Delicious salads with no lettuce!

There are a few who don’t like the leafy vegetables like lettuce that mark their presence in numerous salads. Rejoice. There is more to salad that tossing in a few leafy greens with smart fats like olive oil & nuts.

Lets take a look at a few lettuce free salads that are tasty & filling. 

Rajma (Red Kidney Bean) Salad:

Rich in iron, complex carbohydrates & nutrients, red kidney beans are loaded with fiber. To make this salad, soak 1 cup rajma overnight & pressure cook till soft to touch & nicely done. Drain & transfer to a mixing bowl. Add chopped onions tomatoes & cucumbers. Mix 3 tsp juice of lemon with salt (as per taste) & pinch of pepper & add to the salad mix. Drizzle a little extra virgin oil & garnish with chopped coriander.

Mixed Sprouts Salad:

Lentils have been an important part of the Indian diet since ages. Lentils, when sprouted, offer a world of goodness. Sprouts are rich in proteins, dietary fibers, Vitamins A, C, K, folate and minerals such as iron, calcium, manganese, copper, zinc, and magnesium. Though this recipe may be little time consuming as you have to sprout the various lentils and boil them, the health benefits they offer is worth the effort. To make this salad, boil the sprouts of your choice, such as Moong, Rajma, Kabuli Chana & more. Next, add grated radish & chopped tomatoes. Make the dressing by whisking 1 cup yogurt with chopped fresh mint & some salt & pepper to taste. Garnish with pomegranate pearls and serve.

Home-style Carrot Salad:

Also called “koshimbir” across Maharashtrian homes, this carrot salad is a great side dish. Take 1 cup grated carrot in a bowl. Add 2 tsp crushed peanuts & mix well. Head 2 tsp oil with little cumin & 1 medium green chili slit in the middle, allow the cumin seeds to crackle. Pour over grated carrot, add salt & sugar to taste & mix well. Garnish with chopped coriander.

Chickpea salad:

Chickpeas are a good source of protein. To make this salad, pressure cook 1 cup chickpeas (soaked overnight) till they are soft but firm. Add 1 boiled & cubed potato, 1 chopped tomato & onion to the chickpeas. Finely chop one green chili & add to the mix. Make a dressing with 1 tsp extra virgin olive oil, chaat masala, pinch of pepper powder, 1 tsp lemon juice & salt to taste. Mix into the salad & serve immediately or refrigerate for sometime. 

Greek Salad:

Every bite of this refreshing Mediterranean salad is a treat to the taste buds. This low-calorie, high nutrient salad provides the much needed Vitamins A and C to your body along with potassium, iron and other minerals. The secret of the classic Greek salad lies in its ingredients. To make this salad you will need crisp cucumbers, juicy tomatoes, creamy feta cheese, tangy black olives and some good quality extra virgin olive oil. You can also include onions and capsicum to make it healthier. Toss the cut veggies in a big bowl and season with grated cheese, salt, red wine vinegar and extra virgin oil. You can serve this classic Greek salad with a slice of feta cheese on top.