These Salads Prove That Healthy Eating Isn’t Just for Summer

As Richard Gilmore famously said, I am, too, an autumn. However, that doesn’t mean I don’t have an immense love for all things winter. As a native Floridian, winter is one of the only times of year when it’s somewhat bearable to be outside! Weather aside, warm spices, in-season citrus, hearty toppings, and mix-ins are some of the highlights of winter salad recipes. I also love leaning into darker leafy greens like kale and spinach for an added kick of vitamins to help me push through cold and flu season. Without further ado, behold—the diamonds of the season.

Erewhon’s Kale White Bean Salad

Behold—the filling and nutritious salad you’ve been searching for. If there’s one recipe that came out of the dense bean salad TikTok trend that I could eat every day, it’s this one with hearty white beans, avocado, and pumpkin seeds.

Roasted Cauliflower Salad

While this is one of those winter salad recipes you can enjoy all year long, there’s something about seasoned crunchy cauliflower that brings a bit of warmth to any gathering.

Crispy Halloumi Salad

As our food editor Suruchi said, “If you’ve never used halloumi before, welcome—and be prepared to use this ingredient on repeat.” This cheese can be grilled (or fried) to pair with your pick of leafy greens and a tangy vinaigrette.

Mediterranean Kale Salad

Thicker and curlier kale leaves emerge during the early winter months, making this veggie a heartier ingredient. The chickpeas are the star of this show, but the kale comes through to create a nutrient-filled base for this savory salad.

Winter Kale Salad with Apple & Gruyere

Gruyere always seems to sneak its way into my salad recipes—it’s that good. Aside from the obvious hero ingredient, apples and kale add a lot of crunch to this winter salad. If there was ever a recipe to try your hand at massaging kale, it’s this one.

Smoky and Spicy Cauliflower Salad

When this recipe was first published, I think I made it every week for a solid month. There are almost too many things to love—from spicy roasted chickpeas and cauliflower to creamy avocado and rich feta cheese.

Squash & Farro Salad With Apples, Goat Cheese, & Pecans

Embracing seasonal ingredients in the winter means leaning into all the best squash recipes. This squash salad has a warm farro base, topped with crunchy pecans and crisp apples.

Bitter Greens, Citrus, and Prosciutto Salad

Fun fact: citrus fruits are generally in season from November to April! I know—they tend to get a rap for being a summer ingredient, but try out this citrus salad during the winter months and prepare for your mind to be changed.

Grapefruit and Avocado Salad with Golden Beets, Feta, & Crispy Chickpeas

Another citrus moment—this grapefruit and avocado salad is one I like to eat straight from the bowl. Maybe it’s the roasted chickpeas, or perhaps it’s the golden honey-turmeric dressing. Whichever ingredient motivates you to whip up this recipe, you won’t regret it.

Apple Walnut Salad

I’m a big arugula fan 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 the best fall flavors, but it’s one that always finds its way onto my dinner table during the winter months.

Simple Citrus Salad

If complex, multi-ingredient recipes aren’t your thing, spruce up the dinner table with this simple citrus salad. You’ll embrace seasonal ingredients without all the effort. Win-win!

White Bean & Raddichio Salad

My radicchio era began when I wrote about Camilla Marcus’s pink radicchio salad. A while later, I came across this version with white beans and fell in love with the recipe’s simplicity and how satisfied it left me feeling after.

Spicy Winter Kale Citrus Salad

While salads have endless opportunities to be flavorful, sometimes selecting the right spice level is a must. This recipe uses Thai chilis and jalapeños to add a little kick, keeping you warm when the weather is chilly.

Shredded Kale & Cranberry Salad with Crispy Crunchy Tofu

There’s no escaping cranberries during the winter months, and this salad uses them to their full potential. Pack in your protein with crispy tofu, and brighten up your bowl with this citrus-ginger dressing.

Holiday Jewels Chopped Kale Salad

If there was one must-make holiday salad to eat this winter, it’s this holiday jewels kale salad. With toppings like pomegranate seeds bursting with flavor and a mustard-shallot vinaigrette, this is a recipe you’ll keep in the books for years to come.

Sweet Potato and Caramelized Date Salad

As a self-proclaimed sweet potato enthusiast, I’m always looking for opportunities to include this ingredient in my favorite dishes. If you need a salad this winter with substance and great flavor, you’ve met your match.

Kale Italian Chopped Salad

Chopped salads are an easy way to feed a big crowd, making this a great recipe to bring to the table during the holidays. With show-stopping sourdough croutons and a simple Dijon mustard-based dressing, it’s never been easier to keep all your guests pleased.

Roasted Delicata Squash & Kale Salad

Talk about a stunning salad! If you’ve hopped on the squash wave this season, give this recipe a try. With ricotta salata cheese and toasted hazelnuts, there’s so much to look forward to.

Delicata Squash Salad with Pistachios and Marinated Lentils

When I first started cooking with squash, I was overwhelmed with how much I had left over. Fortunately, dishes like this simple salad with pistachios and feta cheese ensure your root veggies never 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 great to infuse bright and tangy 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 years of college, I fell in love with adding a grain to my salads to make them a meal. From Maria Lichty and Rachel Holtzman’s “Two Peas & Their Pod Cookbook,” 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 for you (and maybe your guests), throw together this cauliflower tabbouleh as your filling side dish.

Kale Sourdough Panzanella

With a bit of a Mediterranean twist, this kale salad with Ina Garten’s Dijon garlic vinaigrette is the answer to all of your side salad needs during the cooler months.

Turmeric Roasted Kabocha Squash Salad

It’s always a good idea to implement anti-inflammatory ingredients during cold and flu season. This turmeric squash is a great ingredient to include in salads and to munch on its own.

Blood Orange & Beet Salad

Blood oranges lend some of the most stunning colors I’ve come across in winter recipes. Assembled across a bed of Greek yogurt for added protein, the citrus and beets create a dazzling platter that can double as your table’s centerpiece.

Za’atar and Hummus Salmon Lentil Salad

This roundup wouldn’t be complete without one salmon salad (my favorite protein to top my bowl of leafy greens). Inspired by a fantastic dish from Epicerie in Austin, it’s simple to assemble and enjoyable to eat.

Sweet Potato & Pomegranate Seed Salad

If you’re still searching for the perfect sweet potato salad recipe, give this one with pomegranate seeds and mixed greens a try. It’s simple yet elegant and delicious.

Beet, Pomegranate, and Hazelnut Salad

Closing out this list with a great winter veggie, this beet salad is one of the most unique plates you could bring to the dinner table. Top with fresh mint and roasted hazelnuts for an added element of crunch.

I’ve come to the conclusion that, perhaps, my frontal lobe is developing. AKA—when I sit down at the dinner table, I audibly sigh in relief when I see a salad. While I’m always up for a bowl of leafy greens (yes, If I was stranded on a desert island, I think I’d be OK with eating different salads forever), the cold-weather season is a time of year when I always find myself craving a light and nutritious element to add to my dining experience. Keeping seasonal ingredients and flavors in mind, I introduce to you my ultimate list of winter salad recipes.