Salads are the “It” girl of summer food: fresh, beautiful, surprising and cool. According to Laurie Anderson in Salad for President, salads are a work of art, “A salad is a composition. I am perfectly happy to see cars or clouds or salads as artworks. It’s what you do with them and how you contextualize them that matters.”

Salads don’t have to be boring or uninspiring, they can be whatever you want them to be! Scroll for some unique and unexpected salads that will suit your summer palate.

Salad for Breakfast

Speaking of things you’d never think of—we typically don’t associate salad with the a.m. Everything except the croutons can be made ahead, so don’t hesitate about it taking up your time in the morning!

Tableside Cabbage Salad

This salad featuring cabbage, seaweed, edible flowers and tahini-anchovy dressing is as beautiful as it is delicious.

Kohlrabi Caesar Salad

A Caesar salad definitely isn’t unique, but this recipe with Kohlrabi and smoked trout surely is.

Cilantro Salad

The epitome of fresh to me is the flavor of cilantro. Mix this with peanuts, fried shallots and snap peas, and you’ve got yourself a tasty summer snack.

Stone Fruit Salad

I could have this mix of nectarines, burrata and fresh basil for an entire meal easily.

Pea and Prosciutto Salad

Prosciutto and peas make for the perfect summery dish.

Steak Salad with Red Chile Dressing and Peanuts

Mixing in peanuts and chili is definitely a unique and fresh way of spicing up your classic steak salad. Plus, the steak can be prepared a day in advance!

Cabbage and Fennel Salad

Mint and lemon add the ultimate coolness to this already fresh salad—it’s like summer in salad form!

Check out A Sparkling Rose + Lemon Gin Cocktail and 7 Summer Smoothies You Need To Try Now for more summer recipes!