Gallery: 18 Winter Salads That Don't Suck

Quinoa Salad with Watercress, Oranges, Avocado, and Almonds, with Citrus Vinaigrette

Watercress, orange segments, and avocado get tossed in a lemony vinaigrette and served on a bed of dressed quinoa. Perhaps the most virtuous salad of the lot.

Quinoa Salad with Watercress, Oranges, Avocado, and Almonds, with Citrus Vinaigrette

Vietnamese Shrimp and Quinoa Salad

Vietnamese flavors combined with shrimp and quinoa in this meal-sized salad.

Vietnamese Shrimp and Quinoa Salad

Warm Fingerling Potato and Tuna Salad

Not your mamma's potato salad. That's all there is to say about this.

Warm Fingerling Potato and Tuna Salad

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Beet and Citrus Salad with Pinenut Vinaigrette

Roasted beets and grapefruit segments and arugula in a honey and hazelnut vinaigrette.

Beet and Citrus Salad with Pinenut Vinaigrette

Spicy Warm Silken Tofu with Celery and Cilantro Salad

Chilled silken tofu in a vinegary sauce tossed with cilantro, celery, and scallions.

Spicy Warm Silken Tofu with Celery and Cilantro Salad

Lentil and Carrot Salad with Kale

Seasoned lentils with tender chunks of carrot and dressed kale leaves.

Lentil and Carrot Salad with Kale

Marinated Kale and Chickpea Salad With Sumac Onions

Marinated kale leaves make the ideal winter salad green. You can dress them days in advance and they still stay crunchy, ready to eat at moment's notice. Here, they're combined with chickpeas and sumac-scented red onions.

Marinated Kale and Chickpea Salad With Sumac Onions

Farro Salad with Roasted Kale and Beets

Another kale and grain-based salad made with farro and roasted beets.

Farro Salad with Roasted Kale and Beets

Kale, Apple, and Pancetta Salad

A gorgeous sweet, bitter, and crunchy blend of kale, apples, and walnuts.

Kale, Apple, and Pancetta Salad

Jean-Georges Vongerichten's Kale Salad with Parmesan and Lemon

Crunchy kale marinated in lemon juice and olive oil, flavored with anchovy and crunchy miniature croutons.

Jean-Georges Vongerichten's Kale Salad with Parmesan and Lemon

Sichuan-Style Chicken Salad

Does chicken salad count as salad? Sure it does. This is Chichi's version of the classic Sichuan "Strange-Flavor Chicken," seasoned with chili oil and sichuan peppercorns.

Sichuan-Style Chicken Salad

Arugula, Apple, and Pomegranate Salad with Cider-Honey Vinaigrette

Pomegranates are still in season, and the farmer's market is still loaded with great apples. Put'em to use!

Arugula, Apple, and Pomegranate Salad with Cider-Honey Vinaigrette

Arugula, Fennel and Orange Salad

Shaved fennel bulb, juicy citrus segments, and arugula tossed in a simple honey and mustard vinaigrette.

Arugula, Fennel and Orange Salad

Green Bean Salad with Pickled Peppers and Anchovy Dressing

Crunchy green beans tossed in a creamy anchovy dressing with shallots, pickled peppers, and pinenuts.

Green Bean Salad with Pickled Peppers and Anchovy Dressing

Oysters, Beet Salad, A Light Dessert, and Lambrusco

"Valentine's Day is all about making your spouse/girlfriend/boyfriend/significant other/imaginary-or-maybe-real-internet-lover happy, which means I cook the things my wife loves to eat. Fortunately, I happen to love them as well. I'd start with some briny, icy cold Atlantic oysters, preferably my favorites from Wellfleet. Of course, knowing how to shuck them yourself is sure to score you some points on the old love-o-meter (girls only like boys who have good skills. Face the facts). Next we'd have some sort of roasted beet salad, which are perfect february fare, and even better when garnished with pomegranate seeds and some nice barnyard-y goat cheese. We'd follow that up with some Roasted Pumpkin Soup with Brown Butter and Thyme (or perhaps substitute some squash in its place).

Winter Green Salad with Walnuts, Apples, and Parmesan-Anchovy Dressing

Crunchy and bitter winter greens combined with sweet apple and walnuts in a savory parmesan and anchovy vinaigrette.

Winter Green Salad with Walnuts, Apples, and Parmesan-Anchovy Dressing

Shredded Kale Salad with Pine Nuts, Currants, and Parmesan

What can we say? We love kale salads. Here our favorite winter green is combined with shaved parmesan, pinenuts, and sweet currants.

Shredded Kale Salad with Pine Nuts, Currants, and Parmesan

Thai Herbal Salmon Salad (Phla Pla Salmon)

Poached cubes of salmon tossed with a slew of Thai herbs and aromatics in a dressing of fish sauce and lime juice.

Thai Herbal Salmon Salad (Phla Pla Salmon)