Potato salad is a quintessential summer dish, but it’s not exactly innovative. If you’re looking for something lower-carb or just a little bit different, whip up one of these hearty side salads instead.
Cauliflower Salad [Food Network]
This is probably the best low-carb equivalent to potato salad out there—the Food Network even calls it “I’ Can’t Believe It’s Not Potato Salad.” The stand-in for potatoes? Ever-versatile cauliflower, which joins forces with classic ingredients like fat-free mayo and sour cream, Dijon mustard, red onion, celery, and hard-boiled eggs. A few ingredients you might not expect to see, however, are powdered ranch, daily-free creamer, and rice vinegar. They’re all complemented by fresh herbs such as dill, chives, and parsley to create a healthy-but-delicious side dish.
Mediterranean Chickpea Salad [Delish]
If you want to eat down your pantry while you make your picnic dishes, try this chickpea-based salad. It’s inspired by Mediterranean cuisine, so it includes a homemade olive oil dressing. Add white wine vinegar, fresh lemon juice, red pepper, and parsley, then drizzled the dressing over rinsed chickpeas and a medley of chopped veggies. The citrusy dressing lends just enough tartness to the already flavorful mix of red onion, kalamata olives, bell pepper, cucumber, and crumbled feta cheese.
Tomato-Avocado Salad [Gimme Delicious]
Anyone who loves guacamole will also love this chunky salad, which is basically a deconstructed version of the tasty summer appetizer. Start by chopping tomatoes and cubing avocado, then add red onion, minced cilantro, and some fresh lime juice and olive oil. A dash of salt and pepper, plus a sprinkle of red pepper flakes, kicks things up a notch. You can also toss in order extras like black beans, chickpeas, mozzarella or feta, or sliced cucumber.