There is a rainbow of Autumn colors happening right now on Pinterest as all the food bloggers are creating fabulous Fall salad recipes. If you love Autumn flavors as much as I do – butternut squash! pumpkin! beets! carrots! sweet potatoes! – then it’s like being a kid in a candy store. These salad recipes, inspired by Pinterest, are so easy that you can whip them together any night this week for a quick appetizer, dinner or side dish. But what I love best about them is how they combine sweet, savory, and healthy.

Rainbow Carrot Amuse Bouche

If you see rainbow carrots at the store – get them! These deep purple, dark red and yellow carrots are the result of selective carrot-breeders trying to increase the amounts of nutrients found in the pigments. So not only do they look pretty, they’re even more packed with anti-oxidants.

For the best visual appeal, shave off thin slices of rainbow carrot for a raw salad, combine with slices of avocado or beets, and drizzle with a tangy ginger-lime salad dressing.

Ginger-Lime Dressing Recipe –

Combine: 3-4 Tb lime juice, 1 Tb agave nectar, 1 Tb fresh grated ginger root, 3 Tb extra virgin olive oil.

Sweet & Savory Roasted Side Salad

Chopped apples, chopped butternut squash, chopped sweet onion, and sliced brussel sprouts – with a drizzle of maple syrup or agave nectar and olive oil – are all you need for a delicious roasted salad. Toss the vegetables with the maple syrup and olive oil, then bake in the oven at 400 degrees for 40 to 50 minutes, tossing once or twice. Take out when nicely browned and serve hot! Perfect for a chilly Autumn night.

Hearty Dinner Spinach & Pear Salad

Spinach is one of the healthiest dark leafy greens you can eat, packed with iron and anti-oxidants. For a delicious and filling Fall salad, I like to combine spinach with ripe sliced pears, blue cheese, candied walnuts, dried cranberries, and pumpkin seeds – dressed with your favorite balsamic vinaigrette. The protein in the nuts and the fat in the cheese will help you feel full after having “just a salad” for dinner, but be careful not to overdo them. Spinach should be the main ingredient.

Want to see what other recipes I’m pinning? Follow Intelligent Gourmet in Pinterest for daily inspiration!