Indian Salads with Dressings. Indian salads are characterised by crispy fresh ingredients laced with ground spices or zesty dressings that deliver a revitalising rush of flavour. Indian salads play multiple roles in a meal. Sometimes they are served as appetizers, and at other times they are also used as accompaniments to give a peppy twist to simple meals. For example, kachumbers served with dal khichdi!
While the everyday Indian salad is a simple mix of veggies like carrot, cucumber and tomatoes served with a touch of pepper and lemon juice, there are several exotic variants too, with luscious dressings that add a glamorous tone to the veggies and beans used.
It is nice to use a mix of veggies and beans in salads, for example, cucumber with rajma. Sometimes, soaked and parboiled cereals like barley may also be used, as in the Chickpea, Barley and Mushroom Salad with Balsamic Dressing. Fruits like pomegranate, grapes and apple mingle naturally with veg salads.
However, what makes a salad feel special is the dressing, as it helps the chef to achieve the required mood. A creamy dressing with hung curds gives a luxuriant feel to the salad, while a light mint and lemon dressing refreshes the palate with its chilling mint overtones. The use of mint, ground black pepper, lemon and curd is quite common in Indian salads.
The Chickpea Salad with Mint Dressing is an awesome example of how mint transforms a salad; while the Pear and Pomegranate Salad is a perfect mix of seasonal fruits. The Carrot Cucumber and Rajma Salad in Mint Dressing is a light yet nutritious treat that is also a delight to behold. When you want something offbeat, feel free to mix and match exotic ingredients with everyday ones to make totally mind-blowing new creations like the Cherry Tomato and Methi Salad.
But if Indian is the buzzword for a party and you want to go all out to achieve the feel, then look no further than the Chatpata Chana and Potato Salad. Dressed in a lemony mix of chaat masala and cumin seeds powder, this salad is a desi dream come true.
When you are in the mood to voyage afar, explore the wondrous effect of curds, cream, olive oil, vinegar and spices on thoughtfully-combined veggie salads. Be it the multi-textured Russian Salad, the gimme-more Burnt American Sweet Corn Salad or the health-packed Quinoa Corn and Capsicum Salad, a properly chosen salad can be a great value-add to any meal.
When making any salad, remember:
• Pick the best ingredients, especially if they are going to be used raw. Never use damaged veggies or overripe fruits in a salad.
• If your salad requires you to boil or parboil any ingredients, always cook it only to the required level and not too much. You need to retain the natural texture and colour of the vegetable or bean.
• Choose the dressing carefully. Heavy ingredients call for a light dressing, while fresh and light ingredients can comfortably accommodate a rich dressing.
The salad plays a very important role in balancing the mood of a meal. It can add a refreshing tone to a heavy meal, or give a rich feel to a simple meal. So, always spend some time picking the right salad for the meal. Have a look at our 200+ salad recipe collection, which includes Indian Salad Recipes with Dressing and International Veg Salad Recipes with Dressing, and pick the right ones for every meal!
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