Cooking up a storm and your oven is working overtime? Supplement your big dinner with side salads that won’t take up precious oven space so you can better plan your delicious menu!
As the holiday season rolls around the festive spirit kicks in, and you’re finding yourself entertaining friends and family not only on the big day but also during the lead-up.
At the Devil Wears Salad, all team member finds themselves incredibly busy with lunches and dinners, and every weekend is booked out.
But then again, we don’t need the Christmas season to keep us busy on that front. We naturally love to entertain throughout the year, anyway!
Every household is different, but I have a small kitchen, and I only have a 600mm oven. This means that when we are cooking a whole lot, it is important for me to plan the menu to ensure that we have enough room.
My partner is an oven hoarder. He is also a slow cooker. Everything takes 36 hours, 24 hours, 18 hours. Whatever he’s cooking, it’s always in hours. This, therefore, means that I prefer to make salads that don’t require the oven.
Even if he sometimes gives me one shelf space, I prefer not to disturb the balance of the cook in the oven. Just by adding that one extra element can shift how the dish is cooked through.
If you’re planning your Christmas feast now, it’s important to work out if you have enough space and time in your oven for all the things you need to make. From your turkey to your ham and dessert, it’s essential to work out if you have the capacity to make it all.
You don’t want to be stressing on an already hectic day.
For me, I stay far away from the oven, and I make salads that only have raw ingredients, or if they do have a cooked component, it can be done on the stovetop.
This has worked out very well for my partner and I as we have created a great rhythm in the kitchen when we’re cooking up a storm. By not using the oven, I can do my prep on the dining table or a section of the kitchen that is furthest away from the oven.
These salads that don’t require the oven would make for perfect side dishes for your Christmas table or for whenever you’re doing a big cook!
Bocconcini Salad with Caper Vinaigrette
1/17
Creamy bocconcini mixed with sweet cherry tomatoes and strawberries along with a caper vinaigrette that explodes in flavour. A quick and colourful Bocconcini Salad perfect for the summer months.
Perfect for oven heavy dinners as this salad is a raw salad that doesn’t require any cooking.
Spicy Green Salad with Avocado
2/17
Jalapeno chilli peppers are the perfect way to spice up your life! It certainly did so with this Spicy Green Salad as it elevated it to the next level. Too hot? Let the avocado fan cool you down!
This salad just requires a quick blanch of the frozen broad beans. Although you can let it defrost entirely and submerge it in boiling hot water from the kettle so you can free up the stove top too.
Rainbow Vermicelli Salad with Soy Dressing
3/17
A celebration of colours, this Asian Vermicelli Salad delivers on flavour and presentation. Mixed through with aromatic Vietnamese mint, crunchy sugar snap peas and pungent fish sauce, this salad will soon become a dinner party favourite!
Swiss Brown Mushroom Salad with Chickpeas
4/17
Sauté some rustic Swiss brown mushrooms in butter and add some wholesome chickpeas, bitter radicchio and fresh snow pea sprouts for a delicious salad to have with any main meal.
Kingfish Sashimi Salad with Pickled Radish
5/17
This salad is not for the faint-hearted home cook. Designed to impress, this Kingfish Sashimi Salad requires sophisticated plating, a gourmet palate and use of a unique ingredient. Inspired by Japanese flavours, your guests will appreciate you all the more!
Yet another salad that doesn’t require any cooking whatsoever. Just some overnight pickling in the fridge is about the extent of it.
Asparagus Pasta Salad with Pecan Pesto
6/17
Fresh peas and asparagus pasta salad with a nutty and aromatic pecan pesto is a fantastic combination to whip up for a quick, tasty vegetarian side dish.
Pomegranate, Barley and Freekeh Salad
7/17
Here’s a salad recipe for anyone who’s looking for a non-leafy salad. This Freekeh and Pomegranate Salad mixed through with a sumac infused yoghurt is simply divine.
Risoni Salad with Hot Smoked Salmon and Crab
8/17
Looking for an easy yet entertaining worthy pasta salad recipe? Elevate this Risoni Salad with the saltiness of the hot smoked salmon and the delicious flavours of crab meat.
