Name of the dish: Greek salads
Introduction: Greek salad is a summer salad in Greek cuisine. The fresh vegetables and fruits used in these salads contain antioxidants and micronutrients that help in preventing diseases like cancer, heart attacks, blood pressure, etc. They are also helpful in detoxifying the body and in maintaining good cholesterol levels. The main component of Greek salads is olive oil, which helps to reduce the risk of arthritic pains and life taking diseases like heart attack. These salads can be prepared within no time and would be a good starter for health conscious people. Here is a description of some exciting and delicious Greek salads for you.
Recipe: The Greek people, though traditional minded, are equally conscious about consuming nutritional diets. They became more and more health conscious as time passed by and today people all over the world consider the Mediterranean diet as a balanced one, which includes fresh fruits and vegetables which supply essential nutrients to our body.
1. Spinach salad
Complexity level: Easy
Time taken: 10 minutes
Ingredients:
- 5 cups of spinach
- Onions 2
- Blueberries ½ cup
- Strawberries ½ cup
- Pecans ½ cup
- Vinegar 2 tbsp
- Honey 2-3 tbsp
- Mustard ½ tsp
- Salt as per the taste
- Pepper as per the taste
- Curry powder ½ tbsp
Process:
In a bowl, take the spinach and add all the ingredients. Mix well. Serve after sometime.
Tips:
- Add few drops of lemon juice to enhance the taste.
2. Watermelon salad
Complexity level: Moderate
Time taken: 40 minutes
Ingredients:
- Small sized watermelon cut into pieces
- Ripe tomatoes 2
- Onions 2 chopped
- Vinegar 1 tbsp
- Olive oil 2 tbsp
- Sugar 2 tbsp
- Salt and pepper as per the taste
- Honey 3 tbsp
Process:
Put the fruit and vegetables in a bowl. Add all the other ingredients and mix well. Leave them to chill in the fridge for half an hour. This salad tastes good when served cold.
Tips:
- Add honey to enhance the taste
3. Summer salad
This is a refreshing salad, especially during the hot summer season.
Complexity level: Easy
Time taken: 10 minutes
Ingredients:
- 2-3 peaches sliced
- Blue berries ½ cup sliced
- Strawberries ½ cup sliced
- 2-3 bananas
- Yogurt 1 cup
- Orange sauce 1 tbsp
- Lemon juice, few drops
Process:
Combine the fruits and add the juices. Add the yogurt and orange sauce. Top with orange slices, honey, and mint.
Tip:
- Add fresh cream to enhance the taste.
4. Greek salad
Complexity level: Easy
Time taken: 15 minutes
Ingredients:
- 3 tomatoes sliced
- 2 big onions, sliced
- 1 cucumber sliced
- Lemon juice 2 tbsp
- Olive oil 2 tbsp
- Few mint leaves
- Salt 1 tbsp
- Pepper 1 tbsp
Process:
Mix olive oil to the vegetables. Add salt, pepper, and lemon juice. Toss nicely and top with mint leaves.
Tip:
- You may add raw orange juice in place of lemon juice.
5. Pasta salad
Complexity level: Moderate
Time taken: 3 hours
Ingredients:
- Penne pasta 2 cups
- 2/4 cup olive oil
- ¼-cup vinegar
- 4 garlic pods
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- Salt as required
- Oregano 2 tbsp
- Pepper 2 tbsp
- Green pepper 1 sliced
- Red pepper 1 sliced
- Yellow pepper 1 sliced
- Onion sliced 1
- Cherry tomatoes 12
- Feta cheese ½ cup
- Strawberries sliced ½ cup
- Black olives ½ cup
- Cucumber sliced 1
Process:
Heat water in a pan. Add little salt and few drops of oil. When the water starts boiling, add the pasta. Par boil the pasta and pour cold water. Leave it aside for few minutes.
Take a bowl. Add garlic pods, salt and pepper, olive oil, vinegar, limejuice, and oregano and mix well. Leave them aside for sometime to settle to add texture to the salad. Prepare a mixture of all the vegetables i.e., tomatoes, onions, cucumber, olives, all types of peppers, strawberries and add the pasta too. Toss some salt, pour the vinaigrette over the salad, and mix well. Allow the salad to chill for at least 2 ½ hours before serving.
