Top 5 Side Dish Salads

I once had the most succulent marinated tomatoes with fresh basil and garlic. I created this salad to mimic that delightful, savory dish that was so delicious. Summertime, when the tomatoes are their freshest, is the best time to make a batch of this lovely salad.

Fresh fruit and crisp spinach marry well with a light balsamic vinaigrette in this light and healthy summer salad. Have a little fun with various fruits if you like, perhaps adding some fresh strawberries or raspberries in place of, or in addition to, the nectarines.

If you are not familiar with soba noodles, don't let that scare you away from this asian-inspired recipe. Soba noodles are simply buckwheat noodles, popular in Japan. They have a slightly nutty flavor, and work great in asian noodle dishes. This particular dish is a great option for a summertime pasta salad.

I have always loved a side of broccoli salad, but am not a fan of the heavy use of bacon and mayonnaise in many recipes. I came up with this lightened-up version which uses only enough bacon for a bit of flavor, and light mayonnaise to help cut calories.

This is a classic coleslaw recipe, using apple cider vinegar and sweet apples for an extra crunch. You can still enjoy the creamy coleslaw sauce that so many love, but using reduced calorie mayonnaise and sour cream assure that the calorie count remains low.