20+ Best Indian Salad Recipes

You will find a list of 20+ Best Indian vegetarian and vegan salad recipes that are healthy, easy to make, and packed with nutrition. Whether you're seeking a light lunch option or a refreshing side dish, these recipes are guaranteed to satisfy you.

Indian cuisine is renowned for its diverse and delicious vegetarian main dishes, which include paneer butter masala, chana masala, dal makhani, vegetable biryani, and vegetable pulao.

There are times we don't want to stuff our mouths with greasy, deep-fried meals. Our favourite option during these situations is a salad. Salads are a great way to complement Indian food and balance out the spiciness and richness of the main course.

In most Indian households, a wholesome meal is always accompanied by a plateful of tomato, cucumber, and onion slices topped with lemon juice and chaat masala. This kind of salad is a must-have in every Indian meal.

Different Types Of Salads

Indian cuisine boasts a wide range of authentic salads, each with its own unique flavor and aroma, as well as diverse ingredient choices.

Some popular traditional Indian salads include cucumber kosambari, pachadi, kachumber, and laccha pyaaz (Indian onion salad).

You can easily make Indian salad recipes with a few Indian-style dressings, including salt, pepper, and lemon juice. They can also be made in the North Indian chaat style with green chutney and chaat masala, or with the addition of a traditional South Indian Classic Tempering with mustard seeds, curry leaves, and freshly grated coconut.

Make your own healthy Indian-style salads by selecting your favorite Indian herbs and spices, and then tossing them with locally sourced produce.

20+ Best Indian Salad Recipes

Let's have a look at the 20+ Easy and healthy Indian Salad Recipes that you can make for your lunch or dinner at home.

How to Build Your Own Indian Salads

Try adding various ingredients and textures to create a flavorful Indian salad. Here are some tips on how to do so.

1. Add Veggies & Greens - Some popular raw veggies that go in Indian salads are cucumber, tomatoes, carrots, onions, bell peppers, and cabbage. These veggies are packed with fiber and rich in essential vitamins and minerals. Add raw greens like lettuce, and baby spinach.
2. Pick Seasonal Produce - Always pick the veggies and fruits that are in season, as they will taste fresh and delicious.
3. Dressings or Chutney - Indian salads are often served with coriander mint chutney made from mint and coriander or/and sweet tamarind chutney and dressings made from lemon juice, oil, and Indian spices like roasted cumin powder, coriander powder, turmeric, red chili powder, and chaat masala.
4. Add Protein - You can add plant-based protein sources like paneer (cottage cheese), and boiled legumes (like kidney beans, boiled chickpeas, boiled black-eyed peas, or lentils (masoor dal)) for added nutrition.
5. Fresh Herbs - Top with fresh herbs such as mint and coriander leaves for a fresh and bright flavor.
6. Healthy Fats - Nuts, seeds, salad dressing, or tempering made from coconut oil or extra-virgin olive oil are great options. Nuts like walnuts, pistachios, almonds, peanuts, cashews, and seeds like pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, and flax seeds, are great salad toppings. Toast the nuts first to bring out their flavor.
7. Add crunchy salad toppings - Top your Indian salads with crunchy elements such as sev, boondi, air fryer roasted peanuts, fried cashews, air fryer roasted chickpeas, or papads to add extra texture and flavor to each bite.
8. Add some sweetness - Sometimes Indian salads also include sweet elements such as golden raisins, and fruits like pomegranate arils, or diced apples.

Accompaniment Salad for Indian Food

Indian salads serve as a refreshing and nutritious accompaniment to the Indian main meal. They pair well with Indian curries, dals, and rice dishes.

They also go well as a side dish with Tandoori dishes like paneer tikka, tandoori gobi, kebabs, beetroot cutlets, etc.

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