Fruit + veggies = the total summer power couple. These bold, bright vegetable and fruit salads bring sweet and savory together in a way that just works. Think juicy grilled peaches, fresh blueberries, and sweet strawberries, all cozying up to crisp cucumbers, juicy tomatoes, and whatever else is bursting out of your farmers market tote. You get mega flavor, plenty of fiber, and nearly all of your daily servings of fruits and veggies!
Sometimes, summer feels like nature showing off. The pure abundance is over-the-top with all the fresh herbs, heaps of fruits, and crates of veggies. They practically beg to be eaten raw. The flavors, colors, and textures could make anyone want to go vegan!
That's why I go wild for salads that blur the line between fruit and veggie salad. You get the sweet juiciness of fresh fruit PLUS all those earthy, crispy veggies.
Honestly, even if you're a little funny about getting enough veggies, adding some fresh fruit is a game-changer. Every bite is a little different, and you'll find yourself digging in again and again just for another little morsel of sweetness.
These are chef-formulated, ultra-fresh, scrape-the-bowl-clean salads and I hope you love them!
Why you'll love these savory vegetable and fruit salads
Ultra fresh.
Summer produce really doesn't need much help, which is why these salads go heavy on raw, fresh ingredients. At peak freshness, your fruits and veggies have the most texture and flavor, so you don't ever have to worry about bland, boring salads.
Loaded with fruits and veggies.
Getting those 4-5 cups of fruits and veggies a day can seem daunting. These sweet and savory summer salad recipes make it easy, though. One loaded salad can knock out most of that in one sitting (without feeling like you're chewing on greens all day).
Perfectly balanced.
The sweetness and tartness of fresh, seasonal fruits often tastes best paired with summer veggies. I often like to add fruits even to mostly savory salads to add a little unexpected sweetness and extra flavor. The combo of sweet and savory will make you look at your fruit basket in new ways!
Family-friendly flavors.
If you want to convince someone (like yourself, a spouse, or picky kid) to eat more veggies, pair them with their favorite fruits. I swear, that sweetness and extra flavor will make them/you want to eat them all the time. It's one of my favorite "hacks" to help convert non-veggie lovers into raving fans.
Add their favorite fruit, focus on mild, crispy veggies, and pick a delicious salad sauce (otherwise known as salad dressings). They'll be a veggie lover before you know it!
Want to make the most of the summer abundance? Try the 100 Best Vegan Summer Recipes.
15 Best Vegan Vegetable and Fruit Salads
Okay, yes, technically tomatoes and cucumbers count are fruits. But for this post, we're keeping things simple. If its sweet, juicy, and could show up in a fruit salad without anyone blinking twice, it counts. Melons, berries, stone fruits, apples, pears...you get the idea.
Balsamic Strawberry Spinach Salad
Strawberries + spinach are a summertime classic and one of the first fruity salad recipes of the year. Nothing says early summer better!
For this vegan version, you get the fresh strawberries with tender spinach, vegan feta, and a simple balsamic vinaigrette. Super simple, yet totally balanced.
Heirloom Tomato Salad with Cantaloupe
It takes a while for heirloom tomatoes to come into season, but when they do...watch out. Those massive slicers are loaded with the best flavor ever, and don't need much to turn them into something spectacular.
Keep it simple and pair them with fresh cantaloupe, vegan feta, cucumber, and arugula, all with a sticky sweet balsamic glaze. This is pure summer goodness in a bowl.
Blueberry and Lemon Poppyseed Salad
Blueberries are utterly underrated in salads. Their little explosions of sweetness make this veggie-packed salad filled with cabbage, Brussel sprouts, lentils, kale, and peppers just sweet enough.
I know - it's a lot of veggies. But remember, you get those blueberries PLUS the most delicious vegan lemon poppyseed dressing that ties it all together!
Snow Pea, Sweet Potato and Mandarin Salad
Tart mandarin oranges, roasted sweet potato, and crisp snow peas? Yes, yes, yes. Although this is one of my spring faves, I make it all summer long. So green, so fresh, so vibrant.
