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The Best Tree Nuts for Salads: Ideas, Recipes & Nutrition Benefits

Salads are ubiquitous to the American menu year-round, but as summer draws near, they take center stage. If you’re looking for unique and healthy ways to add more flavor and nutrition to your salads, tree nuts such as walnuts, almonds, pecans, pistachios, hazelnuts and cashews can transform any ordinary salad with satisfying crunch.

Why add tree nuts to salads?

There are so many ways to incorporate tree nuts into your salads. Whether you’re making a summer salad, a hearty lunch salad or a side dish, tree nuts are a versatile and nutritious topping, adding vital nutrients such as:

  • protein
  • fiber
  • vitamins
  • minerals
  • healthy fats.

And, tree nuts can help make salads more filling.

Here are some ideas using tree nuts for salads that stretch the imagination. We’d love to hear your ideas, too!

Let’s start with salads simply adorned with tree nuts:

Asian-inspired Salads – These days, Asian lettuces are much easier to find. Try a salad of mizuna, Tatsoi, mustard greens, Thai Basil and Napa Cabbage tossed with lime, soy sauce and a dash of sesame oil, and sprinkled with toasted cashew nuts.

Tropical Salads – These can be a dessert or main meal. For a savory version, try mango, pineapple, papaya, cucumber and red onion, with a vinegary mint dressing and glazed macadamia nuts. For dessert, mix any of your favorite tropical fruits, toss with lemon and some chopped mint and scatter with nuts such as flaked almonds, toasted hazelnuts, pecans or walnuts. A scoop of ice cream wouldn’t go astray either!

Warm Salads – Adding a warm dressing to salads made with bitter greens brings out a wonderful flavor in the leaves. Mix bitter greens such as escarole, radicchio or curly endive in a bowl and make a dressing with olive oil and vinegar. Warm chopped mixed tree nuts in a small pan. When they are getting golden and aromatic, remove from heat and add the dressing – it will absorb the flavor of the nuts. Toss with the salad while still warm, then scatter with crumbled goat cheese. This is delicious topped with a poached egg as well. Here’s a recipe to get you started using endive.

The Classics – There’s something delightfully summery about a Waldorf Salad, with apple, grapes and nuts, or this twist on the classic Caesar with pistachios, hazelnuts and almonds (but you could use any nut). A Caprese Salad with layers of fresh tomato, mozzarella and basil is wonderful with any tree nuts – here’s a recipe for a Caprese Toast with walnuts.

And how about some tree nut-rich dressings:

Pesto – Did you know that pesto can be made with any nut and many herbs, not just basil? Mint, parsley, tarragon and arugula are just a few herbs that can make a delicious dressing. Toss with a mixed salad just before serving and top with chunks of fresh burrata or shaved parmesan. Or you could just blend some tree nuts with oil, lemon and parmesan to toss with a butter lettuce salad for something simple and bursting with flavor.

Parmesan and Nut Cracker Topping – Shred parmesan cheese and add some finely chopped tree nuts. Place mounds on a heated nonstick pan over low heat and cook until fully melted and golden brown. Transfer to a rack and allow them to harden then scatter over an arugula and beet salad! Or just serve on the side to enjoy with your greens.

From tropical fruit salads to classic Waldorf salads and homemade pesto dressings, tree nuts offer endless ways to add flavor, texture and nutrition to your favorite dishes. Experiment with different varieties to discover your favorite combinations and enjoy a healthier, more satisfying salad year-round.

Bon Appetit!

The Nutty Chef

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