As Richard Gilmore famously said, I, too, am in the fall. However, that doesn’t mean I don’t have a huge love for all things winter. As a native Floridian, winter is one of the only times of the year when being outside is bearable! Weather aside, warm spices, in-season citrus, delicious dressings, and mix-ins are some of the highlights of making winter salads. I also like to lean on dark leafy greens like kale and spinach for an extra kick of vitamins to help me get through cold and flu season. Without wasting time, look at the diamonds of the season.
Roasted Cauliflower Salad
While this is one of those winter salad recipes that you can enjoy year-round, there’s something about nutritious shredded cauliflower that brings warmth to any gathering.
Crispy Halloumi Salad
As our food editor Suruchi says, “If you’ve never used halloumi before, welcome—and be prepared to use this ingredient the next time.” This cheese can be grilled (or grilled) to go with your choice of leafy greens and a tangy vinaigrette.
Mediterranean Kale Salad
Thicker and curlier kale leaves appear in the early winter months, making this veggie a hearty ingredient. Chickpeas are the star of the show, but kale comes in to make a nutrient-dense foundation for this sweet salad.
Winter Kale Salad with Apple & Gruyere
Gruyere always seems to sneak its way into my salad recipes—that’s a good thing. Aside from the obvious hero ingredient, apples and kale add great crunch to this winter salad. If ever there was a recipe to try your hand at massaging kale, this is it.
Smoked Cauliflower Salad with Spices
When this recipe was first published, I think I made it every week for a solid month. There are almost too many things to like—from roasted peas and cauliflower to creamy avocado and rich feta cheese.
Squash & Farro Salad With Apple, Goat Cheese, and Pecans
Embracing seasonal ingredients in winter means relying on all the best squash recipes. This squash salad has a warm farro base, topped with toasted pecans and crisp apples.
Spicy Greens, Citrus, and Prosciutto Salad
Fun fact: citrus fruits are usually in season from November to April! I know—they often get a rap for being a summer staple, but try this citrus salad during the winter months and prepare to have your mind changed.
Grapefruit and Avocado Salad with Golden Beet, Feta, and Crispy Chickpeas
Another citrus moment—this grapefruit and avocado salad is one that I like to eat straight from the bowl. Maybe roasted peas, or maybe a golden honey-turmeric dressing. Whatever ingredient inspires you to prepare this recipe, you won’t regret it.
Apple Walnut Salad
I’m a huge fan of arugula and always seem to have it lying around in my fridge, so making this winter salad recipe is a no-brainer. This apple walnut salad brings out the best flavors of fall, but it’s one that always finds its way onto my dinner table during the winter months.
A simple citrus salad
If complicated, multi-ingredient recipes aren’t your thing, elevate the dinner table with this simple citrus salad. You will embrace seasonal ingredients without any effort. Win-win!
White Bean and Raddichio Salad
My radicchio season began when I wrote about Camilla Marcus’ pink radicchio salad. After a while, I found this version with white beans and fell in love with the simplicity of the recipe and the way it left me feeling afterwards.
Spicy Kale Citrus Winter Salad
Although salads have endless possibilities for flavor, sometimes choosing the right level of seasoning is necessary. This recipe uses Thai chilies and jalapeños to add a little kick, keeping you warm when the weather gets cold.
Shredded Kale & Cranberry Salad with Crispy Crunchy Tofu
No cranberries run away during the winter months, and this salad makes the most of their potential. Top up your protein with crispy tofu, and brighten up your dish with this orange ginger dressing.
Holiday Gems Chopped Kale Salad
If there was a must-have holiday salad to eat this winter, it’s this holiday gem salad. With a dressing like pomegranate seeds packed with flavor and a mustard-shallot vinaigrette, this is a recipe you’ll keep on the books for years to come.
Sweet Potato and Caramelized Salad of the Day
As a self-proclaimed sweet potato fanatic, I’m always looking for opportunities to incorporate this ingredient into my favorite dishes. If you need a salad this winter with substance and flavor, you’ve met your match.
Italian Chopped Kale Salad
Chopped salads are an easy way to feed a large crowd, making this a great recipe to bring to the table during the holidays. With show-stopping sourdough croutons and a simple Dijon mustard dressing, it’s never been easier to keep all your guests happy.
Roasted Delicata Squash and Kale Salad
Talk about an amazing salad! If you’ve jumped on the squash wave this season, try this recipe. With ricotta salata cheese and toasted hazelnuts, there’s a lot to look forward to.
Delicata Squash Salad with Pistachios and Marinated Lentils
When I started cooking with squash, I realized how much I had left. Fortunately, dishes like this simple salad with pistachios and feta cheese ensure that your root vegetables don’t go to waste.
Cauliflower Tabbouleh
This Mediterranean-inspired salad is a great way to mix things up during the winter. While I love all things warm and cozy, it’s good to include light and fluffy dishes with ingredients like dill and lemon every once in a while.
Kale and Wild Rice Salad with Maple-Mustard Vinaigrette
From the moment I set foot in Cava during my early college years, I fell in love with adding grains to my salads to make them nutritious. From “Two Peas & Their Pod Cookbook” by Maria Lichty and Rachel Holtzman, this rice salad checks all the boxes for a filling winter salad recipe.
Chicory Salad with Hazelnuts and Meyer Lemon, Parmesan Vinaigrette
Alison Cayne’s recipe is one we have on repeat all winter long. This is a great side salad to add to your winter table with a simple cheesy parmesan vinaigrette.
Gluten Free Cauliflower Tabbouleh
GF cooking can be a challenge during the holiday season, but to make things easier on you (and maybe your guests), throw together this cauliflower tabbouleh as your filling side dish.
Kale Sourdough Panzanella
With a little Mediterranean twist, this kale salad with Ina Garten’s Dijon garlic vinaigrette is the answer to all your side salad needs during the cooler months.
Roasted Turmeric Squash Salad
It’s always a good idea to use anti-inflammatory supplements during cold and flu season. This turmeric squash is a great ingredient to add to salads and eat on its own.
Blood Orange & Beet Salad
Blood oranges lend some of the most stunning colors I’ve come across in winter cooking. Tossed across a bed of Greek yogurt for added protein, oranges and beets make a brilliant topping that can double as a centerpiece for your table.
Za’atar and Hummus Salmon Lentil Salad
This combo wouldn’t be complete without a side of salmon salad (my favorite protein on top of my bowl of leafy greens). Inspired by delicious food from Epicerie in Austin, it’s easy to put together and fun to eat.
Potato & Pomegranate Seed Salad
If you’re still looking for the perfect sweet potato salad recipe, try this one with pomegranate seeds and mixed greens. Simple but beautiful and delicious.
Beet, Pomegranate, and Hazelnut Salad
To close this list with a great winter veggie, this beet salad is one of the most unique plates you can bring to the dinner table. Top with fresh mint and toasted hazelnuts for an added crunch factor.
I have come to the conclusion that, perhaps, my frontal lobe is growing. AKA—when I sit down at the table, I breathe a sigh of relief when I see the salad. Although I’m always on the lookout for a bowl of leafy greens (yes, if I were stranded on a desert island, I think I’d live off eating different salads forever), the cold weather season is the time of year when I always find myself craving something simple and nutritious to add to my diet. Remembering seasonal ingredients and flavors, I present my ultimate list of winter salad recipes.