Salad

Ginger Vinaigrette

Hot Bacon Dressing

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less. Water, rather than oil, serves as the counterpoint to vinegar in this rich and savory dressing, which is wonderful spooned over shredded Napa cabbage or cooked fish or cauliflower, or tossed with boiled sliced potatoes.

Fennel, Grapefruit, and Prosciutto Salad

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Garbanzo Bean, Tuna and Onion Salad with Creamy Lemon Dressing

Dijon mustard and lemon peel give the dressing lots of zip. This salad can also be spooned into pita halves.

Fennel, Tomato, and Feta Salad

Salad of Fennel, Arugula, and Ricotta Salata

A young sheep's-milk cheese such as Italy's ricotta salata or pecorino Romano (which is easier to find) is best for this salad. Other good choices include Italian Toscanello and Manchego from Spain, which are also made from sheep's milk.

Curly Endive Salad with Warm Bacon Dressing

The dressing for this salad is based on an old Pennsylvania Dutch recipe.

By Carl Hittinger

Fig and Stilton Salad with Port Wine Dressing

"I spent a weekend in North Carolina's Blue Ridge Mountains," writes Elizabeth Haworth of Columbia, South Carolina. "The Riverwood restaurant in Blowing Rock was a real treat—I especially enjoyed their fig and Stilton salad with Port dressing. Would the chef share the recipe for this unusual salad?" The sweet-tart dressing paired with creamy Stilton cheese strikes a great balance in this winter salad.

Shrimp and Avocado Salad with Grapefruit Vinaigrette

Mixed Greens with Pecans, Goat Cheese, and Dried Cranberries

Grilled Vegetable Salad with Greens, Tomatoes, Herbs, Olives and Cheese

For this fabulous salad we used red onions, beets, zucchini, eggplant, and bell peppers, but any mix of summer vegetables would work. The salad gets served with grilled bread and is nice with a white wine, like Sauvignon Blanc.

Potato, Spinach and Red Bell Pepper Salad with Warm Bacon Vinaigrette

Not to worry: There's just enough bacon in the snappy dressing to add flavor but not much fat to this colorful salad. Serve it alongside grilled chicken or fish for a healthful summer dinner.

Citrus, Celery, and Shaved Fennel Salad

Active time: 25 min Start to finish: 25 min

Hearts of Palm Salad with Beets and Blue Cheese

"I had three kids in three years when I was a 'young married' in my twenties," writes Sheryl Hurd-House of Jupiter, Florida. "That’s when I started cooking and realized I liked it. But I’m having even more fun cooking now that our children are grown and it’s just me and my husband, Garry." Fresh greens and a variety of colorful veggies add up to a great salad you can throw together in minutes.