Here’s Every Type of Salad You Need to Know
Updated: Mar. 17, 2023
Discover classic types of salad from Caesar to tabbouleh to Waldorf.
Caesar Salad
Caesar salad is fit for a king. This crunchy, peppery dish is a tossed salad—meaning the entire salad is tossed in a dressing or vinaigrette. The classic romaine salad is topped with croutons and shaved parmesan cheese then drizzled with its signature Caesar dressing. Creamy homemade dressing is what really makes this salad pop. Caesar dressing typically consists of lemon juice, oil, anchovies, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, pepper, mustard and cheese.
Caprese Salad
Composed of tomato, fresh mozzarella and basil, Caprese salads are essential during the summertime. And yes, Caprese is a salad. With only 3 main ingredients, this Italian classic is cool and refreshing while still providing you a burst of fresh flavor. Top it with balsamic vinegar and it’s perfect to serve as an appetizer or you can enjoy it as a light lunch. If you’re a big Caprese salad lover, you’re going to want to check out these Caprese-inspired recipes.
Chef Salad
Don’t let its name intimidate you; you don’t need to be a top chef to make this stunning salad. It’s actually super easy to learn how to make chef salad. The key to its beautiful presentation. There are many variations of a chef salad—but the defining trait is to chop ingredients like deli meats, eggs, tomatoes, onions, carrots and radishes into uniform bite-sized pieces over a bed of greens. This way, all of the colorful ingredients will shine through.
Cobb Salad
Similar to chef salad, it’s super easy to learn how to make cobb salad. Cobb salads are one of the most popular “composed” salads, which is a fancy way of saying its ingredients are arranged side by side or piled on top of one another, not tossed or mixed together. Traditional ingredients in a cobb salad include chilled chicken, bacon, hard-boiled eggs, tomatoes, avocado and blue cheese.
Crab Louie
The crab Louie is a seafood lover’s dream. Mix together crab meat, hard-boiled eggs, tomato and asparagus over a bed of Iceberg lettuce for this old-school lunch. Crab Louis typically come with Louis dressing, which is a mixture of mayonnaise and chili sauce, though we think you can mix and match with any creamy homemade salad dressing. Try our spin on the Crab Louie which tosses in fresh mango, avocado and cilantro for a tropical spin.
Fattoush
Bring leftover pita bread back to life with this Lebanese salad. This popular Middle Eastern dish has the best of both worlds in regards to flavor. Adding a bit of sumac into the dressing elevates its acidic flavor while the bread balances out the acidity with its dense and hearty texture. Looking to add more spice into your life? Make sure you try out these other spices and seasonings that you’ve (probably) never heard of.
Ambrosia Salad
Yes, salad can contain marshmallows. Combine pineapple, mandarin oranges, marshmallows and coconut to make this fabulous fruit dessert (err, salad). If you’re a fan of ambrosia, you’ll want to check out these other fruit salad recipes, too.
Greek Salad
You don’t need to book a plane ticket to enjoy fresh Mediterranean flavors. Greek or horiatiki salad combines fresh tomatoes, onion, cucumbers, olives and feta cheese. Make this Greek salad a full meal by adding some of our favorite Greek recipes to your menu. They’ll all make you say “Opa!”
Tabbouleh
Mixed with bulgur, onion, tomato and seasonings, this popular Middle Eastern salad will fill you right up. If you have any bulgar left to spare, put it to good use in a Mediterranean bowl or this bulgur jambalaya recipe. Plus, you’ll love the fresh lemon, parsley and mint aroma wafting through your kitchen.
Israeli Salad
No lettuce needed for this Israeli salad. Its yummy combo of tomatoes, cucumbers onions, bell peppers and fresh herbs make a perfect addition to any meal.  If you feel like adding a bit more flavor, try throwing in some olives, beets and potatoes to switch things up.
Italian Salad
This salad proves that Italian-inspired dishes go beyond pasta, gelato and pizza. Toss up croutons, romaine lettuce, tomatoes, olives, onion, pepperoncini, and cheese with Italian dressing and you’ve got yourself a simple, flavorful blend.
Nicoise Salad
French Nicoise salads are typically made with green beans, hard-boiled eggs, olives, tomatoes and tuna. If you’re not a fish fan, try adding chicken or steak. Check out more of our tips on how to make Nicoise salad.
Panzanella
A salad that revolves around bread? It sounds too good to be true. Panzanella salad was created as a way to use up stale leftover bread. This classic summer salad consists of soaked bread cubes, onions, tomatoes and other fresh seasonal produce. Carb lovers, rejoice! (It’s even one of our top salad recipes of all time.)
Southwest Salad
Brimmed to the top with Southwest favorites like avocado, corn, cilantro and black beans, this salad will add a bit of kick to mealtime. Add some additional heat by throwing in some jalapenos to the mix. Want to cool things down? Avocado and this creamy cilantro salad dressing will do the trick.
Waldorf Salad
If you’re looking for a creamy, sweet salad, you’ve come to the right place. This vintage salad has been around (and loved!) for ages and there’s good reason for it. Waldorf salads are made with easy-to-find kitchen staples like apples, celery and yogurt.
Wedge Salad
Pretty, simple and delicious. Who knew a salad could be all three? Chop lettuce into 6 wedges, mix the dressing and top it all off with tomatoes and bacon. Voila! You’re one step closer to getting a tasty bite of crispy goodness. Bonus points: it’s one of our favorite keto-friendly salads, too.
Originally Published: June 16, 2020
