Salads are as close to nature as our food can get! Usually made of fresh fruits or vegetables tossed with flavorsome dressings, salads are not only healthy but tasty too. You can even add handful of millets or pulses/ dals to make them more filling. They come handy when you don’t have time to prepare a full meal, or when you don’t feel hungry enough, but still need to have something to double up as a meal. Check out our article of healthy vegetarian salad recipes that are also, great salad recipes for diet and good option for dinner.
All things ‘beany’, a combination of kidney beans, chickpeas and broad field beans , the Three Bean Salad tossed in a lemony basil dressing is not only healthy but also, provides with good amounts of nutrients like iron, protein and fiber and also makes a perfect side dish. Also, if you do not like so many beans , you can try this Rajma Cucumber and Carrot Salad with fiber rich ingredients that help reduce bad LDL cholesterol making it a hearty salad. Rajma/kidney beans combined with quinoa to make Black Bean Quinoa Veg Salad is another appetizing treat that you will want to make and enjoy quite often.
Sprouting increases the nutrient content manifold, thereby topping the list of nutritious foods. Masala Mixed Sprouts Salad with Coconut with basic Indian flavours from chaat masala, coriander and lemon juice with the natural, raw flavours of the ingredients used makes a lip-smacking snacking option! Vibrant kale is rich in fibre and iron with soothing apple tossed in a lemony honey dressing, makes Kale and Apple Salad a quick and easy winner in all aspects.
If not beans, you can even munch on this Whole Masoor Salad, with wholesome ingredients like whole red lentil, an assortment of vegetables in a tangy dressing of lemon juice and green chillies.
Don’t restrict yourself to dals and pulses, put together your favourite veggies, cereal grains like cooked barley and healthy fats, to make a superb salad like Barley Feta and Spinach Salad. Similarly, you can make Chick Pea, Mushroom and Barley Salad with Balsamic Dressing with an assortment of textures from the juicy crunchy cucumber, barley and mushrooms for chewiness.
We don’t recommend potato salad or sweet potato salad as part of a healthy meal as they will push up your blood sugar levels and stop the fat burning process. However, Greek Salad and Salad with tomato works well as they are healthy.