Looking for the perfect dish to satisfy everyone on a hot summer day? Try these hero salad recipes, you can fully customise to suit dietary requirements. They aren’t only tasty, but refreshing and healthy as well!

 

Classic potato salad

  • 600g Nicola potatoes, unpeeled
  • 2 middle bacon rashers, rind removed, chopped
  • 1 medium brown onion, finely chopped
  • 2 hard-boiled eggs, chopped
  • 1/2 cup whole-egg mayonnaise
  • 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 2 gherkins, finely chopped
  • 3 green shallot, thinly sliced

 

Step 1

Cook potatoes in a large saucepan of boiling, salted water for 15 minutes or until tender. Drain. Cool. Peel and chop.

 

Step 2

Meanwhile, heat a large nonstick frying pan over high heat. Add bacon and brown onion. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes or until brown onion has softened. Transfer to a large bowl. Add potato and egg. Combine mayonnaise and vinegar in a bowl. Add to potato mixture. Season with salt and pepper. Toss to combine.

 

Step 3

Serve topped with gherkins and green shallot. Serve.

 

 

Broccoli and bacon salad with creamy dressing

  • 150g Thin Sliced Streaky Bacon 
  • 800g broccoli cut into small florets
  • 125g (1/2 cup) whole-egg mayonnaise
  • 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 2 tsp wholegrain mustard
  • 1 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 200g red grapes, halved
  • 2 green shallots, thinly sliced
  • 2 tbsp slivered almonds, toasted

 

Step 1

Place the bacon in a large frying pan. Heat over medium-high heat. Cook, turning once, for 4-5 minutes or until golden and crisp. Remove from pan. Coarsely chop.

 

Step 2

Meanwhile, bring a saucepan of water to the boil over high heat. Add the broccoli. Cook for 3 minutes or until bright green and tender-crisp. Drain. Refresh under cold water. Drain.

 

Step 3

Combine the mayonnaise, lemon juice and mustards in a small bowl.

 

Step 4

Arrange the broccoli on a serving platter. Season. Scatter with bacon, grapes, shallot and almonds. Drizzle with dressing. Gently toss to coat, if you like.

 

 

Prawn and devilled mango salad

  • 1 mango
  • 2 Lebanese cucumbers
  • 60g packet baby rocket
  • 1/3 cup small fresh mint leaves
  • 500g cooked prawns, peeled, deveined, tails intact
  • 45g (1/4 cup) honey roasted macadamias
  • Lemon Infused Extra Virgin Olive Oil, to drizzle

Devilled mango dip

  • 80g (1/3 cup) whole egg mayonnaise
  • 90g (1/4 cup) mango chutney
  • 2 tsp sriracha chilli sauce

 

Step 1

To make the devilled mango dip, combine all the ingredients in a bowl then transfer to a small serving bowl. Season.

 

Step 2

Slice the mango and peel the cucumbers into ribbons.

 

Step 3

Place the dip in the centre of a serving platter. Toss together rocket and mint in a bowl. Arrange on the platter with mango, cucumber and prawns. Sprinkle with macadamias and drizzle over oil to serve.

 

 

Pancetta pasta salad

  • 500g dried large shell pasta
  • 2 bunches asparagus, trimmed, halved
  • 12 slices (180g) pancetta, chopped
  • 3 green onions, thinly sliced diagonally
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves
  • 1/2 cup whole-egg mayonnaise
  • 2 tsp finely grated lemon rind
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 tbsp wholegrain mustard

 

Step 1

Cook pasta in a large saucepan of boiling, salted water until just tender, adding asparagus for the last 2 minutes of cooking. Drain. Refresh under cold water. Cool. Drain.

 

Step 2

Meanwhile, heat a frying pan over high heat. Add pancetta. Cook, stirring, for 2 minutes or until browned and crisp. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towel. Cool.

 

Step 3

Combine pasta, asparagus, pancetta, onion and parsley in a large bowl.

 

Step 4

Combine mayonnaise, lemon rind, lemon juice and mustard in a bowl. Add to pasta mixture. Toss to combine. Refrigerate in a large airtight container or bowl.

 

Source:

Top 100 Christmas salad recipes (taste.com.au)

Christmas salads (taste.com.au)