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    6 Summer Salads that Are Hearty Enough for Dinner

    By | Shine Food – Wed, Jun 13, 2012 2:49 PM EDT

    Italian Chopped SaladItalian Chopped SaladAs temperatures climb, my desire to turn on the oven plummets. Still eat we must, so I find myself turning to salads regularly. I'm not talking any skimpy salads or the stuff of diets, I'm talking hearty, substantial salads that are as delicious as they are filling.

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    With all of the fresh vegetables in season, and farmers' markets brimming over with their colorful bounty, summer is a perfect time to start spinning salad into your weekly dinner rotation. Even your biggest eaters will concur that these hearty salads are no mere rabbit food, but rather wonderful, filling meals. Here are six sensational summer salad recipes to try.

    chopped california saladchopped california salad

    California Pizza Kitchen's Thai Crunch Salad With Chicken

    This recipe comes pretty close to the original from CPK. It's a fantastic mix of Asian flavors, complete with crunchy won tons, creamy avocados, and the incredible Thai peanut dressing.

    bread saladbread salad

    Bread Salad

    Also known as Panzanella, this is a hearty yet vegetarian dish. With day-old bread, tomatoes, and lots of extras thrown in, this recipe is a winner for sure.

    chicken caesar pasta saladchicken caesar pasta salad

    Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

    This recipe takes all the goodness of a chicken Caesar salad, but bulks it up with some pasta. And just so you know, there's bacon in there too.

    turkey taco saladturkey taco salad

    Turkey Taco Salad

    Give taco night a twist with this delicious taco salad using ground turkey. The recipe calls for a fantastic assortment of vegetables and other goodies, but you can modify it to fit the taste of whoever you may be feeding.
    steak & bleu cheese saladsteak & bleu cheese salad
    Steak & Blue Cheese Salad With Fried Onions

    This is one big salad. With steak, blue cheese, tomatoes, and crispy fried onions, this recipe from The Pioneer Woman is one of the best I've ever had. If your man likes steak, it's a great one for Father's Day too.

    chopped italian saladchopped italian salad

    Chopped Italian Salad

    Chopped salads are a favorite in my family, maybe because we're lazy and the cutting is already done, but also because they're just delicious. This recipe uses a host of Italian ingredients including salami, cheese, and other goodies to make for one irresistible salad.

    What are your favorite dinner salads?

    Image via arnold | inuyaki/Flickr


    Written by Julie Ryan Evans on CafeMom's blog, The Stir.

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