pasta salad with tomatoes and herbs
Getty ImagesOur friends at ShelterPop have created summer salad-inspired decor! Check it out here.

Summer means two things for many: heat (some would say oppressive heat) and an abundance of short-lived seasonal produce. As August descends upon us and the mercury continues to rise, the thought of eating -- and cooking -- heavy, hot food becomes less and less desirable. When loaded with the right ingredients, salads can be a delicious, nutritious, lighter meal that will leave you satisfied, but not sweating with a stuffed belly.

Salads in the summertime are most interesting thanks to the wide range of fruits and vegetables that are in peak season. We've prepared a collection of our favorite summer salads -- listed by seasonal ingredient -- that with their medley of colors and textures, are elegant enough to serve at a dinner party, yet they're easy enough to make any night of the week.

After you've dug your way through the 60 summer salads below, check out more great seasonal content on KitchenDaily:

• Steven Raichlen provides tips on grilling fruit.
• Lots of recipes for those fruits and veggies you've picked up at the farmers' market.
• Prepare a whole meal outdoors with these grilled mains, sides and even desserts.