Indian Salad Recipes, Vegetable Salad Recipes, Vegetarian Salads. Salads are as close to nature as our food can get! Made of fresh, fibrous and nutritious ingredients tossed with flavoursome dressings, salads are not only healthy but tasty too. Ingredients like fruits, sprouts and veggies come in varied flavours and textures, and when they come together in intelligent combos they kindle one’s appetite and give an instant sense of wellness.
Low Cal Salads
Low-calorie salads are eaten by many on a regular basis as they provide abundant nutrition without the risk of gaining weight. Being rich in fibre, salads keep you full for a long time and avoid snack sprees. Plus, the fibre also helps lose weight if the rest of the person’s diet is also conducive to it.
Although most vegetable salads contain a bundle of fruits and veggies, what often compromises the calorie count is the dressing, if made with oil, cream, and other such rich ingredients. So, when making low-cal salads, it is important to pay attention to every ingredient. You must go for low-cal curd, low-cal paneer, low-cal dressings, etc. In this Fruit and Veg Salad, for example, we have used low-calorie Thousand Island dressing instead of a fat-loaded dressing made of mayonnaise.
It is also wise to pick fruits and veggies that are low on the calorie count, such as carrot, bell peppers, orange, apple etc.
1. Sprouts and Veggie Salad
2. Zucchini, Bell Pepper and Sprouted Moong Salad
You will find dozens of low-cal salad recipes at - so many that you can lunch or snack on a different salad every day of the month and thereafter too!
Light Salads
Light salads are accompaniments enjoyed with a regular meal. These are not too heavy, but are made with vibrant ingredients and flavour-givers, which add a splash of colour and flavour to the meal. These salads must ideally be quick and easy to make, because you will be preparing them in addition to other dishes.
Within minutes, you can make a lovely salad of beetroot and garlic, which adds abundant energy to your meal.
You can transform a seemingly regular vegetable salad into an attention grabber by using a peppy dressing, such as in the Vegetable Salad with Lemony Apple Dressing
If you are looking for ideas to make light and colourful salads that instil energy into a meal, head straight to Light Salads Recipes.
Quick Salads
In general, everyone knows about the health benefits of vegetarian salads and agrees that they must be consumed every day as part of our regular diet. However, many people do not have time to prepare salads and skip it. These Quick Salads, made within minutes with easily available ingredients, will be handy for these busy bees. The busier you are, more important it is to consume healthy foods like salads to bust your stress and keep healthy. So, do not compromise at all – start right from today and make yourself a salad every other day!
We always have ingredients like cucumber, tomato and apple at home, so you can make this salad without much ado any time you wish - Cucumber, Apple and Tomato Salad. Likewise, you can also make the most of seasonal fruits and veggies. When orange is in season, go for something like this easy but exotic Lebanese salad - Orange Sesame Tabbouleh. When you feel indulgent, go for something like the Creamy Beetroot and Corn Salad, a rich and creamy salad that can be made without any difficulty.
For more Quick Salad Recipes, check out
Salads with Dressings
Some salads can be eaten plain with just a simple seasoning of salt and pepper, but most salads require a dressing to improve their taste and texture. The dressing has the power to make or break a salad. Even simple ingredients can be converted into an exotic salad fit for a party by using the appropriate dressing!
Check out the peanut dressing on this Thai Veg Salad with Peanut Dressing and the lemony, garlicky olive oil dressing in this bean salad Kidney Bean Salad. And here, we have used olive oil, lemon juice and balsamic vinegar to give the vegetable salad an unusual twist - Beetroot, Peppers, Carrot Healthy Salad for Work.
Note how the dressing transforms the salads into tongue-tickling delights. For more salad recipes with dressings, check out Salads with Dressing Recipes
No-Cooking Salads
Best of all are the recipes that require no cooking – and these salads are typical examples. Resplendent with the natural, raw flavours of the ingredients used, these salads rely on the combination of ingredients to bestow a mouth-watering impact on the diner! Absolutely no cooking is required, which makes these quicker and easier to prepare too. You can enjoy them every day!
As simple as any salad can get, this Cabbage Salad is so tasty that you and your family will crave for it.
This Lebanese salad is usually served with falafels, but it tastes so good that you can enjoy it just by itself - Tabbouleh, Lebanese Tabbouleh.
