What is not to love about French Summer Salads? A beautiful balance of flavors, fresh fruits and vegetables that are juicy and enticing and a gorgeous presentation. The food of the French Riviera is healthy and light, often known as the Mediterranean Diet. This post features eleven creative French salad recipes that you will love to make. From the simplest French Vinaigrette to full meal in a bowl Salads.
One bite of Salad Niçoise transports you to the beach restaurants of Nice overlooking the Mediterranean sea, where you are served La Salade Niçoise with a chilled glass of rosé. A taste of La Salade Mentonnaise and you can imagine yourself in the French countryside, in those hillside villages, surrounded by olive trees and citrus groves.
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Did you know that many of the famous French Salads are named after cities in France? Each region is known for different types of salad.
Salads can take you on a culinary tour of France. La Salade Niçoise, La Salade Parisienne, La Salade Lyonnaise, and, my own creative spin on two of my absolute favorite towns in France, La Salade Tropezienne and La Salade Mentonnaise.
No need to go to French cooking school, let's do this together!
Classic French Salads included in this post
French Warm Goat Cheese Salad (Salade de Chèvre Chaud)
There are few dishes that capture the charm of a French bistro quite like Salade de Chèvre Chaud. A beloved classic recipe with warm, melty rounds of goat cheese perched on golden toasts, served over crisp greens with a tangy vinaigrette. It's the perfect balance of rustic and refined, a salad that feels indulgent yet light, comforting yet sophisticated
French Salade Niçoise Recipe
Here is an authentic, tasty French Salade Niçoise recipe that you will love! One of my all-time favorite salads that is full of protein (eggs, tuna and possibly sardines) and with lots of good veggies butter lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, artichokes fava beans, radishes and basil. It is simple to make yet impressive to serve and is perfect for picnics or long lunches in the sun.. Serve with a fresh baked baguette and a glass of Rosé for the perfect French Riviera lunch.
La Salade Lyonnaise - the best brunch salad ever
La Salade Lyonnaise is the best brunch salad ever. A soft poached egg , crispy bacon and a rich shallot jam served on a homemade crouton over mixed greens.
La Salade Parisienne - the best French Potato Salad
La Salade Parisienne is a fancy Potato salad with a French twist. A sophisticated side dish for your Summer BBQs.
Grilled Peach & Shrimp Salad
Do you want to learn to make a salad that looks, and tastes like it comes from a Michelin starred restaurant in the South of France? Let's do it! Here is a step by step guide to making La Salade Tropezienne - a fancy Shrimp, Peach and Goat Cheese salad with a Rosé Vinaigrette inspired by Saint-Tropez.
La Salade Mentonnaise - a delicious Fennel, Orange and Artichoke Salad with Pine Nuts
La Salade Mentonnaise is a delicious fennel, orange and artichoke salad with pine nuts and a citrus vinaigrette. Perfect with grilled fish.
Peach Caprese Salad
Fresh Peaches take the classic caprese salad to the next level! Sweet peaches, juicy tomatoes, creamy burrata and tangy basil drizzled with olive oil. The taste of summer.
Fresh Fig and Goat Cheese Salad with amazing honey dressing
This Fresh Fig and Goat Cheese salad is UNBELIEVABLY GOOD. The beauty of the fresh figs, the soft decadence of the goat cheese, the sweetness of the honey dressing. YUM! Serve as light lunch with a fresh baked baguette and glass of Rosé, as a beautiful side dish or as an elegant cheese course to finish a meal.
Tomato Burrata Salad with Basil and Orange Zest
A fresh twist on a familiar favorite - this Tomato Burrata Salad recipe with basil and orange zest is beautiful to serve and has a delicious, decadent flavor from the creamy burrata and the orange zest that will surprise and delight.
Prosciutto Salad with Melon and Burrata
This Prosciutto salad with Melon and Burrata instantly takes me back to the South of France. The salty Prosciutto mixed with the sweet, juicy melon and the creamy burrata cheese is absolutely heavenly.
Taboulé: Couscous Salad
This Taboulé, or Cous Cous Salad is super simple to make, is full of healthy vegetables and stores very well in the fridge. The perfect side for a summer BBQ that you can continue eating all week long as a hearty and satisfying meal in a bowl.
Fresh Fennel and Tomato Salad
A fresh, crunchy and satisfying summer salad with just 2 ingredients - raw fennel and tomatoes! The perfect side to serve with grilled meat or on its own as a light summer salad.
Roasted Plum, Goat Cheese & Lemon Thyme Salad Recipe
This salad is a meal in a bowl and has all the textures and tastes I crave in a perfect summer dish. A rich meatiness from the roasted plums and crunch from the toasted almonds and pine nuts. A tangy zing from the lemon thyme and lime zest. Indulgent creaminess from the fresh goat cheese and that little touch of "oh la la" from the Prosecco & honey citrus vinaigrette.
