In my house, salads are summertime staples, often replacing heartier meals and determined in large part by what ingredients are on hand. At the farmers market, I buy first and strategize later (one could have worse afflictions than impulse buying a drawer’s worth of local vegetables). When hunger strikes, I think of my favorite combinations—many are below—and feel free to improvise on those themes. Many of these recipes lend themselves to making ahead, or can be assembled quickly at the last minute, needing only grilled steak, chicken or fish to round them out. Ease into the dog days with low-effort meals for maximum impact, and savor the flavors peaking now.
