10 Summer Salads I Have On Repeat

Stepping Away From Dance Mom Life… For a Salad Post.

Okay, I’m doing something a little different today. No competition recaps, no packing lists, no “how did we end up at a convention center in Ohio again” stories. Just me, stepping away from the usual dance mom and travel diary content to talk about the thing that has actually gotten me through this ridiculous heat: salad.

Not sad desk salad. Real, crave-worthy, “make a double batch because it won’t last” salad. Between practices and travel and everyone needing to eat something that isn’t a granola bar in the car, I’ve been leaning hard on a rotation of ten recipes this summer. They’re the ones I keep coming back to, the ones that travel well to potlucks and pool days, and the ones my family actually asks for by name.

Here are the 10 salads on repeat at my house this summer, courtesy of yours truly, and some of my fave foodie bloggers.

1

Lemon-herb orzo salad

Watch me make it →

Let’s kick it off with my favorite Italian summer salad—and the one I’m making on autopilot. It’s fresh, zesty, and gets better as it sits (aka perfect for mom life).

Ingredients:

• 1 cup orzo, cooked and cooled
• 1 red onion
• 1/2 cucumber, diced
• 1/2 cup grilled asparagus
• 1/2 avocado
• 1/3 cup crumbled feta
• 1/2 cup chopped cherry tomatoes
• Parmesan
• Basil
• Capers
• Zest and juice of 1 lemon
• 2 tbsp Garcia de la Cruz olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Cook orzo according to package instructions. Drain, rinse with cool water, and let it chill.
2. In a large bowl, combine all ingredients, add pasta.
3. Season with salt and pepper. Chill for 30 minutes or more for max flavor.

Nine more to keep the rotation going:

That’s the lineup. Ten salads, zero repeats in flavor, and every single one worth putting on your menu this summer. Dance mom content resumes shortly. Until then, stay well, fit, and go make a salad.