With the summer setting in,heres how you can beat the heat,stay healthy and lose excess weight,by gorging on some scrumptious salads
They are cool,light,healthy and oh-so-delicious! Welcome to the world of healthy eating,courtesy salads. From the traditional coleslaw to the more adventurous mango with prawns salad,theres a range and variety to this preparation which is phenomenal. What works for salads is they are healthy,light on the stomach and ideally suited for summer. I recommend Wilted spinach with cheese,pineapple and corn salad,Orange,bell pepper and lettuce salad and Smoked chicken and pineapple salad. Plus,you can also experiment with vegetables,herbs and flowers and make your very own salad at home, says Chef Kiran Patil,executive chef,Post-91. In effect,any combination of vegetables,fruits and even herbs and flowers,which works well,can be ideal for salad. Combine it with a wholegrain or multigrain bread and a yoghurt smoothie of your choice and you have a healthy concoction ready to be partaken. Here are some easy,quick salad recipes,which are at the same time a storehouse of nutrition and energy.
Greek farmer salad
Ingredients:
6 tomatoes
1 onion
1 cucumber
150-200 gm olives
200 gm feta cheese
50-100 ml olive oil
1/2 teaspoon oregano
1/2 teaspoon basil
Method: Slice the tomatoes,cucumber and onion. Mix in a bowl with the (stoned/optional halved) olives. Season with pepper,salt,oregano and basil. Crumble the feta cheese in large pieces over the tomatoes and sprinkle the salad with olive oil. Serve with tzatziki.
Melon and chicken salad
Ingredients:
2 small or 1 large melon
2 cooked chicken breasts
1 small can of mushrooms
1 apple
A handful of raisins
1 red bell pepper
3 tablespoons (warm) honey
1tablespoon oil
Salt and pepper (to taste)
A pinch of cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Method: Half or quarter the melons and remove the seeds. Spoon the melon pulp in a bowl. Mix the pulp with diced chicken and apple,mushrooms,raisins and bell pepper. Fill the melon halves with the mixture. Make a sauce of honey,oil,salt,pepper,cayenne pepper and lemon juice. Drizzle over the stuffed melon halves.
Pasta Salad
Ingredients:
4 tablespoon mayonnaise
2-4 tablespoon milk
1 tablespoon parsley
1 teaspoon garlic powder
Salt and pepper (to taste)
500 gm cooked macaroni
1 can of mushrooms
3 large tablespoon chives
1 can of sweetcorn
Method: Mix mayonnaise,milk,parsley,garlic powder,salt and pepper into a sauce. Add the macaroni,drained mushrooms,chives and corn. Let the salad rest for an hour,so the tastes can mix well. Serve the pasta salad at room temperature for the best taste.
Mango salad with prawns
Ingredients:
2 head iceberg lettuce
1 ripe mango
2 tablespoon white wine
1 teaspoon mustard seeds
Salt and pepper (to taste)
6 tablespoon oil
100 gm peeled prawns
Method: Wash and dry the lettuce. Chop the leaves in strips. Peel the mango,slice the pulp and chop in thin strips. Make a sauce of vinegar,mustard,salt,pepper and oil. Mix with iceberg lettuce and mango. Put the salad into the fridge for half-an-hour and allow the tastes to mix. Garnish with shrimps.