Anything Indian, whether it's a salad or a proper elaborate meal, is a feast for the taste buds. It's a simple way of celebrating the unique and age-old food culture of India and how it has evolved through the ages. Indian people have always believed in having some salad with their meals as it helps promote digestion and also makes the food taste even better. However, with time, as people became more nutritionally conscious, the concept of having salad as a complete meal was introduced.
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A conventional salad bowl has different types of vegetables for fibre as well as vitamins and a single source of protein. This ensures low calories and appropriate amounts of nutrients. However, a Western salad bowl might be too mundane for Indian people who have a habit of eating spicy and tantalising food. Here are some delicious and appetising salad recipes with an Indian touch for all those people who want their salad to be delicious and healthy.
Also Read: Love Salads? 6 Salad Sauces You Must Stock
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* Kachumber Salad
Kachumber salad is a refreshing and very healthy salad recipe. It is something that one would like to have as the first thing in the morning as it is light, fresh and fulfilling. It is made by using cucumbers, tomatoes, cilantro, onions, and a spicy and flavourful spice mix. One has to simply cut all these vegetables into small pieces and mix them all together. Now, on the top, one can sprinkle a little bit of olive oil for that extra moisture. For dressing, one has to simply make a spice mixture with the help of a little bit of garam masala, chaat masala, black pepper, salt and some red chilli powder.
* Moong Salad
A great way to incorporate protein into one's salad is to add one or the other lentils. Most Indian households have different types of lentils stocked up in their pantry almost all the time. A lentil that makes a great salad is moong dal. Moong salad is made by soaking some moong dal in the water and then keeping them in a bowl to be sprouted. After the lentil has been sprouted properly, it can be mixed with a concoction of different vegetables like onions, tomatoes, and some bell peppers. On top, one can sprinkle some lime juice, chaat masala, black pepper, and salt on it to give it its final touches. This fully plant-based salad is a great source of protein and nutrition.
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* Carrot Salad
Most people in India are accustomed to eating carrot pudding but not carrot salad. But this carrot salad recipe is surely worth a try for people who like a perfect blend of different flavours and textures. This carrot salad is made by sautéing some finely chopped carrots with other vegetables like spring onions, bell peppers and a little bit of tomatoes. Make sure to use only very little olive oil. Over the top, a person can add some black pepper and salt. The dressing of this salad is made with olive oil, lemon zest, and a little bit of honey. One can also add different types of dry fruits and raisins to add multiple textures.
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* Potato And Chickpea Salad
Potato and chickpea salad is the proper Indian salad and a great substitute when one is tempted to eat chaat but wants to eat something healthy. It is a heavy and fulfilling salad that is made by using some boiled chickpeas and potatoes. The mixture of these two is spiced with a lot of chaat masala, red chilli powder, salt, black pepper, and lemon juice. One can add some crunchy and juicy onions, tomatoes, and bell peppers to the salad for that extra crunch. If one wants to go over the board, then one can also add some green coriander chutney and tamarind chutney.
* Cabbage Salad
Cabbage salad might not be a very tempting name for most people, but it's very crispy and refreshing. This is a vegan salad recipe that most people can eat and is very healthy. This cabbage salad is made by chopping the cabbage very finely and then sautéing it with a little bit of olive oil. In this cabbage salad, one can add some boiled lentils, lemon juice, spices like chat masala, red chilli powder, black pepper, and salt. On top of it, one can sprinkle some fresh coriander leaves.
* Fruit Salad
Fruit salads are equally healthy and nutritious as vegetable salads. Most importantly, it is a great option for people who want to eat something delectably sweet but stay away from unhealthy and unwanted calories. To prepare an Indian-style fruit salad, one has to simply take the fruits of their choice, like mangoes, kiwis, muskmelon, and bananas, and cut them into small pieces. Now, on the top, one can drizzle some honey and different types of seeds like flax seeds, chia seeds, and pumpkin seeds. All of this can be mixed and served fresh.