Cool off with these refreshing cookout salad recipes

While burgers and hot dogs are essential for any cookout, sometimes a light and refreshing summer salad makes the perfect side dish to heavier cookout staples. As temperatures rise, chefs all over TikTok are breaking out their salad bowls and whipping up delicious and healthy salad recipes using the freshest ingredients. If you’re looking for the perfect side dish to serve at your next barbecue, here are five cookout salad recipes that are so tasty they might as well be the main dish. 

1. Vegan Texas caviar salad

This vibrant salad packs a flavorful punch! Begin by whisking together minced garlic, red wine vinegar, sugar, vegetable oil, salt and pepper in a mixing bowl. Next, add cooked black-eyed peas. Then toss in chopped celery, chopped green onions, chopped cilantro, chopped parsley, diced red and green bell peppers, and diced and seeded jalapeños. Thoroughly mix the ingredients using your hands. Then chill for at least two hours before serving. 

2. Vegan cucumber and red onion salad

Cucumbers have never looked so tasty! First, peel stripes onto English cucumbers. Then cut them into thin slices. Next, transfer the cucumber slices to a mixing bowl and toss them together with salt. Set aside for one hour. Once ready, drain the excess liquid from the cucumbers, and throw in some red onion slices. Then add distilled white vinegar to a saucepan over medium-high heat, followed by water and sugar. Let it simmer for three to five minutes or until the liquid becomes clear. Pour the mixture over the cucumbers and red onions before mixing in some freshly minced dill. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least one hour before serving. 

3. Black bean and corn salad

This black bean and corn salad recipe combines the sweet taste of corn with savory black beans. Begin by boiling corn. Then slice the kernels off the cob and transfer them to a mixing bowl. Next, add cooked black beans and small chunks of mozzarella cheese. Then toss in some cilantro followed by olive oil, rice wine vinegar and a sprinkling of chili powder and salt. Thoroughly mix the ingredients together and enjoy!

4. Vegan carrot and caper salad

Carrot lovers will enjoy nibbling on this vegan carrot and caper salad. First, boil freshly grated carrots for about one minute. Next, strain the carrots and set them aside to cool. Then add chopped parsley, minced shallots and capers to a mixing bowl followed by white wine vinegar, lemon zest, lemon juice, olive oil and salt. Add the shredded carrots, and mix thoroughly before serving. 

5. Pesto couscous salad

This recipe takes basic couscous to the next level. Start by boiling couscous. Then drain and transfer to a mixing bowl. Next, combine the couscous with sliced cherry tomatoes, diced cucumbers, diced red onions and mozzarella cheese balls. Then mix in your choice of pesto, and season with salt and pepper before serving. 

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