5 Warm Salad Recipes That Are Perfect for Cold Weather

These sophisticated salads, which call on cauliflower, chicories, mushrooms, beans, and more, combine warm and room-temperature ingredients.

humble beginnings warm lentil salad eggs — Credit: Christopher Testani

If a warm salad seems enigmatic to you, you're not alone. You may think this is a gourmet dish that high-end chefs serve at restaurants, not a casual lunch you make at home. But there are so many reasons why you should be making warm salads—starting with the fact that you're missing out if you don't. Whether a warm salad is your dinner's supporting actor or the starring player, you'll enjoy biting into these savory and versatile dishes that bring heat to your plate.

01 of 05

Warm Spinach Salad With Shiitake Mushrooms and Red Onion

Try this fun recipe, which highlights the different flavors of one ingredient in a single bowl. You'll enjoy spinach two ways, both sautéed and fresh, along with pickled red onions in white balsamic. Then, meaty shiitake mushrooms and toasty sesame seeds are layered over everything.

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02 of 05

Warm Lentil Salad With Poached Eggs

A stir-fried vegetable mélange, along with French green lentils and a lemony Dijon dressing, make for a nice meal. Adding super-savory upgrades, like eggs, goat cheese, almonds, and parsley, take this warm salad to the next level. It's served with poached eggs on top. (If you're in a time crunch, quick-fry the eggs).

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03 of 05

Warm Quinoa and Chicken Salad

Every busy cook loves a one-pot meal, and this recipe lets you cook everything in a saucepan, like a risotto, including the quinoa and the vegetables. This salad is also delicious as a cold salad or sandwich topping the next day.

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04 of 05

Roasted Sweet-Potato and Farro Salad

Roasted sweet potato are mixed with cooked chewy farro, sprouts, and lemon for a hearty salad that can be served warm or at room temperature. You can leave sweet potatoes unpeeled if desired.

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05 of 05

Roasted Vegetable Salad With Garlic Dressing

A colorful and delicious mix of flavors makes this roasted vegetable salad a dish you’ll want to make from fall to spring. The roasted vegetables are arranged over a bed of dark greens, such as baby kale, and drizzled with an irresistible warm garlic dressing. It's a nutrition powerhouse and easy enough to put together on a weeknight.

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