Indian Salads with Dressing recipes | Vegetarian Salad with Dressing |

Indian Salads with Dressings. Indian salads are characterised by crispy fresh ingredients laced with ground spices or zesty dressings that deliver a revitalising rush of flavour. Indian salads play multiple roles in a meal. Sometimes they are served as appetizers, and at other times they are also used as accompaniments to give a peppy twist to simple meals. For example, kachumbers served with dal khichdi! 

cabbage and carrot kachumber recipe | kobi and gajar kachumber | Gujarati cabbage and carrot sambharo | stir fried cabbage and carrot

While the everyday Indian salad is a simple mix of veggies like carrot, cucumber and tomatoes served with a touch of pepper and lemon juice, there are several exotic variants too, with luscious dressings that add a glamorous tone to the veggies and beans used. 

Comman Ingredients used for Indian salad dressings.

1. Olive oil, Extra Virgin olive oil: Olive oil has a distinctive, fruity flavor that complements the spicy and tangy flavors of Indian cuisine. It adds depth and richness to the dressing.
2. Mint leaves : Mint leaves add a refreshing, slightly sweet, and slightly minty flavor to the dressing.
3. Mustard powder : Mustard powder adds a tangy and slightly spicy flavor to the dressing, which complements the sweetness of fruits or the creaminess of yogurt-based dressings.
4. Lemon juice : Lemon juice adds a bright, tangy flavor that balances the richness of other ingredients in the dressing.
5. Chilli powder : Chili powder adds a vibrant kick to Indian salad dressings.
6. Sea Salt : Sea salt offers a more complex and better flavor profile than regular table salt. 
7. honey : Honey is a natural sweetener that can balance the tanginess of other ingredients like lemon juice or vinegar. It adds a subtle sweetness that enhances the overall flavor profile of the dressing.
8. black salt : Black salt has a distinct sulfurous taste that adds a unique flavor profile to salad dressings.
9. roasted and coarsely crushed cumin seeds (jeera) : Roasting intensifies the flavor of cumin seeds, adding a warm, nutty, and slightly smoky taste to the dressing. 
10. Vinegar : Vinegar adds a tangy flavor that balances the sweetness and richness of other ingredients in the dressing. 
11. Curds : The natural tanginess of curd balances the sweetness and spiciness of other ingredients in the salad, creating a harmonious flavor profile.

Indian Vegetarian Salads with Dressings

It is nice to use a mix of veggies and beans in salads, for example, cucumber with rajma. Sometimes, soaked and parboiled cereals like barley may also be used, as in the Chickpea, Barley and Mushroom Salad with Balsamic Dressing. Fruits like pomegranate, grapes and apple mingle naturally with veg salads. 

chick pea, vegetable barley salad with balsamic dressing | kabuli chana vegetable salad | healthy Indian barley salad with chickpeas | vitamin b1, b3, folic acid rich salad

However, what makes a salad feel special is the dressing, as it helps the chef to achieve the required mood. A creamy dressing with hung curds gives a luxuriant feel to the salad, while a light mint and lemon dressing refreshes the palate with its chilling mint overtones. The use of mint, ground black pepper, lemon and curd is quite common in Indian salads. 

bean and capsicum salad recipe | rajma, kabuli chana salad | protein rich Indian rajma salad with bell peppers |  Rajma and kabuli chana both contain insoluble fibre.

bean and capsicum salad recipe | rajma, kabuli chana salad | protein rich Indian rajma salad with bell peppers

Mint (pudina) used in dressing for Indian salads

Indian chickpea salad for weight loss | kabuli chana salad with pudina dressing | healthy chickpea salad for weight loss |  is an awesome example of how mint transforms a salad. 

Indian chickpea salad for weight loss | kabuli chana salad with pudina dressing | healthy chickpea salad for weight loss

The Carrot Cucumber and Rajma Salad in Mint Dressing is a light yet nutritious treat that is also a delight to behold.

carrot cucumber and rajma Salad in mint dressing recipe | vegetable salad with mint and lemon dressing | healthy weight loss vegetable salad | healthy Indian salad recipe for weight loss

beetroot and dill salad recipe | Indian style beetroot dill salad | healthy chukandar and dill salad | 

beetroot and dill salad recipe | Indian style beetroot dill salad | healthy chukandar and dill salad

healthy Indian green chickpea salad recipe | paneer and chickpea salad | cottage cheese and chickpea salad | protein rich paneer salad | dressing of black salt and roasted and coarsely crushed cumin seeds (jeera).

healthy Indian green chickpea salad recipe | paneer and chickpea salad | cottage cheese and chickpea salad | protein rich paneer salad

When making any Indian salad, remember: 

• Pick the best ingredients, especially if they are going to be used raw. Never use damaged veggies or overripe fruits in a salad. 

• If your salad requires you to boil or parboil any ingredients, always cook it only to the required level and not too much. You need to retain the natural texture and colour of the vegetable or bean. 

• Choose the dressing carefully. Heavy ingredients call for a light dressing, while fresh and light ingredients can comfortably accommodate a rich dressing. 

red and green salad recipe | Indian capsicum, celery and spring onions salad | healthy red green and orange salad with peanut dressing

The salad plays a very important role in balancing the mood of a meal. It can add a refreshing tone to a heavy meal, or give a rich feel to a simple meal. So, always spend some time picking the right salad for the meal. Have a look at our 200+ salad recipe collection, which includes Indian Salad Recipes with Dressing and International Veg Salad Recipes with Dressing, and pick the right ones for every meal! 

Enjoy our other salad recipe articles below. 

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