Summers are made for salads! We’re talking big, green, leafy deliciousness filled with all the great fruits and vegetables the season has to offer. It’s the perfect strategic combination of these yummy seasonal ingredients that result in light salads with BIG flavor. 

With summer officially kicking off, we asked Chef Mike to share his top 10 favorite salads he’s whipping up this season, along with a recipe for one of his personal favorites that you can make at home on your own. These light and fresh salads are the perfect sides for grilled main dishes at picnics and potlucks, and are always a standout at backyard barbecues.

WATERMELON & FETA SALAD

Served on a bed of arugula, garnished with sliced almonds and fresh mint.


Summer Watermelon & Feta Salad

GRILLED VEGETABLE & GREENS SALAD

Fresh field greens with marinated and grilled oyster mushrooms, asparagus, yellow squash and roasted red peppers, tossed in a balsamic-pistachio vinaigrette.

INSALATA TOSCANA

Mesclun greens, grilled asparagus tips and portobello mushroom, roasted red pepper,

Parmesan curls and julienned fried leeks, served with our balsamic vinaigrette.

CHICKPEA AND KALE SALAD

Seasoned with cumin and paprika and tossed with mint

and cilantro in our sun-dried tomato vinaigrette.

 

KALE AND SWEET POTATO SALAD

With dried cherries, pumpkin seeds, cornbread croutons 

and lemon mustard vinaigrette.

 

HERBED CORN SALAD

Corn, fresh herbs, shaved San Simon cheese, toasted sunflower

seeds tossed in roasted jalapeno vinaigrette.

 

SOUTHWESTERN CAESAR SALAD

Romaine lettuce, diced tomato, black beans, jícama, roasted corn, Chihuahua cheese,

and blue corn tortilla chips tossed in our key lime salsa Caesar dressing.

 

ATHENIAN GREEN SALAD

Chopped iceberg, red leaf and romaine lettuce with tomato, cucumber,

red onion, red and green bell pepper, Kalamata olives and feta cheese,

tossed in our homemade horiatiko vinaigrette.

 

TANGY FRIED CHICKEN SALAD

Lightly breaded fried chicken, grilled red onion, green and red bell pepper,

chives and cucumber atop bok choy, romaine and radicchio, served with honey mustard dressing.

 

CITRUS SALAD

Napa cabbage, endive, radicchio, fennel, radish, grapefruit, oranges and 

mandarins tossed in our honey and Tabasco dressing.

 

Citrus Salad

And here’s a delicious recipe you can make and enjoy at home!

WATERMELON, FETA AND ARUGULA SALAD

Serves 6 people as a side

For the Honey Citrus Vinaigrette:

1 T orange juice
1 T lemon juice
½ T honey
1 T olive oil

In a small bowl, whisk together the orange juice, lemon juice and honey.  While whisking, slowly pour in the olive oil and whisk to completely emulsify.

For the salad:

1 1/3 pounds watermelon, diced
6 ounces feta cheese, crumbled
¼ pound baby arugula
1 T mint, chopped
3 T sliced almonds

In a bowl, place ¾ of each of the feta cheese, mint and almonds. Add in the watermelon and toss with the honey citrus vinaigrette. Platter the arugula in a serving bowl and top with the watermelon mixture. Garnish with the remaining feta cheese, mint and almonds.

If you need help planning the perfect spread, check out our current menu offerings for catering and delivery options. Whether you decide to make any of these salads yourself, or get some help from us, please tag your photos with #CateringbyMichaels for a chance to be featured on our Facebook or Instagram. And don’t forget to follow along @cateringchicago!