It took some time for salads to shed that image of ‘diet related food’ and today, they are a meal in themselves. Quick and light on the stomach, these are filling due to the extensive use of fresh vegetables and are appetizing because of the dressing that goes into most of them. And with such delicious variety, why not munch onto these nutrition-full platters? Check out the list of some healthy and delectable salads served at Holachef.

1) Honey, Chicken, Pears and Pineapple Salad

Chicken morsels, pear slices and pineapple chunks tossed with honey and mayonnaise, seasoned with black pepper powder for a delectable salad. 

2) Roasted Beet, Orange and Chives Salad

A fibre-rich salad comprising of roasted beetroot chunks, pine nuts and orange segments tossed with chives and mint leaves.

3) Chicken Shawarma Salad

Grilled chicken cubes marinated with Mediterranean spices, cooked, tossed with fresh greens, cucumbers, bell peppers and finished off with a lemon-olive oil dressing.

4) Fattoush Salad

A fibre-rich salad of lettuce leaves, tomato chunks, cucumber slices and bell peppers tossed with a dressing of olive oil, mint leaves, fresh lemon juice and sumac.

5) Turkish Young Wheat Salad

A Turkish salad of fresh young wheat and bell peppers tossed with pomegranate sauce and wild mint.

6) Mediterranean Chicken Salad

A delightful salad of herb seasoned-grilled chicken, leafy greens, bell peppers, red cabbage, tomato chunks, cucumber slices, olives and chickpeas tossed with feta cheese and finished off with a balsamic-hummus dressing.

7) Peanut and Pomegranate Salad

A healthy and delicious salad of peanuts tossed with sweet-sour pomegranate seeds.

8) Oriental Chicken Salad

An oriental style protein and fibre rich salad wherein cooked chicken chunks are tossed with salad vegetables and a flavoursome dressing.

Here’s an easy recipe for you to try: Moong Sprouts Salad

Ingredients:
½ to 1 cup sprouted moong beans
1 medium sized onion, chopped
1 medium sized tomato, chopped
½ or 1 cucumber, chopped
Chopped green chillies, as desired
Lemon juice, as desired
Chopped coriander leaves, as per liking
Chaat masala, as per choice
Salt and pepper to taste

Method:
Half cook the beans or use uncooked, depending on preference.
In a bowl, take moong beans, add chopped onions, tomatoes, cucumbers, chillies and coriander leaves and mix well.
Add in lemon juice, chaat masala, salt and pepper and toss everything together so that the sprouts and vegetables are coated with the seasoning.

Go green in food!

• Green coloured fruits and vegetables are a powerhouse of nutrition.
• They are rich in potassium, Vitamin K, Omega 3 fatty acids and folic acid.
• Due to the nutrient content, green foods help lower blood sugar levels, regulate blood pressure levels, promote a healthy heart and kidney functioning and help in clotting of the blood.
• Green capsicum, all leafy vegetables, different types of beans, green peas, grapes, cabbage and cucumbers are a few to name that should find their way in the daily diet.

Salad dressings:

Salad dressings greatly enhance flavours and are a good way to add in some taste to the raw veggies.

An Italian dressing is generally vinaigrette based, which has oil added to an acidic agent like vinegar or lemon juice. A pinch of herbs works wonders in this dressing as well.

Caesar dressing turns the simplest of vegetables into a delicious meal. While oil and lemon juice are essential here as well, the variation is with the addition of egg yolks, cheese and different types of sauces. A caesar dressing is incomplete without black pepper powder.

Thousand island dressing owes its interesting name to the region where it is believed to be originated from. The key factors in this dressing are mayonnaise, pickled vegetables (fermented in vinegar) and spices or condiments.

Apart from this salad dressings can vary from dijon to bourbon-peach! Try your own recipe and do share with us here.

Order these and many more such delicacies from Holachef.com