Fruit and Vegetable Salad Recipes

We think about salads only when we think about weight loss! Right? If you would say I have salad in my lunch box, people would defiantly gonna wink and said, ON DIET?? I use to have such mind set too, that salad is a portion of food, and which must include vinegar dipped onion or random tomato, carrot, cucumber equivalent veggies...

But nowadays, I have introduced salads in my daily routine just to consume vegetables, seeds, fruits, nuts etc in a healthy and tasty way. Now when a normal Indian family decide to eat salad and search for recipes, then you will found maximum recipes would be made of celery and/or lettuce leaves. Here I am sharing some recipes that could be made using home ingredients.

First Recipe

INGREDIENTS
Carrot - 1 
Big onion - 1/2 
Tomato - 1/2 
Cucumber - 1/4 
Capsicum- 2 tbsp (finely chopped)
Cabbage - 1 leaf (chopped or grated)
Coriander leaves - few
Salt - as needed
Pepper powder - 1/2 tsp 
Lemon juice - few drops
Olive oil or cooking oil – 1/2 tsp

METHOD
Wash and chop all the vegetables into small cubes. De-seed tomato and cucumber (de-seeding is optional) Add salt,lemon juice and pepper powder. Mix well. Lastly add 1/2 tsp of oil, mix n serve! For variations, add a handful of almond, cashews and dates. It will give the salad a crunchy taste. 

Second Recipe

INGREDIENTS
For mixing
Pomegranate - 1/4 cup
Sweet corn kernels - 1/3-1/2 cup
Grated coconut – 1-2 tbsp
Cucumber - 1 tbsp (Optional)
Coriander leaves – 2tsp
Pepper powder – 1/2 tsp (optional)
Salt - as needed
Lemon juice - few drops (optional)

METHOD
Pressure cook the sweet corn and remove the kernels. Finely chop the cucumber and coriander leaves. Grate the coconut using a peeler so that it looks like long strands.  
In a bowl, add all the ingredients. Mix well, add salt and lemon juice. Serve with the pomegranate seed decoration. For variations, one can also add grated carrots. 

Third recipe 

INGREDIENTS - For 1 person
Sprouted green gram - 1 handful
Carrot - 1 (grated)
Beetroot - 1/2 ( grated) (optional)
Big onion - 1/2 (chop finely)
Cabbage - Few leaves ( chop finely)
Pomegranate - 1 handful
Guava - 1/2 ( Chop into squares)
Coriander leaves - A few
Lime juice  - Few drops
Pepper powder - 1/2 tsp
Salt - As needed

METHOD
Take a wide bowl and mix all the ingredients. Squeeze a few drops of lime juice. Mix well and serve. For Variations add chopped cucumber and green olive pieces, for green color.

Fourth Recipe

INGREDIENTS
Purple Cabbage - 1/2 cup
Carrot - 1 (small)
Big onion - 1
Sweet corn – a handful (optional)
Tomato - 1 
Coriander leaves- a tbsp (optional)
Pepper powder - as needed
Olive oil – 2tsp
Lemon juice – few drops
Salt - as needed

METHOD
Wash and chop all the vegetables into thin long strips. In a bowl, take olive oil, salt, pepper powder and lemon juice. Mix well. Now add all the chopped vegetables. Mix well and serve. Add sweet corn and coriander leaves to make it more colorful and flavorful. For Variation add black olives and strips of red radish. 

Fifth Recipe

INGREDIENTS
Dates - 1/2 cup
Banana - 1 
Apple - 1
Pear - 1 
Honey - as needed
Nuts and dry fruits - Figs, walnut, seedless raisins 
A scoop of vanilla ice creme

METHOD

Wash and chop all the fruits in cubes. Chopped the nuts and dry fruits. In a bowl, take dates and honey and other ingredients and mixed well. Now add all the chopped nuts. Add ice cream, mix well and serve. For Variation add fruits and nuts of the choice. 

Sixth Recipe

INGREDIENTS
Split yellow green gram or moong dal - 1/4 cup
Cucumber - 1
Carrots - 1
Capsicum and tomato - 2 tsp each finely chopped (optional)
Lemon -1/2 a fresh lemon
Fresh Coconut -1/4 cup grated
Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
Ginger and Green chillies - finely chopped
Curry leaves - a sprig
a tsp of oil

METHOD
Peel the skin and chop cucumber and carrots. Wash and soak moong dal in water for 1 hour. After 1 hour, drain the water completely. Add chopped cucumber, carrots, capsicums and tomatoes. Heat a tsp of oil, add mustard seeds, when mustard splutters, add ginger, green chillies and saute for a few seconds. Add salt, juice of half a lemon and mix well. Finally add grated coconut and mix gently. 

Do try these healthy, simple Indian salad recipes for your family. Stay healthy and fit! Tell me if you like any of these recipes. Thank you for reading :) 

Mugdha