to be impressed I did more than throw lettuce in a bowl! 🙂
Kiersten says
Usually in addition to the salad, you get offered a dinner roll. "Um, hey, we forgot that you don't eat meat, but here's salad and a roll. And you can help yourself to more rolls too."
Ashley says
Love this list! I'm always looking for new salad ideas and trying to find vegetarian salads (or really meals, let's be honest) that my husband will like : ) haha Or doesn't immediately say where's the meat?
Kiersten says
Yeah, my husband doesn't eat meat, but he's the same way. There has to be a LOT going on in a salad for him to think it's a meal.
Jade says
This post has reminded me to make some more of that couscous,
olive and cauliflower salad.. Yum!
Kiersten says
I make variations of that one constantly. 🙂 You can never go wrong with olives! Or couscous!
Angela says
I laughed at the opening statement about getting a side salad for a meal. That's happened to me at restaurants countless times (just last week actually!). If only the chefs could see this post. 😉 Thanks for the great round-up and for including a link to my taco salad!
Kiersten says
I can't wait to make that salad! Definitely soon. 🙂
Julia says
Awesome salad roundup!! There's nothing like a fresh salad chock full of goodies that leaves you satisfied. There's a whole lot of summer left, so I'll definitely be checking these recipes out!
Sommer @ ASpicyPerspective says
Great salads list!! Thanks! 🙂
Christina @ Pinch of Healthy says
Great list! I'm on a bit of a salad kick right now so am definitely bookmarking this one. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Hannah @ CleanEatingVeggieGirl says
LOVE this post!! I have been getting tired of my usual salads and want to spice things up. I guarantee I will not be bored anymore with all of these recipes. The BBQ tofu one sounds especially tasty!
Kiersten says
I want to try that one too. 🙂 I love tofu in a salad!
Marta @ What Should I eat for breakfast today says
I am writing down each one of them. I am always looking for a new salad, and here I have 50 recipes 😀
Ricki says
What a fabulous roundup of SO. MANY. GREAT. SALADS!!! I love salad in summer. . . so much fantastic inspiration here. Thanks so much for putting this together--and for including my Pesto-Bean Topped Salad, too! 🙂
Kiersten says
Thank you for the recipe! 🙂
Courtney @ The Fig Tree says
Amazing round-up! I love huge, hearty salads that act as a full meal. It's a great way to get a huge dose of veggies in your day. Thank you for this awesome list. Cannot wait to try many of the recipes! 🙂 And thank you for including my farro salad! xoxo
Kiersten says
I LOVE that salad! I need to make it again soon. 🙂
Ash- foodfashionparty says
Love couscous, just got a huge bag of pearls, I am inspired by your roundup. Never have to go around searching.
Angie@Angie's Recipes says
A great round up, Kiersten.
Laura @ Kneadwhine says
What an excellent round up of recipes! Another one to pin and return to at leisure. I completely suck at adventurous salads...
Grace @ Earthy Feast says
What an amazing collection of delicious and hearty veggie salads - love it! I see so many that I want to make! Very pin-worthy post!
P.S. Thanks so much for including my Samosa Salad! 🙂
Kiersten says
That salad has been on my to-make list for a while now! 🙂
Kristina says
salads are one of my favorite things, and they can definitely be a meal! I will refer to this list often, thanks for compiling!
Emma says
Wow, what a great selection! I don't know where to start!
dishing up the dirt says
love this list!
Eat Good 4 Life says
I could totally eat all of them all day every day. They look so refreshing, healthy and colorful. I love salads especially when the weather is hot outside. What a great variety of salads!
JulieD says
Awesome round-up, Kiersten!! 🙂
Maria says
Love this post! So many tasty salads! Pinned it! Thanks for including our recipe:)
Kiersten says
You're welcome! 🙂
EA-The Spicy RD says
Oh, my goodness! So many delicious vegetarian salads...where to dig in first??? Thanks so much for including my Asian Chopped Salad Kirsten!
Kiersten says
I can't wait to make that salad--I know I'm going to love it!
Colleen @ Culinary Colleen says
Thanks for including me in this incredible list! Everything on here looks beyond meal-worthy!
Kiersten says
Thank you for the recipe! 🙂
Nancy/SpicieFoodie says
I'm not a vegetarian but I do enjoy salads as meals -- specially in the summer. Your roundup is scrumptious. Thanks for putting it together Kiersten.:)
Archana @ FeedingTheFoodie says
Wow - what a great list. If I made one salad a day I could eat a different salad for almost 2 months!!