Super salads: 7 tasty vegetarian recipes

Kanchan Maslekar 

These recipes are both easy to cook and good to eat. Try them!

Summers are here and it's time to binge on salads.

But if you are tired of eating the same old salads with cucumber, tomatoes and carrots, here's hope.

We've hand-picked seven tasty salad recipes which are not only good for your body but for your taste buds as well.

And there is one for each day of the week. 

Garlic Sprouts Salad

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup green moong sprouts
• 1 tsp butter
• 2 tsp finely chopped garlic
• 1/2 cup diced tomatoes
• 1 cup ice berg leaves
• 5-6 chopped salad leaves
• 2 tsp lime juice
• 1/2 tsp freshly grounded white pepper
• 2 tsp mayonnaise

Method

• In a pan, saute the green sprouts in 1 tsp of butter and garlic. Set aside to cool.
• Tear the iceberg pieces to make small pieces and add them to a bowl of salad leaves, tomatoes and sprouts.
• Add the mayonnaise, salt, pepper powder and lime juice.
• Mix well and serve immediately.

Greek Salad

Ingredients

• 1 cup diced cucumber
• 1/4 cup crumbled tofu
• 1/4 cup sliced onion
• 1/4 cup diced capsicum
• 3 olives diced
• 2  tsp finely chopped garlic
• 2 jalapenos
• 1/4 cup diced tomato
• 1/4 tsp oregano
• 1 tsp parsley
• Salt to taste

Method

• In a pan, mix the cucumber, tofu, onion, capsicum, olives, chopped jalapenos and tomato.
• Spice it up by adding garlic, oregano, chopped parsley and salt.
• This easy-to-make salad can be made in advance and stored in the refrigerator. 

Beetroot Salad

Ingredients

• 1 boiled beetroot diced
• 1/2 tsp garlic paste
• 1/2 cup fresh cream
• 1 tsp mayonnaise
• 1/3 cup pineapple pieces
• Salt to taste
• Parsley for garnishing

Method

• In a bowl add the garlic paste, cream and mayonnaise, salt and mix together to form a smooth paste.
• Add the chopped beetroot, pineapple and give it a mix.
• Garnish with parsley and serve chilled.

Rice and Bean Salad

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup chopped green  beans
• 1/4 cup boiled rice
• 1 tsp butter
• 2 tsp chopped garlic
• 4-5 mushrooms
• 2 spinach leaves
• 1/4 cup diced red and yellow capsicum
• 2 tsp parsley
• 1/4 tsp chilli flakes
• 7 to 8 cashew nuts (cut in half)
• 1/4 tsp soya sauce
• 1 tsp chopped parsley leaves
• 1 tsp olive oil
• 1 cup sliced onion
• Crushed pepper

Method

• In a pan, add butter and finely chopped garlic and heat it.
• Saute the beans on high flame. Remove and set aside.
• In the same pan add the mushrooms.
• In a bowl, add the boiled rice, beans, finely chopped spinach leaves, red and yellow peppers, saute mushrooms and sliced onion.
• Add parsley, chilli flakes and crushed pepper.
• Add olive oil, soya sauce and salt to taste.
• Garnish with cashew nuts and serve.

Cucumber Apple Salad

Ingredients

• 2 medium sized boiled potatoes
• 1 diced cucumber
• 1/2 cup sliced apples
• 1/2 cup parboiled baby corn pieces
• 1 cup lettuce leaves
• 1/2 cup shredded cabbage
• 1 tsp mustard powder
• 1/4 tsp freshly crushed pepper
• 1/4 tsp finely chopped garlic
• 1 tsp olive oil
• Salt to taste

Method

• For the dressing, add mustard powder, crushed pepper, garlic and olive oil in a jar and shake well.
• In a salad bowl, add the potatoes, apples, corn and cucumber and toss gently.
• Add the lettuce leaves and shredded cabbage.
• Just before serving, add the dressing on top and serve immediately.

Russian Salad

Ingredients

• 1 cup chopped carrots, beans and peas (parboiled)
• 1/2 cup boiled potatoes
• 1/4 cup pineapple pieces
• 1/4 cup apple pieces
• 1/4 tsp mustard powder
• 1/2 tsp white pepper
• 2 tsp lime juice
• 1/2 cup fresh cream
• 1 tsp mayonnaise
• 1 tsp olive oil
• Salt to taste
• A pinch of sugar (optional)

Method

• In a small bowl, mix the fresh cream, mayonnaise, mustard powder, crushed pepper, olive oil and salt and mix well.
• In a salad bowl, add the vegetables, pineapple and apple pieces.
• Add the cream and mayonnaise mixture and lime juice and give it a nice mix.
• Add more salt and a pinch of sugar if required. Serve chilled.

Rajma Pasta Salad

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup cooked rajma
• 1/2 cup boiled sweet corn
• 1 cup boiled pasta
• 1/2 tsp lime juice
• 1/4 cup tomato pieces
• 3 tsp mayonnaise
• 1 tsp olive oil

For garnishing

• 1 tsp pepper
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp parsley

Method

• Strain the boiled pasta, rajma and sweet corn and add to a bowl.
• Add the olive oil, lime juices and tomato pieces and mix together.
• Add mayonnaise, salt and freshly grounded pepper and mix well.
• Garnish with chopped parsley and serve the salad on a lazy Sunday.