Here is a colourful salad that is easy but tasty, with a fabulous lemon juice and olive oil dressing - Cucumber Bean Sprouts and Apple Salad.
A whole lot of mix and toss, no cooking salads are featured on Toss & Mix Salads (No cooking) Recipes, to increase the goodness quotient of your meals without sweating in the kitchen!
Salads that make a Meal
It is now becoming increasingly fashionable to have salad meals – and it’s nice to see a healthy trend for a change! Known by names like lunch salads, Buddha bowls, etc. these are really sumptuous salads that can be had in place of a meal like lunch or dinner. These usually combine veggies and fruits with grains and possibly other ingredients like cottage cheese, tofu or mushrooms.
The best part is that most of these salads can be carried to work also to have for lunch. You need to pack the dressing in a separate container, and toss everything together just before eating. Try this healthy lunch salad that’s colourful and vibrantly flavoured too - Beetroot, Peppers, Carrot Healthy Salad for Work.
By paying some attention to the ingredients and dressing, you can also make loads of vegan salads like this - Vegan Healthy Lunch Salad
Put together your favourite veggies, pulses and healthy fats, to make a superb salad like this - Masoor, Beets, Zucchini , Peppers Lunch Salad
Game for a salad meal? Take your pick from here - Wholesome Salads Recipes.
The best thing about salads is that you can mix-and-match your ingredients, and come up with an endless variety of salads. Peep into your fridge, pick up all the ingredients that tempt you, and put them together with a peppy dressing to make a bowlful of good health! There’s nothing to hold you back from making a salad. Snacking on salads is a healthy habit that you will be thankful about all your life because it’s healthy, versatile and creative - no holds barred, and available in plenty anywhere in the world, so you never have to go hungry ever again.
Enjoy our Indian Salad Recipes, Vegetable Salad Recipes, Vegetarian Salads and other Salad articles given below.
Fruit Salad Recipes (127 recipes)
Jain Salads (34 recipes)
Light Salads (92 recipes)
Low Cal Salads (59 recipes)
Pasta Salad (19 recipes)
Quick Salads (193 recipes)
Raitas (109 recipes)
Salad Dressing (50 recipes)
Salads with dressing (248 recipes)
Toss & Mix Salads (No cooking) (185 recipes)
Wholesome Salads (Salads that make a meal) (166 recipes)
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!
Enjoy our other salad recipe articles below.
Indian Vegetarian Salad Recipes (720 recipes)
Fruit Salad Recipes (127 recipes)
Jain Salads (34 recipes)
Light Salads (92 recipes)
Low Cal Salads (59 recipes)
Pasta Salad (19 recipes)
Quick Salads (193 recipes)
Raitas (109 recipes)
Salad Dressing (50 recipes)
Toss & Mix Salads (No cooking) (185 recipes)
Wholesome Salads (Salads that make a meal) (166 recipes)
Low calorie salads or salads with less calories are great for weight loss. Salads are a good source of fibre and vitamins like Vitamin A, B-complex and Vitamin C as they are loaded with vegetables and fruits. Indian salads often have curds and is known as raita. Low-Cal Salads like the Chawli, Rajma and Chick Pea Salad, Fruit Chana Salad are guaranteed to delight you, without using fattening ingredients like oil or cream in their dressing. Chockfull of fibre and nutrients, these salads are perfect to have any time of the day!
Low Cal Salads, Vegetable Salads
What a vibrant sight this lovely Cherry Tomato and Methi Salad is! The contrast between the cherry tomato’s red and fenugreek’s deep green gives the salad an exquisite appearance, while their complementary tangy and bitter flavours impart an exotic flavour. A mild dressing of olive oil and lemon juice is just what the Cherry Tomato and Methi Salad needs to sharpen the other flavours and delight the taste buds! Serve this salad as soon as it is tossed, otherwise it will become watery. Want to add bulk to your diet? Try this bulky Cabbage Carrot and Lettuce Salad sure to add bulk as well as antioxidants like beta-carotene and vitamin C. You can also make salads with added cereals like our Cous Cous Salad, even though it has broken wheat it gives only 68 calories per serving.
