9 deli salads you can make at home

We're partial to a deli salad - potato salad, pasta salad, Greek salad, Caesar salad - but giving them a lighter, healthier upgrade.

Warm potato salad with knackwurst Source: Alan Benson

We don't deny that there's a charm to deli salads - after all, it's hard to resist creamy potatoes tossed in mayonnaise. But the whole schtick can wear thin when everything from egg salad, to tuna salad, to pasta salad has the same creamy mayo dressing. So if you're looking to break out of your deli salad rut, try making some of our favourites!

Caesar salad > kale Caesar salad with roast chicken

The ultimate pairing of something naughty with something nice: superfood kale joins forces with a classic Caesar dressing to step up your Caesar salad game. Wave goodbye to those wilting cos lettuce leaves and soggy croutons behind that deli counter!

Kale Caesar salad with roast chicken Source: Sam Linsell

Couscous salad > pearl couscous with parsley and pickled red onion

Proof that there's not just one type of couscous! Fresh parsley and a quick pickled onion adds layers of flavour to the lightly toasted moghrabieh in this salad.

Pearl couscous with parsley and pickled red onion Source: Sharyn Cairns

Pasta salad > tomato and saffron pasta salad

Move aside pasta tubes! There's no need for pasta salads to be restricted to stodgy penne camouflaged in a thick layer of mayo. Not that there's anything wrong with that. This recipe uses fresh tomatoes, saffron and toasty pan gratata to create an absolute flavour explosion! If you're feeling like pasta salad has to be of the short pasta variety, that's okay too. Orecchiette works well in place of spaghetti if you prefer.

Tomato and saffron pasta salad

Potato salad > warm potato salad with knackwurst

Tossed in a mixture of sour cream and mayonnaise, this German potato salad uses proper hot-smoked knackwurst, which is a German emulsified sausage that is the real deal in a hot dog. The deli potato salad has got nothing on this.

Warm potato salad with knackwurst Source: Alan Benson

Seafood salad > fusion prawn and celery salad

Whilst we do have a soft spot for serum (aka imitation crab meat), we also understand that sometimes, we all want a little more out of our seafood salad. This one's a classic Asian pairing, with prawn and celery that take no time to prepare.

Fusion prawn and celery salad

Roast veg salad > roasted carrot, red onion and mint salad

A great way to use up leftover roast vegetables, the roasted veg salad is a regular option at any deli that also serves up hot roast veggies with their rotisserie chickens. Why not make your own, with roasting giving crisp root vegetables a rich tenderness that'll keep you coming back for more! This recipe is super easy, and needs just seven ingredients.

Roasted carrot, red onion and mint salad Source: Sharyn Cairns

Greek salad

Gone are the days of watery cucumbers and wilting onions that have been sitting at the deli counter all day. Whip up the classic Greek salad at home - complete with creamy feta and kalamata olives - with this recipe from Matthew Evans.

Greek salad Source: Alan Benson

Garden salad > chopped salad with herbed chicken

What's really in a garden salad, anyway? Usually, it's a mix of whatever's on hand, tossed together in a celebration of what's in season. This particular recipe uses sprouts, cooling herbs and avocado, but really, you can swap them out for whatever is available around you. Bonus points: serve it up on the chopping board that you've cut it on, and you also get to save on the washing up! #winning.

Chopped salad with herbed chicken Source: Supplied

Quinoa salad > quinoa, apple and roasted fennel and parsnip salad

If you think that quinoa is a little funky and "not quite your thing", don't worry, we were like that too. But quinoa salads started popping up at every deli, and we just had to see what the fuss was about! The honey vinaigrette in this recipe soaks right into the quinoa, making it a flavour bomb base that'll have you scraping off the bowl before you know it!

Quinoa, apple and roasted fennel and parsnip salad with raw honey vinaigrette