Salad with Courgette, Carrot and Fennel
9/17
Refreshing raw salad with courgette, carrot and fennel tumbled on top of tangy sheep milk yoghurt dressing perfect for revitalising the taste buds.
Purple Kale Salad with Rainbow Chard
10/17
Yes, we still eat kale and yes, it is delicious! This Purple Kale Salad mixed through with the umami flavours of the miso mayonnaise dressing will convert the haters. Not only does it taste good but the vibrant colours make for a stunning looking salad!
Wombok, Red Cabbage and Apple Slaw
11/17
Super fresh Asian inspired salad packed with crunch and spicy tang. Our Wombok, Red Cabbage and Apple Slaw is a crowd pleaser especially when dialled up with a sharp coriander and lime dressing.
King Oyster Mushroom Salad with Yellow Beans
12/17
A special occasion calls for a majestic salad. This King Oyster Mushroom Salad exudes umami flavours complemented with sweet yellow beans and butter crisped sage. What a decadent combination!
Gin and Lime Prawn Salad with Avocado
13/17
Succulent prawns marinated in a punchy gin and lime marinade and balanced by the creamy gem avocados, ruby grapefruit, peppery radishes and fresh lamb’s lettuce. This Prawn Salad recipe is calling for you all summer long!
Apple, Pear, Almond and Watercress Salad
14/17
Super-fast and easy Watercress Salad that you can throw together for the perfect side dish to a juicy grilled steak or charred lamb chops. The crunchy apple and pear with the peppery kick of the watercress adds a good punch to any meal.
Easy Vegan Falafel Salad with Hummus
15/17
Paying homage to an age-old delicacy that has transcended into a popular street food, this Easy Vegan Falafel Salad is absolutely delicious and perfect for all occasions!
Red Papaya Salad with Chilli Charred Corn
16/17
Eye catching Red Papaya Salad with a hit of chilli that revitalises the taste buds. Using baby gem lettuce instead of corn chips to scoop up the refreshing salad with charred corn. This recipe makes a delicious starter to your entertaining needs.
Asian Eggplant Salad with Miso Dressing
17/17
Perfect vegan side salad for Asian inspired meals. Simple yet full of flavour, caramelised eggplant with tofu and asparagus is magically tied together with a luxuriously creamy miso dressing.
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Sarah
These sound delish! Can’t wait to try the ones with papaya, love to add fruit to salads for a little sweetness and acidity.
The Devil Wears Salad
Yup, adding fruit to salads makes such a big difference. We love papaya too and they are always so sweet. Nice way to amp up any salad.
Capri
The Spicy Green Avocado Salad is calling my name!! All of these salads look great!
The Devil Wears Salad
That’s a great one. The garlicky dressing is such a hit.
Jessica Stroup
Such a great list! Bookmarking this for later…LOVE the variety!
The Devil Wears Salad
Thank you! Definitely plenty to choose from.
Kathryn
I’m not sure which salad is my favorite. This is such an amazingly helpful list. I think my favorite is the asparagus salad with pecan pesto. So easy to throw together and so healthy. Thank you so much!
The Devil Wears Salad
You welcome! The pecan pesto is something else. Works so well with the asparagus. No need to pick a favourite…. make them all! LOL
adriana
Wow, so many great options. I am a salad fan, so I appreciate new ideas to make at home. The red cabbage and apple really caught my eye.
The Devil Wears Salad
Hello salad lover! That salad is nice and fresh and great if you’re having a heavy meal.
veenaazmanov
Amazing presentation of the Salads and best combinations too. Have to save it in my best collection of salads. Thanks
The Devil Wears Salad
Thank so much! We try to mix it up a bit wherever we can.
Cathleen
That falafel one is calling my name!! I love this roundup so much, bookmarked to make them later. Thanks for this post!! 🙂
The Devil Wears Salad
Glad that one stood out to you! Nice way to serve up something so familiar, slightly differently. Enjoy!
Lily (GastroSenses)
What an awesome selection of salads! Salad with Courgette, Carrot and Fennel looks divine!
The Devil Wears Salad
Thank you! Salad with Courgette, Carrot and Fennel is really good and hope you’ll try it soon!