Low Cal Salads, Raitas
Indian meals are incomplete without raita. But making the same raita every now and then can be boring. Do you want to try new innovative recipes for raita? Spinach Raita can be relished with your favourite parathas or theplas. It is easy to make and is not at all bitter, thanks to the two pinches of sugar. Try your hands on this tangy Lauki Aur-Phudine-ka-Raita that’s got a cool minty flavour. You can enhance the color of your raita by adding beetroot like our recipe for this Beetroot Cucumber and Tomato Raita that’s brilliantly colourful and will tempt you with its good looks. It can be had on a hot summer afternoon to refresh your senses.
Try our other low cal salads, 60 Indian Low Cal Salad Recipes and do give us your valuable feedback.
Other Salad articles related to this
Indian Vegetarian Salad Recipes (720 recipes)
Fruit Salad Recipes (127 recipes)
Jain Salads (34 recipes)
Light Salads (92 recipes)
Pasta Salad (19 recipes)
Quick Salads (193 recipes)
Raitas (109 recipes)
Salad Dressing (50 recipes)
Salads with dressing (248 recipes)
Toss & Mix Salads (No cooking) (185 recipes)
Wholesome Salads (Salads that make a meal) (166 recipes)
raita recipe collection. Indian raita recipes. Raita and Kachumber are the desi route to including salads in everyday meals. Raitas are made by combining fruits or veggies with curd, while kachumber are veggie combos perked up with green chillies, coriander, coconut and sometimes a tempering too. The curd improves the nutritional quotient by helping you get protein and calcium, along with the nutritional benefits of the veggies. Enhance your meal with uplifting treats like the Cabbage Kachumber, Fresh Fruit Raita or Mint Raita.
While it’s a debate about whether to use low-fat curd or full-fat curd to make a raita healthy, we have a very simple logic. If you are overweight or diabetic, then opt for low-fat curd and if you are looking for ways to consume good fats then full-fat curd is what you must use. Also, make sure you don’t toss in foods with a high glycemic index like sugar, potatoes, etc.
Simply combine fiber rich spinach with ingredients like mixed sprouts, spices or onions and tomatoes to make an array of healthy accompaniments like Palak Raita with Onions and Tomatoes, Spinach and Mixed Sprouts Raita or Spinach Raita, for Weight Loss and Athletes.
Flax Seed Raita is a unique way of incorporating flax seeds, rich sources of omega 3 fatty acids. Lauki Aur Phudine ka Raita is an easy but elegant recipe that brings together the mellow tang of curds with the pleasing flavor of lauki and mint leaves.
Apart from this you can use a myriad of vegetables and make a wide range of vegetable salads. A dash of spices like jeera powder, black salt, red chili powder and a sprinkle of coriander is enough to enhance the flavor.
With the help of seasonal fruit, you can whip up delightful raitas like Mango Raita, Strawberry and Black Grape Raita or the Jamun Raita. Choose ripe yet firm fruits so that you get a nice sweet flavour and are also able to chop it properly. Make sure you keep the raita refrigerated till you serve it because it won’t taste good if the curd becomes watery and sour.
On daily basis, you can toss and make Banana Raita or Pineapple Raita, a sweet and sour delight which is very easy to make. You can serve them with your meal or piping hot parathas and Biryani.
Nothing can be as easy to prepare as Kachumber, yet nothing can be as tasty either. A simple dish of crunchy veggies pepped up with lemon juice and garnished with coriander. The delightful mix of vegetables is refreshing and tongue-tickling. Here is a list of few of my favorite koshimbir/kachumber recipes:
1. Cabbage and Carrot Kachumber
Glance through our collection of top 10 raita recipes and jazz up your meal with our fabulous raita recipes. Serve raitas with Butter Naan, Lachha Paratha, Aloo Paratha, Paneer Paratha.
Enjoy our raita recipe collection and salad recipe articles below.
Indian Vegetarian Salad Recipes (720 recipes)
Fruit Salad Recipes (127 recipes)
Jain Salads (34 recipes)
Light Salads (92 recipes)
Low Cal Salads (59 recipes)
Pasta Salad (19 recipes)
Quick Salads (193 recipes)
Salad Dressing (50 recipes)
Salads with dressing (248 recipes)
Toss & Mix Salads (No cooking) (185 recipes)
Wholesome Salads (Salads that make a meal) (166 recipes)