No more boring salads! Here’s a collection of some of the most delicious, whole foods, plant-based salad recipes. There are some vegan versions of your favorite traditional dishes. Plus, some awesome new global flavors.

To learn more:

How to Make the Ultimate Vegan Salad: 4 Chef’s Tips for Delicious, Healthy Oil-Free Flavor

Vegan Versions of your Favorite Traditional Salads

Healthy Vegan German Potato Salad

This simple German Potato Salad recipe is a healthy, vegan twist on a classic summer favorite.  Traditionally made with bacon and cider vinegar, this plant-based version gets bold flavor from smoked salt and spicy brown mustard. Serve this side dish for a gluten-free side that everyone will love. 

Oil-Free Balsamic Roasted Vegetable Gluten-Free Pasta Salad

Fresh summer vegetables are roasted oil-free with balsamic for this gluten-free pasta salad. Don’t be fooled by the simple recipe! This dish has delicious flavors. Make this for a satisfying vegan side dish or enjoy for a plant-based lunch.

Big ‘Ole Italian Chickpea Salad

Chickpeas, olives, capers, and summer’s garden-fresh vegetables come together in this easy, flavorful salad. This vegan, oil-free, gluten-free recipe is a snap to make, and it gets even better the next day.  Enjoy with Cavolo Nero soup for a healthy dinner or bring to your next party as a healthy side. 

Red Cabbage Apple Creamy Slaw with Oil-Free Poppy Seed Dressing

Fresh citrus, flax seeds, and a touch of mustard make a quick, creamy dressing for this light summer slaw.  Sliced apple adds a note of healthy, natural sweetness.  Shred your own red cabbage or a buy a pre-shredded mix for an even easier recipe.

10-Minute Roman Chickpea “Tu-No” Salad

Mashed chickpeas replace tuna in this quick vegan Roman “Tu-No” salad recipe. Mediterranean flavor comes from a colorful mix of sun-dried tomatoes, bell pepper, olives, and more. With an easy, oil-free dressing. This whole foods, plant-based salad is a snap to make, and it gets even better the next day.

Smoky Broccoli Pecan Crunch Salad

Smoky-sweet and full of crunchy texture, this beautiful raw salad is a must-have for summer picnics and barbecues. An irresistible oil-free dressing comes together with spicy brown mustard, apples, and pecans. This healthy vegan recipe will soon become a crowd favorite!  

Vegan Hearts of Palm Ceviche Salad

This vegan ceviche salad uses hearts of palm as a plant-based substitution for fish. Full of refreshing flavors and a spicy kick. Serve with oil-free baked chips for a delicious plant-based appetizer.

Lacinato Kale Waldorf Salad with Apples, Walnuts, Raisins

Sweet, nutty, and tangy, this vegan Lacinato Kale Waldorf Salad has it all. The ingredients in the salad work double-duty as the ingredients for the oil-free dressing. Walnuts provide healthy fats. Apples and raisins add natural sweetness, and Dijon adds a tangy kick. This will win over any veggie skeptic.

5-Ingredient or Less Fabulous Simple Vegan Salads

Oil-Free Roasted Bell Pepper Salad

A colorful mix of red, yellow, and orange bell peppers come together in this easy, oil-free Roasted Red Pepper Salad recipe.  With only 3 ingredients, it’s as simple as it is beautiful. Use as a healthy side dish for a summer picnic, spread over toasted Whole Wheat Flatbread, or top Southwestern Black Bean Burgers for a gluten-free weeknight dinner.  This vegan recipe celebrates simple, delicious flavor. 

5-Minute Raw Corn Tomato Basil Salad

Sweet corn, juicy tomato, and healthy avocado come together in this 5-minute plant-based salad. Great for a quick, raw vegan lunch.

Rainbow Carrot Walnut Arugula Salad with Oil-Free Fig Dressing

Sweet dried figs, peppery arugula, and toasted walnuts create a delicious mixture of flavors and textures in this easy salad recipe. The oil-free balsamic dressing is a must-have for your healthy, plant-based repertoire.

Italian Three Bean Salad

Red kidney beans, garbanzos, and fresh green beans come together with an easy, fat-free Sherry dressing in this classic Italian salad. This makes a great dish for entertaining or serve with baked potatoes for a quick, healthy weeknight dinner. Bright flavor meets gluten-free, vegan nutrition. 

Grilled Peach, Puffed Sorghum Salad with Oil-Free Champagne Peach Dressing

Grilled peaches, puffed sorghum, and an easy oil-free dressing celebrate the flavors of summer in this healthy vegan salad. Simple, light, and fresh!

Kale Avocado Salad

A few simple ingredients and 10 minutes is all you need for this easy plant-based salad. Avocado adds healthy fat in this simple, satisfying, oil-free vegan recipe.  

Slow-Roasted Strawberry Bibb Salad with Strawberry Balsamic Dressing

Sweet, juicy strawberries, toasted almonds, and crunchy Bibb lettuce come together in this light, summer salad recipe. An oil-free vegan strawberry balsamic dressing has delicious, healthy flavor.

Plant-Based Grain Salads

Grilled Corn, Asparagus, and Red Quinoa Salad with Charred Bell Pepper Dressing

Sweet corn on the cob, tender asparagus, and red bell pepper celebrate simple, fresh flavor. Grilling them adds a smoky char, reminiscent of summer. Plus, red quinoa adds healthy, plant-based protein. It all rests on a bed of baby greens. The colors of the garden come to the plate.

Simple Lemon Mint Freekeh Salad with Chickpeas

Freekeh is a young green wheat that has been roasted and cracked. Traditionally found in Middle Eastern cuisine, it makes a satisfying base for this simple, plant-based grain salad. With fresh mint and an oil-free lemon dressing, this makes a delicious vegan lunch.

Farro Butternut Squash Salad

Farro has a nutty flavor and chewy texture. It pairs with roasted butternut squash, toasted pumpkin seeds, and golden raisins in this hearty Fall-inspired plant-based salad. The perfect whole foods, oil-free recipe!

Global Vegan Salad Flavor Explosions

West African Vegan Fonio Salad with Mango and Cashews

Fonio is a gluten-free whole grain that grows in West Africa. Similar to cous cous, it cooks quickly. Combine it with fresh mango and crunchy cashews for this simple vegan salad.

Curry Black Forbidden Rice Salad with Mango and Coconut

A healthy source of fiber and protein, Black Forbidden Rice was once reserved for only the emperors of China, but now you can find it online.  Sweet mango plays with spicy curry powder in this, oil-free, gluten-free vegan salad recipe. 

Spicy Hijiki Seaweed Avocado Salad

Sea Vegetables? Yes, it’s a thing. This quick, easy salad combines hijiki seaweed with creamy avocado and a kick of cayenne for a simple combination. The flavor, though? It’s an explosion!

African Black Barley Salad with Coconut Berbere Dressing

Black barley is a whole grain, traditional to African cooking, namely Ethiopia. It has a chewy texture, with nutty flavor, making it ideal for a hearty vegan salad. With flavors from spicy Berbere seasoning and sweet potatoes, this delicious oil-free healthy recipe is a must for spice-lovers.

5-Minute Adzuki Bean Salad with Oil-Free Asian Peanut Dressing

Asian Adzuki Beans and a simple peanut dressing come together in this simple, 5-minute vegan salad.  Tamari is a gluten-free alternative to soy sauce, adding deep flavor.  This salad is full of plant-based protein and vegetarian fiber.  

Make any of these? Please Share!

If you many any of these recipes or use them for recipe inspirations, please share. Comment below or tag me on:

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