La Salade Niçoise
La Salade Niçoise is my absolute favorite for many reasons. First, my husband and I were married in Nice, this salad is part of our love story. Le Chef had this exact recipe on the menu when he was Executive Chef of Le Meridien Nice hotel. Enjoying this salad on the roof top bistro overlooking the sea is one of my favorite food memories. The authentic Niçoise is made with radishes, cucumbers, a hard-boiled egg, green onion, fresh tomatoes, red peppers, Niçoise olives ( Kalamata olives are a great substitute), anchovies, fava beans, canned tuna and lots of basil. What you won't find are baby potatoes and green beans in the authentic Niçoise! The key is to cut all the ingredients into bite-size pieces so that you have so much flavor in every bite.
La Salade Parisienne
La Salad Parisienne is a French-style potato salad made with boiled potatoes, hardboiled eggs, cornichons (little pickles) and ham in a handmade mayonnaise that is light and unctuous. I love to serve this salad at room temperature and with a sprinkle of fresh chives and dill - it is the perfect BBQ side but can also be the main meal on its own.
La Salade Lyonnaise
La Salade Lyonnaise is a classic French bistro salad with onions caramelized in red wine, crispy bacon, and a soft poached egg over green salad. This salad is hearty enough to be a main course, especially when served with a few slices of fresh baked baguette or French fries.
La Salade Tropezienne
La Salade Tropezienne is one of my favorite flavor combinations and truly a great recipe by Le Chef. The mixture of roasted and fresh peaches, poached shrimp, goat cheese and an incredible Rosé Vinaigrette is absolutely unforgettable...just like the town we named it after.
La Salade Mentonnaise
La Salade Mentonnaise is so light and fresh! Made with thinly sliced raw fennel, orange segments and roasted pine nuts over spring mix. This salad pairs beautifully with grilled meats or chicken. One of my go-to summer salads that everyone asks the recipe for.
Fresh Fig and Goat Cheese Salad
This fresh fig and goat cheese salad is served with a delicious honey vinaigrette that you will want to make over and over again. Fresh figs add so much to any dish and they are the star attraction in this super simple salad.
Tomato Burrata with Basil and Orange Zest
Tomato Burrata with Basil and Orange Zest is an unexpected twist on a classic. The orange zest creates a French Riviera freshness to the dish.
Prosciutto, Melon & Burrata Salad
Prosciutto, Melon & Burrata Salad is a showstopper salad for your next event. In this recipe we teach you how to lay out the melon in a beautiful rose shape that adds elevated beauty to this classic French Riviera combination. Creamy burrata cheese, sweet, juicy melon and salty, rich prosciutto taste incredible together.
French Warm Goat Cheese Salad : Salade de Chèvre Chaud
There are few dishes that capture the charm of a French bistro quite like Salade de Chèvre Chaud. A beloved classic recipe with warm, melty rounds of goat cheese perched on golden toasts, served over crisp greens with a tangy vinaigrette. It's the perfect balance of rustic and refined, a salad that feels indulgent yet light, comforting yet sophisticated
Taboulé: Couscous Salad
There is always a big bowl of Taboulé in my fridge. Super simple to make with whatever vegetables you have on hand and a complete meal in a bowl. This recipe is a vegetarian version, but you can also add roast chicken or shrimp. The key is to add lots of fresh herbs! Make this recipe once and you will make it time and time again!
Fennel and Tomato Salad
This Fennel and Tomato Salad is super simple - just two ingredients, however the flavor combination is perfection!
Roasted Plum, Goat Cheese and Lemon Thyme Salad
Roasted Plum and Goat Cheese and Lemon Thyme Salad with almonds and pinenuts and an honey dressing is fruity, flavorful, crunchy and tangy all at the same time. This is a great BBQ side to serve with pork or lamb. Roasting the plums takes them to new heights. My new favorite fruit to roast! You will love this salad. It pairs beautifully with a Piscine Pêche cocktail too.
French Salad Dressing
A word on salad dressings - the French very rarely use bottled dressings for salads, they make their own vinaigrette.
The general rule is one part vinegar to three parts oil. I like to use balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil, but of course you can choose to use apple cider vinegar, white wine vinegar or red vinegar. Oils can be sunflower oil, grape seed oil or a wide variety of perfumed olive oils - I personally love lemon olive oil if you can find it.
You can make a classic lemon dijon vinaigrette by adding ½ teaspoon of fresh lemon juice and a ½ teaspoon of dijon mustard to the vinaigrette. Mix well with a whisk so that the mixture emulsifies (gets thick).
Each of the salad recipes in this post uses homemade vinaigrettes which I am happy to share with you. I think you will love the Rosé vinaigrette on the Salade Tropezienne.
Where to shop:
The first choice for summer salad ingredients is always the farmer's market near you. At Farmer's markets you will always find local produce that is in season - the best base for any salad.
Your local grocery stores, of course, will also carry most of these ingredients. If ever you see fresh figs in your grocery store - buy them!
