Summer of Salads

The farmers market is in full swing and fresh tomatoes have just started to arrive on the scene — I can't resist buying several pounds each week. While I love classic salads like Caprese, I enjoy trying slightly more unusual combinations, such as this tomato and peach salad with tangy orange vinaigrette. I'm growing a small garden this year, thus I used a bunch of different varieties of basil and mint; don't be afraid of mixing your herbs to enhance the flavor of any dish! You could easily substitute the orange juice in the dressing with other fruit juices, so have fun experimenting. Keep reading for this incredibly simple salad recipe.

Fiddleheads — unfurled sprouts of the ostrich fern plant — are one of the Spring forager's most prized picks. They're not the easiest to track down, nor are they the most straightforward when it comes to cooking preparation, as they must be properly cleaned and then blanched before consuming. But all it takes is one taste, and you'll be sold.

It was deep in the rainforests of Taiwan's Hualien province that I had my first bite of the fiddlehead, then not even knowing its name. There, Taiwanese aborigines tossed it with other vegetables in a light stir-fry that revealed the plant's delicately herbaceous quality.

Since then, I've discovered one of my favorite ways to prepare the delicacy is to quickly sauté blanched fiddleheads in a warm salad dressing of cognac, red wine vinegar, and dabs of butter. For my favorite twist on the seasonal specialty, keep reading.

Ever since one reader shared her simple weeknight meal of roasted asparagus, mushrooms, and quinoa, I've been wanting to show you my favorite take on the Peruvian grain as well. For a protein boost, I love to swap quinoa in place of bulgur wheat in the Middle Eastern parsley salad known as tabbouleh. You can't go wrong with such a simple dish, but the way to truly do this recipe justice is to use dry-farmed Early Girl tomatoes; they're an impeccable balance of sweet and tart, and add a vibrant red hue like no other tomato can. Make this and top with rotisserie chicken for dinner when you read more.

This Summer, I've been all about mastering certain cooking techniques. First I tried out several variations of pasta with pesto. Then, I practiced my pie dough-making skills. Now I'm perfecting my grilled peach salad.

I made it in July, but wasn't totally satisfied with the outcome. The peaches were too ripe and instead of softly caramelizing them, the grill made them mushy. For my second try, I used this recipe. There's no cheese, instead the peach's sweet flavor is balanced by tart grapefruit.

The quick vinaigrette is a simple mixture of oil and grapefruit juice that lightly coats each of the green leaves. This grilled peach salad is less complicated than the first, but sometimes the most basic things taste better. I served it alongside a decadent pesto lasagna. To give this recipe a whirl, keep reading.

Move over, classic and German potato salad. I like you both a lot, really, but I've found a new Summer obsession, and it's called French potato salad. How do I love thee, French potato salad? Let me count the ways: You're a class act, with your dainty fingerling potatoes and your sherry vinaigrette. You can satisfy even the fiercest of mayonnaise-dressing haters, and you're lighter on the calories. You can be made in well under 30 minutes and taste delicious warm or cold, made on the spot or in advance. You're portable and work well with any lunchbox sandwich, especially the hearty bistro kind (or at a movie in the park picnic). Oh, and you're naturally gluten free, sugar free, and vegan, so you please everybody. And no, you're not too good to be true. Seeing is believing; just read more.

This Summer I've been all about throwing everything on the grill. I've made grilled bread and grilled cheese, so why not grilled peaches? Two years ago, I loved them as an appetizer, and last weekend I decided to try them out in a salad. Select peaches that are on the firm side because they will soften and caramelize while on the grill. Unless you want wilted greens, be sure to let the peaches cool before tossing them with the rest of the ingredients. This hearty salad is great with barbecued chicken or ribs. To see my recipe, keep reading.

During the Summer, I love to experiment with different salad recipes. There's a plethora of fruits and vegetables to choose from at the market, and the hot weather almost requires salads as a side dish. Since I had never cooked with Israeli couscous, I recently made this scrumptious salad. Israeli couscous, or pearl couscous as it's sometimes called, is larger than regular couscous and has a chewy texture and orzo-like starchiness. It can be mixed with just about anything, but this recipe coats it in a roasted tomato and garlic dressing before tossing it with tomatoes, black olives, and tons of fresh herbs. The resulting salad is easy to transport and would be great for a picnic. Serve with grilled meat at a barbecue or, for a lighter meal, a chunk of hard cheese and grilled bread. Trust me, this salad recipe is a keeper! Get it now.

During the Summer, I love making salads that can be tossed in the fridge and eaten later in the week. In order for me to do this, the salads have to be hearty and durable; they can't be mayonnaise- or greens-based salads.

The obvious salad that comes to mind is pasta. And since basil is at its peak during the warm months, pesto pasta salad has quickly become my favorite. I like to think of this recipe as a blank canvas. Start with cooked pasta and homemade pesto, then add in a bunch of ingredients.

Antipasto elements like olives, tangy cheese, and marinated vegetables are wonderful. Fresh veggies — spinach, tomatoes, mushrooms, and zucchini — also work well. A protein such as tofu, grilled chicken, or salami would be delicious, too. I recommend using my recipe as a guide and substituting in the elements your family enjoys. Learn how I make it now.

I've held a long-standing preference for eating fresh cherries over cooking with them. In fact, my favorite way to consume them is simply off the stem. Our Berry Tempting series, however, has encouraged me to broaden my cherry horizons, and I've not only discovered that the stone fruits work well in a savory salsa, but also as the sweet touch to an entrée salad. If you love a contrast of flavor profiles and textures, but you're over the predictable spinach-bacon or strawberry-pecan pairings, you'll flip for this healthy and creative yet fast and easy meal. Fresh, in-season Bings are the crucial ingredient. They add a burst of sweet juice, along with a lingering pucker, to the crunchy combo. For the recipe, keep on reading.