thread: Salads - I need a variety of them

  1. #1
    Registered User

    Dec 2007
    1,794

    Salads - I need a variety of them

    I have decided it is time to get healthy..

    And in the warmer months, love salad (And DH is boring and only likes ceaser salad)..

    So hit me with some salad ideas (don't have to be 100% healthy as I need the odd unhealthy one to make me stick to it!!)

    Only food that we can't have is pineapple (well I can't but everyone else can )

  2. #2
    Registered User

    Sep 2009
    watsonia north victoria
    2,161

    The changs crispy noodle and cabbage one is yummy!
    Not super healthy but nice for a change!

    Also variations of coleslaw are nice too

    Potato salad made with light sour cream is really yummy!

  3. #3
    BellyBelly Life Subscriber

    Jun 2008
    In snuggle land
    4,499

    Tabbouleh
    Chickpea, pumpkin & chicken with quinoa or cous cous
    Warm lamb salad - with greens & fetta or goats cheese. We bbq/grill lamb backstrap then slice
    Beetroot & carrot
    Kachumber - onion, tomato & cucumber with a dash of lemon juice, sprinkle of chilli powder & salt

  4. #4

    Jul 2009
    Out North, Vic
    8,538

    Lettuce, cucumber, red onion, feta, red capsicum, cherry tomato with Greek dressing

    The above then add sliced apple & mango


    Sent from my iPhone, more than likely while I should be doing something else!

  5. #5
    Registered User

    Jul 2007
    melb
    8,498

    Rice salad
    Potatoe salad add corn, capsicum
    Pasta salad
    Waldorff salad
    ceaser salad
    Lettuce, tomoatoes, feta, olives, cucumber, bacon,

  6. #6
    Registered User

    Mar 2007
    Melbourne
    4,031

    Lentil Salad

    2 tins brown lentils
    5 roma tomatoes - diced
    1 spanish onion - diced
    1 bunch coriander - chopped
    Juice of 1 or 2 lemons - depends on your taste
    250g Danish Feta
    2 tsps ground cumin
    olive oil

    1 - Drain and rinse lentils
    2 - Combine with diced tomatoes, onions, coriander
    3 - Crumble the feta in finely
    4 - Add cumin, lemon juice and a good drizzle of olive oil
    5 - Mix
    6 - Taste and add more lemon juice or cumin if required.


    An absolute winner everytime we make it.

  7. #7
    Registered User

    Nov 2008
    Perth
    3,686

    I agree that the Changs Noodle Salad rocks! Yummo!

    I also love roast pumpkin and spinach salad. I add pinenuts, sundried tomatoes and avocado to mine as well. The honey and balsamic dressing is so yummy!

    I often make coleslaw, it's my mums speciality 1/4-1/2 a cabbage, a carrot grated (you may need a bit more or less depending on how much cabbage you use), grated or finally diced white salad onion (to taste but usually 1/4 of one) then add a good store bought coleslaw dressing.

    My other staple is just a good old garden salad. I use mixed leaves, red capsicum, baby Roma tomatoes, cucumber, avocado, mushrooms and Spanish onion. I'm a bit pedantic with my salad and layer it so the colours are all spread out. It looks so pretty and inviting! I add halved snow peas when they're in season too.

    Bean salad is another of my faves - a tin of 4 bean mix, tin of corn kernels (I get the extra sweet ones), 1/4-1/2 diced red onion depending on taste. Mix well and drizzle with French dressing.

    Dad's speciality is a pasta salad with grated carrot and celery in it. He uses large shell shaped pasta with the Heinz Salad Cream mixed with horseradish as the dressing. It's divine but not overly healthy He makes a similar one with the seafood extender shredded into it too.

    Friends of ours serve a yummy and simple rocket, avocado and shaved parmesan salad with their 'signature' fish dish. I don't know what in the dressing but you could probably find something similar on the Net. Blue vein cheese, pear and walnuts also work well with rocket.

    HTH

  8. #8
    Registered User

    Jul 2010
    Canberra
    1,788

    These are our faves...

    Beetroot, lentil, walnut, rocket and goat's cheese.

    Steamed new potatoes, red onion and chives with a honey mustard dressing. Top with smoked trout or salmon.

    Caesar salad with grilled chicken.

    Couscous with chickpeas, green olives, toasted almonds, thyme and parsley with lemon. For a meal, stir through tinned tuna or top with grilled lamb.

    Tomato, boccichini and basil leaves with balsamic vinegar.

