3 Simple Mason Jar Summer Salads

Long gone are the days of sad, bland summer salads with sparse toppings and “meh” dressings. Definitely not under our watch. Grab a mason jar and make your perfect summer salad!

These three simple summer salads prove that lettuce is just the beginning. The true stars of the show? Hearty grains, silky legumes, crunchy seeds, crisp veggies, and creamy avocado. Not only do these add-ons amp up the flavour and texture of your salad, but they also lend an extra punch of protein, healthy fats, and complex carbs to keep you satisfied loooooong after the last bite.

To help you save time in the kitchen and spend more precious minutes soaking up the sunshine, we layered our favourite salad ingredients into easily portable mason jars. Fill ’em up the night before and toss in your bag the next morning for a convenient and colourful, plant-based lunch. The dressing sits strategically at the bottom with delicate greens closer to the top so the layers don’t become soggy over time. When you’re ready to dig in, flip the jars upside down so the dressing spreads evenly throughout, then unscrew the cap and empty into a bowl (or if you want to eat directly out of the jar, that works too).

Bonus: This is the perfect way to clean out the fridge before leaving for that summer vacay or weekend trip!

1. Couscous Feta Salad

We’re not sure what we like best about this combo: The chunks of tangy feta, the layers of fluffy couscous, or the occasional crunch from the salty sunflower seeds.

Layers (from bottom to top):

• Dressing (2.5 Tablespoons Olive Oil, 1 Tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar, 1/2 Teaspoon Honey, 1/2 Teaspoon Mustard, Salt and Pepper to taste)
• Cucumbers, diced
• Carrots, grated
• Red Cabbage, thinly sliced
• Couscous
• Feta, cubed
• Mache Greens or Arugula
• Sunflower Seeds

2. Loaded Legume Salad

We doubled down on the legumes for extra protein and a whole lot of YUM.

Layers (from bottom to top):

• Dressing (2.5 Tablespoons Olive Oil, 1 Tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar, 1/2 Teaspoon Honey, 1/2 Teaspoon Mustard, Salt and Pepper to taste)
• Cucumber, diced
• Radish, sliced
• Avocado, cubed
• Sprouts
• Chickpeas
• Yellow Lentils
• Swiss Chard Greens, chopped
• Cashews, chopped

3. Caprese-Inspired Salad

When someone says mozzarella balls, you RUN. You don’t walk.

Layers (from bottom to top):

• Dressing (2.5 Tablespoons Olive Oil, 1 Tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar, 1/2 Teaspoon Honey, 1/2 Teaspoon Mustard, Salt and Pepper to taste)
• Yellow Peppers, diced
• Cherry Tomatoes, halved
• Green Olives
• Basil
• Whole Wheat Noodles
• Mozzarella Balls
• Arugula
• Baby Spinach

In the mood to experiment with different salad dressings? Head here. (Spoiler Alert: Papaya is involved.)