14 Low-Carb Diabetes-Friendly Salad Recipes To Freshen Up Your Table

December 26, 2019

Having a salad is a great way to boost your vegetable intake. But, it can be hard to build a salad that’s satisfying and still low in carbs. We pulled together some of our favorite diabetes-friendly salad recipes to help inspire your plate. Whether you’re in the mood for something creamy, crunchy or tangy there are lots of ideas to help you spruce up your salad. Bonus: they’re all under 15 grams of carbs.

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Caesar Salad with Cashew Dressing & Tofu "Croutons"

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In this healthy salad recipe, blended cashews and flaxseed take the place of oil in the dressing, while seasoned tofu works as a lower-carb crouton alternative. Cashews are packed with potassium and iron, but also have more carbs than many other nuts (they have 8 grams per ounce vs. 4 grams for walnuts). 

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Spinach & Strawberry Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing

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Homemade poppy seed dressing pairs beautifully with tender spinach, crunchy almonds and juicy berries for a fantastically refreshing and easy spring salad. To make ahead, whisk dressing, combine salad ingredients and store separately. Toss the salad with the dressing just before serving. To make it a complete meal, top with grilled chicken or shrimp. 

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Creamy Cucumber Salad

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This creamy, refreshing cucumber salad is an easy side dish for any summer BBQ. Bright dill and white-wine vinegar add fresh tartness to cucumbers and red onions. Enjoy this salad the day you prepare it so the ingredients don't turn watery.

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Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Goat Cheese & Pomegranate

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This gorgeous warm salad with nutty roasted Brussels sprouts, sweet-tart pomegranate seeds and creamy goat cheese is perfect for any winter meal--from a weeknight dinner to Christmas dinner or any other holiday celebration. The recipe is easily doubled if you are entertaining a crowd: just be sure to spread the sprouts out (use 2 pans if necessary) so they roast instead of steaming.

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Chickpea Salad

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Feta cheese and chickpeas lend a Mediterranean flair to this satisfying side salad. The Creamy Dill Ranch is great with it, but would also be good with a tangy vinaigrette. 

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Warm Cabbage-Apple Slaw

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This warm apple and cabbage slaw gets bright flavor from apple-cider vinegar and a salty, savory punch from bacon. Try this easy side dish with chicken kebabs for a quick and healthy dinner.

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Citrus-Arugula Salad

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This easy salad recipe makes a stunning side dish for anything you've got cooking for dinner. The bright flavor of the citrus pairs perfectly with peppery arugula and avocado, plus a bit of jalapeño for a slight kick. 

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Spicy Kohlrabi Salad

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Inspired by cool cucumber salads, this easy salad recipe calls for salting the raw kohlrabi to tenderize it. Then it's tossed with a sweet, salty and mouth-tingling marinade for a delicious and easy side dish you'll crave. 

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Orange-Fennel Autumn Salad with Citrus-Yogurt Dressing

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The creamy citrus dressing on this healthy autumn-inspired salad brings out the intense flavors of sweet fennel and bold radicchio.

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Chopped Mediterranean Salad

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Chopped vegetables take on a Mediterranean flair in this quick and easy salad recipe. Flavored with a simple pesto vinaigrette and topped with crumbled feta cheese, this salad serves two and is ready in just 20 minutes. 

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Cauliflower, Green Pea and New Potato Salad

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Your classic potato salad gets a bit of an update with the addition of crisp-tender cauliflower and fresh peas. Topped with a vinegar-mustard dressing, crumbled bacon and toasted pine nuts, this dish is the perfect choice for a summer barbeque. 

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Marinated Vegetable Salad

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Serving this salad combo at room temperature helps the full flavor of the veggies come through.

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Tangy Pepper Salad

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This sweet and tangy salad is chock full of peppers, onions, tomatoes and spinach that have been marinated in a mixture of toasted cumin seeds, lime juice and honey. It's the perfect addition to your next taco night.

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Avocado-Tomato Salad

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This fresh tasting salad combines creamy avocado slices and fresh tomatoes in a yummy cilantro-lime dressing. It's a quick-and-easy side salad that will add color to any main dish.

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