Summer Nectarine Cantaloupe Salad with Corn
This savory fruit salad is exactly that. We're leaning more on the sweet side with the cantaloupe, nectarines, and grapes, while still enjoying the flavors of tomatoes, cucumbers, peas, and corn.
My lemon and chive dressing keeps the whole thing from being too sweet, and couldn't be much easier to make (extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, fresh chives, and your favorite vegan sweetener).
This one can handle sitting in the fridge for a few days and is great on its own or served over a bed of spring mix!
Summery Mediterranean Salad
The Mediterranean flavors in this salad elevate it to flavor bomb status. We're combining all the season's best here: peaches, avocado, roasted peppers, red onions, cherry tomatoes, kalamata olives, and more. Serve it over crispy crunchy romaine lettuce and dive in.
Watermelon Cucumber Salad
I often call this my "hydration salad" since that's part of why I love to make it! Watermelon and cucumber are both extremely hydrating, so you can easily eat a serving (or three) to stay cool as a cucumber even on a hot, sunny day.
Add a lime vinaigrette and pumpkin seeds to bring it all together and serve as a side salad with all your favorite vegan burgers and kebabs. This one travels great for parties and potlucks, too!
Strawberry Walnut Salad with White Beans
The best part about this recipe (besides the flavor) is that it's ready in just 5 minutes and doesn't require you to turn on the stove at all. Plus, it's still a meal-in-one with plenty of greens, protein, fiber, and healthy fats!
Basically, you combine fresh strawberries, white beans, red onion, and walnut pieces with my sweet balsamic vinaigrette. It's a little sweet, a little tart, a little sharp...basically the perfect green salad on those too-hot-to-cook summer days.
Easy Summer Farro Salad with Grilled Peaches
Farro is the perfect grain for grain salads - chewy, hearty, and it soaks up all that dressing. Pair it with grilled peaches and squash, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, avocado, and white beans, and let the flavors mingle together for maximum flavor.
This one's a meal prep queen and makes the most delicious meal in a bowl for warmer weather.
Summer Chopped Kale Salad
Chopped salads are cut in a way that you really get a little of everything in every bite, and this summery version is no different.
It's heartier than some of the other options on this list and is really loaded up with veggies, including Brussels sprouts, kale, and more. But, it's the sweet nectarines and vibrant lime dressing that wakes it all up.
If you have a hard time eating enough hearty greens, give this one a try! The fresh stone fruit can hide some of that Brussels sprout funk and makes them extra tasty.
Summer Harvest Orzo Salad
A fruity pasta salad? Yes, please! Orzo looks like rice but is really just a very small type of pasta. This gives it a great mouthfeel, plus it holds onto dressing really nicely.
This side dish is loaded with fresh peaches, fresh cherry tomatoes, kale, bell pepper, and zucchini, all dressing in a vibrant basil vinaigrette. Perfect for summer entertaining!
Zesty Watermelon Salad
The combination of fresh watermelon, mango, and avocado paired with cilantro and lime is endlessly refreshing. It's more side salad than main dish, and would make a great side for your next summer brunch or cookout.
Mediterranean Farro Salad with Peaches
This salad screams summer like no other. You get the grilled veggies, fresh peaches, olives, chickpeas, and garden fresh summer veggies with a base of hearty farro, which makes it filling enough to serve as a complete meal.
It instantly transports me to Greece and is a dream for meal prepping! Cook once and eat for days? Yes, please!
Fruit Salsa
Fruit salsa counts as a salad, right? Especially this one, which combines fresh peaches, cantaloupe, pineapple, strawberries, and more with fresh avocado, cilantro, and lime. You get that savory note to balance all the sweetness, which makes everything better.
I love to serve this one with cinnamon crisps or even regular tortilla chips. There's no easier way to eat tons of healthy fruit all summer long!
Tropical Kale and Quinoa Salad
This isn't any ordinary kale salad. Sure, you get the protein-rich quinoa and healthy greens (kale and cabbage, in particular), but you also get fresh papaya, nutty pecans, bell peppers, fresh cilantro, and more.
It's all coated in my creamy cilantro lime dressing, which adds a bright citrusy, herby flavor to every bite. One of the best!
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