Over the years that salads rose to popularity amongst the masses, we've seen a number of largely inaccurate beliefs surrounding the preparation. For whatever reason, most of us tend to look at eating a salad as a healthy sacrifice, one that comes with compromising on taste and choosing fitness instead. But while salads are, of course, a lot healthier than a junk meal of burger and fries, that in no way implies that they cant be yummy as well!
Summer is the season of rainbow produce, bringing a host of fresh veggies and fruits to our plates. And considering the hot weather outside, and the subsequent need to ditch the grease and have lighter meals, it's the perfect time to whip up mouthwatering summer salads packed with nourishment and delicious flavours in equal measure. To help you prepare a bowl of your own, here's a list of 10 absolutely scrumptious summer salads, that taste great and feel even better.
1. Greek Quinoa Salad
If you've never had a Greek salad, trust me you're missing out. Packed with the creaminess of Feta cheese, and the tangy taste of red wine vinegar and lemon, a greek salad is immensely filling, healthy for the body and a total treat for the tongue. It's dense in nutrients, yet low in calories making it the perfect light lunch to have during a hot summer day. Here's an easy to follow Youtube video tutorial by Everyday Food that teaches you how to make a Greek salad with some healthy and protein-rich quinoa.
Image Courtesy - Nutritious Eats
2. Mango, Avocado & Tomato Salad With Dates
Avocado has completely taken over the world of dietary food, and one look at the mile-long list of health benefits will make you understand exactly why. Also, for a lot of us, the smell of fresh mangoes defines the feeling of the summer season. This nutritious salad features some of the yummiest summer produce while being super low on calories, and light on the stomach. We especially love this Youtube recipe tutorial by Pepper and Pine that takes about 20-25 minutes to easily recreate in your kitchen by tossing the ingredients together.
Image Courtesy - Healthy Travel Blog
3. Pesto Chicken Salad
This salad doubles up as a healthy lunch option and a bowl of comfort food, with equal ease. The pesto dressing amps up the taste in the salad several notches, and the grilled chicken adds another delicious incentive. We absolutely love this engaging Youtube recipe video tutorial by Headbanger's Kitchen, that's not just simple to make and brimming with health benefits, but also Keto friendly! So if you're on a strict diet, it doesn't get better than this summer salad recipe.
Image Courtesy - Headbanger's Kitchen
4. Mediterranean Chickpea Salad
This is one of those salad recipes you can easily make ahead of time and stash away in the fridge for hectic days. It's super satisfying, and although substantially low on calories, this summer salad recipe will keep you full for hours to come. Chickpeas are a brilliant source for a host of nutrients including essential vitamins, minerals, and gut-health-improving fibre. This Youtube video recipe by The Busy Baker made it surprisingly simple to whip up even with our negligible cooking skills!
Image Courtesy - The Busy Baker
5. Loaded Summer Cauliflower Salad
Cauliflower has been shining off late as one of the healthiest substitutes out there for a number of relatively less healthy food like rice and potatoes. This filling and utterly scrumptious Youtube recipe by Tasty harnesses all the benefits of cauliflower to produce a summer salad that's Keto-friendly, nutrient-rich and yet immensely appetising. Tasty recipes are always easy to follow, but this one is particularly delicious and the conviction comes from trial and tasting!
Image Courtesy - Tasty
6. Americal Corn Salad
Juicy sweet corn and a brown full of rainbow salad, it doesn't get more summer healthy recipe than this! This salad recipe is bound to keep you smacking your lips long after you've gobbled up every bite. This Youtube video tutorial by Easy Cookbook just requires a couple of minutes from your busy schedule, and a few ingredients to toss together. It's highly filling, and comes with the goodness of a number of fresh veggies and herbs!
Image Courtesy - Food With Feeling
7. Homemade Caeser Salad
Featuring refreshing romaine lettuce and crunchy croutons, a homemade caesar salad is yummier than it sounds! It's loaded with herbs and light olive oil dressing, and packed with creamy parmesan cheese! We created ours by religiously following this Youtube video tutorial by Rajshri Food, that broke down an otherwise complex process into simple steps! This recipe is super light on the stomach especially during hot summer days and keeps you full well after lunch.
Image Courtesy - Rajshri Food
8. Watermelon Olive & Feta Salad
With the goodness of one of the best gifts of the summer season, watermelon, this scrumptious summer salad will energise both your body and soul. You need just a couple of ingredients to make a bowl of this refreshing summer salad, and the feta cheese packs the recipe with more appetising flavours. We love this simple Youtube video tutorial by Sanjeev Kapoor Khazana, that demands a total of 15 to 20 minutes as preparation time.
Image Courtesy - Craftlog
9. Israeli Couscous Summer Salad
This hearty Israeli couscous summer salad has an assortment of health benefits to boast of. It's got that fresh lift of aromatic herbs, and the kind of tang that will make you wipe your bowl clean! It's the perfect refreshing and invigorating lunch to much on, especially during hot and busy office days. We'd wholeheartedly recommend following this Youtube recipe tutorial by Average Betty, that features the celebrated LA Times food columnist Russ Parsons.
Image Courtesy - Inspired Taste
10. Classic Summer Fruit Salad
It's a classic for a reason. Brimming with colourful and sweet summer fruit flavours, this Youtube video recipe by Fun Food Frolic makes for the perfect hot day post-lunch snack! It's 100% vegan and gluten-free, and the right choice for anybody inching towards a healthier diet. Drizzle on some honey dressing to amp up the taste further.
Image Courtesy - Fun Food Frolic Youtube
Lettuce know how you like these summer salads!