What wine to serve with French Summer Salads
These classic french salad recipes are best paired with a glass of wine. A dry Provençal Rosé pairs beautifully with La Salade Tropezienne or Niçoise for a taste of the French Riviera. A pinot noir goes better with La salade Lyonnaise or Parisienne.
I also love a classic French cocktail with a long summer lunch. The Kir Royale is so easy to make with just creme de cassis and Champagne. Or else you can indulge in the favorite cocktail of Saint Tropez, the Piscine Pêche, made with Champagne, rosemary and peaches.
Le Chef's Tips for Plating
There is no denying it. We can both use the exact same ingredients but when my husband, Le Chef, plates a dish it always looks 100x better than when I do it. At least it used to... little by little I have been learning the professional tricks of the trade to make your salads look more appealing to the eye.
We eat with our eyes first, and a well presented salad, with the ingredients beautifully laid out, is infinitely more appetizing and impressive than a jumble of ingredients.
As we start BBQ season and summer dining, I am happy to teach you Le Chef's secrets for making your salads the showstopper of any table. Each recipe in this post goes into detail with how to to present or "plate" your dish.
Whether you are looking to eat more vegetables (like I am!) or whether you would like to prepare for a potluck or just bring more joy to your Tuesday work-from-home lunch, these French Summer Salads are for you.
Equipment needed
Sharp Chef's Knives for preparing vegetables ( I use this 8 inch Chef's Knife all the time)
A Mandolin for slicing paper thin slices of cucumbers , fennel or radishes. Great for presentation!
Julienne peeler for thin strips of carrots or cucumbers.
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Other Famous French Foods you will enjoy
Quick Easy French Baguettes (Baking Baguettes for Beginners)
Quick, easy French baguette recipe. Deliciously simple yet crusty and crackly, homemade French Baguettes. Follow this recipe for easy French Baguettes even first time bakers can make and with only a couple hours.
Le Chef's French Onion Soup Gratinée
I Love EVERYTHING about Le Chef's French Onion Soup Gratinée. The rich, comforting broth. The ooey-gooey cheese pull. The dash of whiskey. A perfect meal to serve for socially distanced dinners outside in the winter.
French Breakfast Foods
Looking to make a classic French breakfast? Here are some famous French breakfast foods to create an authentic French bistro experience in your own home. When I first moved to the South of France, I was taken by the lifestyle. Having a French breakfast in the South of France sunshine, over looking the Mediterranean sea
Mediterranean Branzino Filet Recipe with Vierge Sauce
Delicate Branzino with a bright vinaigrette of tomatoes, olives and basil give a Provençal twist to your dish. Super simple yet impressive! A delicious Mediterranean Diet dish.
Duck Magret with fresh figs
This Duck Magret with fresh figs and eggplant is perfect for a late summer dinner party. The duck breast is seared to perfection, tender and juicy. The sautéed figs and eggplant melt in your mouth and bring a just the right level of sweetness to the dish.
Lemon Thyme French Roast Chicken (Poulet Rôti)
This Lemon and Thyme French Roast Chicken Recipe (Poulet Rôti au thym et citron) with Roasted Garlic is one of our family's favorite dishes. The meat is juicy and tender with the delicate perfume from the lemons, garlic and thyme. The skin is crispy and flavorful. Simply exquisite as well as super easy to make!
Most French summer salads are dressed simply with a classic vinaigrette made from olive oil, vinegar, Dijon mustard, and fresh herbs. This light dressing lets the beautiful seasonal ingredients truly shine.
A fresh, crusty baguette is always my favorite companion. Served alongside a simple salad and a chilled glass of rosé, it instantly feels like a leisurely lunch on the French Riviera.
Be sure to wash and dry them thoroughly. A salad spinner works wonderfully, helping the vinaigrette cling gently to each leaf rather than watering it down.
If you live in the DC Area you can try several of these recipes at Le Chef's Restaurant L'Avant-Garde. His Salade Niçoise or Lobster Salad with graprefruit and green apple shavings is exquisite.
I hope you have enjoyed this round up of my favorite French Salad recipes. Which one is your favorite? Are there any other salads you would like me to share a recipe for? I love to hear from you!
Bon Appétit,
Le Chef's Wife
all ABOUT LE CHEF'S WIFE
Bonjour! I am Anina Belle. I translate the fancy cooking of my Michelin-star trained French Chef Husband, Le Chef, into easy to make dishes that busy people with no culinary training (like me!) can make at home. We have two young kids (5 and 2) and I have a full time job in hospitality in addition to this blog. I strongly believe that even busy people deserve to eat well at home.
Look inside our Kitchen with this recent Washington Post Article. We were recently featured on the TODAY SHOW for our recipes of French Onion Soup Gratinée and Moelleux au Chocolat. You can watch our full segment here:
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Suzanne says
This is very timely! Vive l’été!