11 Protein-Packed Summer Salad Recipes

A salad doesn’t have to be just a mound of romaine lettuce adorned with a couple olives, some carrot shreds, and a ring of bell pepper. No, the salad of today can be a total and complete meal, loaded with protein and fiber and bursting with exciting flavors, tastes, and textures. 

Are we overselling the salad? Well, that’s up for you to decide. Because we’ve assembled a collection of some of our favorite protein-packed Meatless Monday salad recipes.

By incorporating a combination of whole grains, beans, lentils, tofu, seeds, as well as salad greens, you can create a hefty meal that’s a healthy (and quick) lunch or dinner option. Another great thing about salads is that you can use whatever you have on hand to round out the flavor or to add a bit of texture. Golden raisins, sunflower seeds, diced pears, a scoop of hummus, or a sprinkling of chile flake can be used to take your salad to new heights. 

A salad is what you make it, so this Monday, make it delicious by using these 10 protein packed salad recipes as your inspiration.

Black Bean Quinoa Salad with Cumin Orange Vinaigrette

Quinoa is rich in protein, dietary fiber, and B vitamins, making it an excellent ingredient to include in leafless salads. Diced mango, bell pepper, jalapeño, red onion, and fresh cilantro adds pops of spice and freshness, while the cumin orange vinaigrette brings the whole thing together. YUM! For the Black Bean Quinoa Salad with Cumin Orange Vinaigrette recipe, click here

Curried Tofu “Egg” Salad with Almonds

Who doesn’t love egg salad? Well, if you need a plant-based option that will satisfy your creamy salad  cravings, look no further than this curried tofu “egg” option. When you add the mayo, mustard, curry powder, and chopped onion, you’ll hardly be able to taste the difference. For the Curried Tofu “Egg” Salad with Almonds recipe, click here.

Mango, Grilled Corn and Black Bean Salad

This grilled corn salad brings refreshing balance to those hot summer cookouts. The creamy texture of the black beans plays well with the sweet pop of the grilled corn. It’s smoky and slightly tart, making for a welcomed bite in between other grilled goodies. For the Mango, Grilled Corn, and Black Bean Salad recipe, click here.

Mediterranean Kale Salad

Kale can be pretty ordinary on its own, but when you pair it with bell peppers, pomegranate seeds, roasted sweet potatoes, and chopped pear, the normally tough greens take on a whole new life. This Mediterranean style salad tenderizes the typically tough kale leaves with a tangy honey mustard vinaigrette. The addition of edamame adds a boost of plant-based protein. For the Mediterranean Kale Salad recipe, click here.

Orzo and Bean Salad with Charred Radicchio and Olives

It may not be your typical bed of greens, but this orzo salad brings some seriously intense flavor to the party. The wide range of ingredients–briny black olives, bitter radicchio, fresh parsley, fluffy cooked orzo, cherry tomatoes, kidney beans for protein, shallots–means no two bites will be the same. Everything is tossed in a spicy balsamic dressing, which may become your new favorite salad topper. For Orzo and Bean Salad with Charred Radicchio and Olives recipe, click here.

Protein-Packed Kale and Grain Salad

Whoever said you can’t get protein from plants obviously hasn’t checked out this recipe. Quinoa, edamame, toasted pumpkin seeds, kale, and tahini dressing come together for a hearty salad that is sure to keep you fueled for the rest of the day. For the Protein-Packed Kale and Grain Salad recipe, click here.

Quinoa Tabbouleh Salad

Tabbouleh is a Middle Eastern dish of bulgur wheat, fresh parsley, cucumber, and chopped tomato. This version replaces the bulgur with protein-rich quinoa. It also uses scallions and pomegranates for an extra bit of razzle dazzle. For the Quinoa Tabbouleh Salad recipe, click here.

Spinach Salad with Baked Tofu and Carrot Ginger Dressing

If you’ve been to a Japanese restaurant, you’re likely familiar with the utterly delightful carrot ginger dressing that comes on your salad. Recreate the memory with this spinach, edamame, baked tofu salad. The dressing uses miso, tahini, sesame oil, ginger, and carrots, which makes for just the right balance of sweet and savory. For the Spinach Salad with Baked Tofu and Carrot Ginger Dressing recipe, click here.

Thai Peanut Quinoa Salad

This one doesn’t even feel like a salad. Quinoa, shredded cabbage, scallions, cilantro, snap peas, and peanuts are tossed together in a tasty sweet and toasty peanut dressing. With bursts of lime juice, rice vinegar, garlic, and fresh ginger, you’ll want to drizzle this sauce over everything on the table. For the Thai Peanut Quinoa Salad recipe, click here.

Three Bean Salad with Cucumber, Bell Pepper and Cilantro

This salad might be simple, but it’s loaded with protein-rich legumes. Requiring only a few cans of beans (black-eye peas, chickpeas, kidney beans), a cucumber, and a bell pepper, it’s an inexpensive way to put something cool, nutritious, and delicious on the table. For the Three Bean Salad with Cucumber, Bell Pepper and Cilantro recipe, click here.

 Warm Lentil Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette

Lentils are a great source of protein, dietary fiber, potassium, and folate. They’re also low in saturated fat and naturally gluten-free, making them an excellent addition to all sorts of recipes. This warm salad pairs the lentils with sweet roasted vegetables and a tangy lemon vinaigrette. For the Warm Lentil Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette recipe, click here.

Click here for more Meatless Monday recipes. When posting pictures of recipes to your social media network, tag @MeatlessMonday use #MeatlessMonday to show the plant-based community your creation.