My son tolerates pasta, dislikes dosa/chapati and hates rice! That list strikes out all the items I know to cook. But thankfully, he likes salads. And luckily, I know the easiest salad recipe in the world (in my world, at least!).

I got this recipe from a friend of mine. You can adapt it according to what you have in your fridge. I always have apples, tomatoes and cucumbers in fridge, so these are the key ingredients for me. If you have lettuce or salad greens, the salad gets even more interesting. The quantity and the proportion is all left to your taste and what’s available in your refrigerator.

If you add some cooked beans (red kidney, chick pea or black beans), then you can graduate the salad into a meal. And that’s what I usually do.

For seasoning, a little mayonnaise mixed with 2 teaspoons of yogurt is what my friend recommends. After coming to US, I have started stocking up of various salad seasonings. I use any of those for convenience. Add salt and pepper and that’s it. Your meal is ready.

The recipe below is just a guide line as to what can go into the salad. These are my preferences and I have used these in many combinations according to what’s there on the fridge.

BM Theme : Salads

Recipe source: My friend Swapna 

Ingredients:

Choice of Fruit – 1 cup altogether ; pick one at least

• apple
• grapes
• pomegranate
• pear
• orange
• plum
• strawberries or blueberries
• NO mangoes, NO bananas

Choice of vegetable – (pick 2 at least) 1 cup altogether

• tomatoes
• cucumbers
• capsicum
• lettuce or salad greens
• corn
• cauliflower (steamed or microwaved)
• avocado
• NO carrot, NO cabbage

Choice of protein -pick 1 (optional) 

• 1/2 cup cooked beans – any variety (chickpeas, black beans, red kidney beans etc), canned is fine
• 1 boiled egg, cut into small pieces
• handful of cheese like feta
• handful of sprouts (steamed)

Choice of dry fruits/nuts – pick 1 handful, Optional 

• toasted peanuts, walnuts, pistachios, cashew nuts or almonds
• raisins, cranberries, apricot

Choice of dressing – pick one and season with salt and pepper

• 1 tablespoon of mayonnaise mixed with 1 teaspoon yogurt
• honey mustard and mayonnaise
• any ready made salad dressing
• 1 tablespoon olive oil plus 2 teaspoon vinegar or lemon juice
• salt and pepper for seasoning

Method: 

1. Choose at least 1 fruit and 2 vegetables and cut them into small pieces.
2. Pick a protein to make it a meal.
3. Add a handful of toasted nuts or dry fruits. Optional.
4. Make your dressing. Season with salt and pepper. Add the dressing to the salad, toss well and serve.
5. My regular salad would have an apple, handful of grapes, 2 tomatoes, 1/2 medium cucumber and 1/3 cup of thawed corn. I go on and add a boiled egg or 1/2 cup of canned beans if its a meal. I add pistachios or cashews or raisins (my pantry staples) when in mood. I like the combination of mayonnaise and honey mustard for dressing. Another favorite is mayo+yogurt+ salt n pepper. This quantity is sufficient for one.

 

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