Simple Homemade Salad & Dressing Recipes

This simple tomato, cucumber & red onion salad (Broke Bank Vegan) is a step up from the ‘slice of lettuce, cucumber and tomato) for a side salad. Made with Roma, cherry or grape tomatoes, the recipe also uses fresh herbs, garlic, Dijon mustard, seasoning, vinegar/lemon juice for tang  and olive oil.

To skin a tomato, place a small cross in the bottom, cover with boiling water for 30 seconds, drain and pour cold water over. Due to lycopene (a red phytochemical) they are good for prostate issues – if you get up all night to pee, try a tomato soup or salad!

Read up on food safety for people and pets (onion, garlic and spices are unsafe near animal friends). Just bin allium scraps (onion, garlic, leeks, shallots, chives) as like tomato/citrus/rhubarb scraps, acids could harm compost creatures. 

For tinned ingredients, pop lids inside cans (or pop ring-pulls back over holes) to avoid wildlife getting trapped). 

To make your own salad is pretty empowering. You no longer have to rely on restaurant offerings of a slice of tomato and cucumber with limp lettuce. But also are free from the (very expensive) bagged salads in supermarkets, and dressings often made with dairy ingredients.

Homemade Vegetable Salad (with garlic)

This homemade vegetable salad with garlic (The Simple Veganista) combines cucumber, peppers, tomatoes, onion and garlic, in a homemade lemon Dijon mustard oil dressing.

Southwest Sweet Potato Salad Recipe

This sweet potato salad (Broke Bank Vegan) is way more substantial than a limp lettuce leaf, and a few slices of cucumber and tomato. Inspired by rich tastes of the USA’s Deep South, this pairs sweet potato with corn, tinned black beans, red onion, peppers, lime and chipotle power. Then sweetened with maple syrup. This is real salad, for men with big appetites!

This salad uses tinned black beans, but you can sub with any kind of beans. All tinned beans are high in protein and calcium, and cheap to buy. Black beans are common in Mexican food, often added to tacos and burritos. If you can’t find them, just sub with tinned kidney beans or any other beans you like (this recipe likely won’t work with baked beans though!)

Not only are sweet potatoes versatile, they’re brimming with vitamins while boasting a natural sweetness that can elevate any dish. Sweet potatoes have more nutrients than white potatoes, with a lower glycemic index (so less ‘sugar rush). And beans are cheap and tasty, and packed with protein and calcium.

Tomato & Artichoke Salad (with chickpeas)

This Tomato & Artichoke Salad with Chickpeas (Short Girl, Tall Order) is a refreshing summer lunch recipe, making use of fresh tomatoes and canned artichoke hearts, along with tinned chickpeas for protein and calcium.

A Vegan Update on Old-Fashioned Potato Salad

This southern-style potato salad (The Simple Veganista) combines cooked baby potatoes and chopped celery, in a vegan mayo and mustard dressing.

Celery has been eaten for thousands of years. In Egyptian times, it was used for rheumatism and athletes. Most shops sell it in plastic wrap, so look in farm shops instead. Or if it comes in plastic wrap, just leave the plastic packaging at supermarket bag bins, and take home in your own produce bags.

Homemade Vegan Pasta Salad Recipe

This vegan pasta salad (Exploring Vegan) combines with vegan mayo and vegan honey, along with Dijon mustard, and a variety of veggies (carrots, onion, bell pepper and celery). Garnish with scallions. Use plastic-free pasta!

Homemade Fruity Salad Dressing Recipes

Virgin Olive oil is better for salad dressings health-wise than for cooking (rapeseed oil is better). Some people say we should not eat oil at all (and get all fat from real foods – i.e olives over olive oil). There are debates.

Try these fruity salad dressings (The Veg Space) including raspberry vinaigrette.