7 summer gourmet salads for a quick lunch

Summer salads are fresh and quick to prepare, the ideal recipe to quickly create a light, healthy and appetizing meal, perhaps to take to the beach. In this way you will be able to bring many different dishes to the table, better if prepared with seasonal ingredients: many colorful and tasty salads that everyone will like. You can indeed prepare the classic pasta salad, but also those based on cereals, such as rice or spelled, salads of legumes or vegetables, such as chickpea or green beans, or chicken salad, squid salad: there are so many ideas! So here are 7 summer salads to prepare in the warm season, to make delicious and fresh dishes in no time.

1. Mediterranean pasta salad for a quick and tasty first course

Among the classic summer dishes there is of course the pasta salad, a tasty dish that we can enrich in many different ways and that everyone likes. In particular, the Mediterranean pasta salad is really simple and tasty. For the preparation choose the short pasta you prefer and simply season it with mozzarella cheese, tomatoes, black olives, tuna and basil. In a short time you will realize a tasty first course ideal for a quick lunch but rich in taste. Cook the pasta in abundant boiling salted water, drain it al dente and let it cool. Insert it into the bowl where you have added the chopped tomatoes, the drained tuna, the extra virgin olive oil and basil. Finally add the mozzarella cheese and the pitted olives, stir gently and serve.

2. Venus black rice salad: a fresh and innovative dish

Another main dish of the summer is the rice salad, which you can prepare in many different versions by choosing the seasoning you prefer. If you want to make a fresh and innovative dish, however, then the Venus black rice salad is the ideal recipe: a less conventional version, ideal to amaze your guests for a delicious summer dinner. You can season the venus black rice with fresh vegetables, legumes, soft cheese, olives, but also with pieces of fruit, in particular the avocado, which will give the dish a delicious exotic taste. The venus black rice has a longer cooking time, and so it will take about 40 minutes: let it boil in abundant boiling salted water and in the meantime prepare the vegetables you will choose for the preparation. Once the rice is cooked, drain it and pass it under cold water to stop cooking. Put it in a bowl, mix it with the other ingredients and season it with a delicious citronette made with lemon juice, extra virgin olive oil, salt and pepper.

3. Spelled salad with cherry tomatoes and mozzarella cheese: light and rich in proteins

If you want to prepare a summer salad and you love cereals, the spelled salad with cherry tomatoes and mozzarella cheese is the ideal recipe. First boil spelled, it will take about 20 minutes. Once ready drain it and let it cool. Then cut the pineapple into small pieces, removing the excess water, now cut the cherry tomatoes and the mozzarella cheese and put all the ingredients in a bowl with the rocket. Season with extra virgin olive oil and salt and let it rest for twenty minutes before serving.

4. Spelled and barley salad: the dish rich in fiber and low in fat

As an alternative to spelled salad, you can prepare a dish rich in fiber and low in fat: a fresh and tasty spelled and barley salad. Once the two cereals are boiled, drain them, pass them under cold water and place them in a large bowl. Then season with cherry tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, rocket, corn, salt and extra virgin olive oil. A tasty and complete dish ideal also for those who follow a vegetarian diet.

5. Chickpea salad: to taste legumes also during summer

In summer it is often hard to eat legumes but, even in this case, we can make healthy and fresh salads. In particular, the chickpea salad is really delicious: a unique dish ideal for lunch or dinner. To speed up the preparation you can use the pre-cooked chickpeas: rinse them under running water and let them drain. Then place them in a bowl and season with cherry tomatoes, chopped spring onion, basil, and pitted black olives. Season with extra virgin olive oil, salt and, if you prefer, a bit of lemon juice. Let it rest for 15 minutes and serve.

6. Quinoa salad: the original and nutritious summer preparation

Quinoa is a herbaceous plant also known as "pseudo cereal", as it is often combined with spelled, rice and barley. Quinoa salad is the ideal dish for those who want to prepare a fresh but at the same time nutritious dish, it is in fact rich in proteins, and it is also gluten-free. Its taste is very delicate and it is excellent when paired with vegetables and cheese. Rinse the quinoa well and, as soon as the water is clear, cook it in a pot: quinoa must be covered by water. Let it cook until water is completely absorbed, then let it cool and then season with cherry tomatoes, corn, onion, aromatic herbs, extra virgin olive oil, salt and pepper. This is  an ideal dish also for those who follow a vegan diet.

7. Potato salad: a delicious star of the summer table

Another protagonist of the summer tables is the potato salad that can be served as a tasty appetizer, or enriched with other ingredients so as to become a delicious single dish, ideal for the beach or for a picnic. For a quick and tasty recipe you can simply boil the potatoes, peel them, cut them into cubes and then season them with chives, yogurt sauce, mustard and mayonnaise. To make a complete dish, enrich your potato salad with tuna, olives, cherry tomatoes, green beans and corn. Once it is ready, leave it to rest in the fridge half an hour before serving.