Summer Salads
The summers are here and we are happy and so do the time to have delicious summer salads. Bright and sunny days, cheerful mornings, lighter clothes and craving for lighter summer foods. A good way to shed those extra kilos is by eating lighter and exercising.
This summer, beat the heat and treat your tummy with light, tasty, and nutrient summer salads. These are easy to prepare, loaded with nutrients and hydrate you too. Let’s look at some breezy recipes.
Watermelon and Feta Summer Salads
The most common yet most loved salad of summers is the watermelon and feta summer salads. Since watermelon is the most hydrating fruit, almost 90% is water, this fruit is the best for summers to keep your body hydrated. And, for creamy, tangy punch, feta cheese is added.
Ingredients:
- 4 cups cubed watermelon
- 1 cup crumbled feta cheese
- 1/2 cup fresh mint leaves
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- In a mixing bowl, add watermelon, feta and mint leaves.
- Drizzle with olive oil and lime juice, then gently toss or mix.
- Season with salt and pepper.
Serve chilled for a refreshing summer salads.
Thai Papaya Summer Salads
This salad from Thai cuisine is made from fresh ingredients that are easily available, very healthy, tasty and crunchy salad. We need to prepare dressing before we make the salad. You need to grind all the dressing ingredients in a mixer with a bit of water (2 tbsp water) until smooth so that it mixes well with the salad.
Dressing Ingredients:
- 2 Tbsp soaked peanuts (soak for 2-3hrs)
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- Small green chilies as per taste
- ½ tsp rock salt
1 Tbsp Jaggery powder
Ingredients for Salad:
- 1/2 small unripe green papaya (peeled and slice in long thin strips)
- 1 large mango (diced in long thin pieces)
- 1 carrot (peeled and slice in long thin strips)
- 2 tomatoes(diced in long thin pieces)
- 1/2 cup fresh coriander
- Mint leaves to garnish.
Instructions:
- In a mixing bowl, add papaya, carrot, mango, tomatoes and coriander and mix it.
- Combine the dressing and salad and toss them well.
- Garnish with mint and chopped peanuts for an extra crunch.
A crunchy and healthy summer salads that tastes yummy and keeps your stomach calm is ready to feast on.
Mediterranean Chickpea Salad
Since summer salads are all about light and fresh yet wholesome, then this Mediterranean Chickpea Salad is a go-to salad that is like a meal for you.
It is a power-packed protein salad as chickpeas are a great source of plant-based protein and fibre, while the fresh veggies add crunch and flavour.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups cooked chickpeas (or canned, drained and rinsed)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cucumber, diced
- 1/2 cup olives, sliced
- 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup feta cheese, crumbled
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 Tbsp lemon juice
- 1 Tsp dried oregano
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Mint and Coriander leaves to Garnish
Instructions:
- In a large bowl, combine chickpeas, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, olives, red onion, and feta.
- Drizzle with olive oil and lemon juice,
- Sprinkle with oregano.
- Season with salt and pepper. Toss well.
- Garnish it with some mint and coriander leaves. Serve chilled.
A meal box in the form of summer salad, which is healthy and tasty.
Carrot & Dried Cranberries Summer Salads
A healthy, nutritious salad, this carrot and cranberry summer will become an absolute favourite summer salads for your family. This summer salad is full of vitamins, antioxidants, and fibre.
To keep the stomach calm and gut healthy, opt for healthy fibrous food. This salad will require a dressing that can be easily be made at home.
Dressing Ingredients :
- 1 cup white sesame seeds
- 1/2 cup water
- 4 seedless dates
- 2 Tbsp lemon juice
- 1 Tbsp Jaggery Powder
- Green Chillies as per preference
- 1/2 tsp rock salt
Dressing Instructions:
Add sesame seeds to a saucepan and roast at medium heat unit light brown for 2-3 minutes. You need to be careful as sesame seeds can burn quickly. Now, once the sesame seeds cool, grind it until smooth and not gritty. Now add all the dressing ingredients along with water and blend until smooth paste. Your dressing for the salad is ready.
Salad Ingredients:
- 3 cups Carrot (shredded)
- 1 cup sprouts of your choice
- 2 Tbsp chopped Mint
- 1/2 cup soaked Cashews (finely chopped)
- 3 Tbsp Dried Cranberries
- 1 Tsp dried oregano
Salad Instructions:
- In a large bowl, place carrots, sprouts, mint, cashews and dried cranberries and mix them well.
- Pour the dressing on top and toss well.
- Sprinkle with oregano.
- Garnish it with some mint and coriander leaves, cashews and raisins for added flavour.
A summer salad with a yummy taste of cashews and cranberries is a must-try.
Mango and Quinoa Summer Salads
Mango is considered the king fruit of the season, so how can we miss trying a summer salads out of it.
Fresh, sweet, pulpy, this tropical salad is a burst of flavours and textures. Mangoes are rich in vitamin C, while quinoa provides a complete protein source.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups cooked Quinoa
- 1 ripe mango, diced
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- 1/4 cup lime juice
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon honey
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- In a mixing bowl, combine all the ingredients – quinoa, mango, red bell pepper, and cilantro and toss it.
- Separately, In a small bowl, make a dressing by whisking together lime juice, olive oil, honey, salt, and pepper.
- Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to combine. Serve chilled.
This summer salad does not just taste great but looks beautiful when served. Make it a great addition to your summer brunch and your guests will love it.
Healthy Summer Salads
The above summer salads are easy to make and take very little time to prepare. They are packed with nutrients and antioxidants, as mostly fresh fruits and vegetables are used.
These summer salads are hydrating, light and healthy which makes it a perfect meal for hot summer days when heavy meals are overwhelming and heavy.
Enjoy these summer salads to stay cool and energized all summer long!
Do check out our low-sugar summer cocktail recipes which you will surely love to try along with these healthy summer salads.
Enjoy your summer treats guilt-free!!
