Standup Salads for a Picnic

A watermelon cucumber salad. Who said salads have to include lettuce?

When planning your summer picnic, be sure to create a standup salad – the kind that will hold up to summer heat and all that it brings. Each of these salads has simple, easy-to-prepare ingredients that you can whip up the night before and store in the containers you’ll be packing in your basket.

Remember that a good salad need not include lettuce; there are plenty of creative salad recipes out there for the weight- and health-conscious. But I do recommend using one lettuce-driven salad so that there is an array of tasty options.

1. Frisée Salad

Frisée lettuce is perfect for the classic green summer salad. Add some fresh strawberries, hearts of palm, red onion, and drizzle with a strawberry champagne vinaigrette as you set up your picnic. Remember: the friseé will be crispy.

2. Wild Rice Salad

A year-round salad favorite is the wild rice salad that includes dried cranberries and pecans with a raspberry vinaigrette.

3. Salade Niçoise Spin-Off

A third salad option is a spin-off of the salade niçoise, but sans lettuce & hardboiled eggs. Add bright crispy green string beans, juicy cherry tomatoes, red onions, and potatoes. You can also drizzle some crumbled goat cheese as your dress the salad with some extra virgin olive oil, sea salt & pepper and a dash of balsamic.

Expert Tip: Keep the dressings in side containers and dress the salad once you’ve set up shop on the grass.