    Shredded snow peas, carrot, cucumber, Chinese cabbage and roasted cashews with a chili and lime dressing.

  9. #9
    Registered User

    Feb 2006
    NSW Central Coast
    5,301

    I use all of these salads as a lunch or as a side to dinner (usually either a store brought bbq chicken, home BBQ'd meat or roast meat). Everything is approximate and just done to taste for us, so there are not really any measurements!

    Cobb Salad- hard boiled eggs, iceberg lettuce, avocado, weight watchers ham/bacon, tomatoes and grated low-fat tasty cheese. Chop the iceberg lettuce. I squeeze some lemon on it, or you can use what ever dressing you prefer!

    Tuna pasta salad- tinned tuna, grated carrot, corn niblets, chopped celery, red capsicum, cooked pasta, low fat mayo. Mix it all together for a yummy salad! Or if you want lower fat/calorie than that, use lettuce instead of pasta.

    Avocado salad- 1 whole avo, ice berg lettuce ripped up, crumbled fetta cheese (you can use low fat), grated or shaved parmesan cheese. Drizzle with some olive oil and balsamic vinegar, or for the lower fat version, use low fat balsamic dressing.

    Cucumber salad- chopped or sliced telegraph or lebanese cucumber, low fat natural or greek yogurt, chopped fresh mint or some dried mint works ok too, a little chopped/minced garlic (I use jarred stuff) salt to taste. Mix it all together and it's a great side with lamb and beef.

    Greek-style salad- Mix together some roughly chopped Cucumber (again telegraph or lebanese are best), capsicum (looks great if you use yellow and red), olives, crumbled fetta, finely sliced red onion, cherry tomatoes cut in half. Drizzle with lemon juice, dried or fresh oregano and olive oil. Yum!

    Asian style beef salad- Some sort of beef steak, bbq'd and sliced finely, lettuce of your choice (I also used baby spinnach leaves), 1 large red capsicum sliced into thin strips, fresh bean sprouts, green shallots sliced, fresh coriander leaves, shredded fresh mint. Dress with about 1/4 cup lime juice, 1-2 tsp fish sauce, 1 tsp soy sauce, 1 tsp garlic (from a jar), 1-2 small fresh red chillies, finely chopped, pinch of caster sugar. Put it into a little jar or container and shake it up and its a great dressing!
    Last edited by MrsFabuloso; October 16th, 2011 at 01:40 PM.

  10. #10
    Registered User

    Apr 2010
    Foothills of the Blue Mountains, West Sydney, NSW
    421

    Omg these sound soooo delicious! Our favourite at the moment is just a simple salad with kalamata olives, cherry tomatoes, Greek fetta cheese, onion, balsamic vinegar and a dash of olive oil. A great side to meat dishes and stuff too.


    Sent from my iPhone more than likely while I should be doing something else!

  11. #11
    Registered User

    Jul 2010
    Toowoomba
    184

    Think a similar one has been mentioned by my fav is - baby spinach leaves, fresh beetroot (boiled), crumbled feta, toasted pinenuts, red onion, honey roasted pumpkin and avocado. We make a dressing with a balsamic reduction (you can buy this in a bottle at Woolies now), seeded mustard and olive oil. YUM!

  12. #12
    Registered User

    Aug 2007
    Melbourne - west
    528

    Mum makes an easy one. Cucumber salad with garlic/sour cream. I guess u cud use low fat sour cream.

    just chop the cucumber finely (peel it first).
    season with salt.
    add a little garlic (crushed)
    then a few spoons of sour cream. mix. Make it a few hours earlier so it softens (put in fridge of course).

    very easy and yummy.

  13. #13
    Registered User

    Apr 2009
    Perth, WA
    1,587

    My two favourites are:

    Pasta Salad - One packet of sprial pasta cooked. Chopepd up Chorizo slightly fries in a pan, feta, parmesen, sundried tomatos, black pitted olives, basil pesto Mix it all up and drizzle with olive oil.

    Warm thai chicken salad - Iceberg lettuce, cucumber, cherry tomatos, red onion, grilled chicked breasts sliced (I grill with chilli and garlic but you can use whatever you like). Mix together and then pour hot satay sauce over the top, yummo!!!

  14. #14

    Mar 2004
    Sparta
    12,662

    Another easy one that hasn't been posted is the green bean salad. Just blanch some green beans. Chop them roughly.
    Add some cherry tomatoes and dress with balsamic vinegar, salt, pepper and olive.
    You can also add shallots/red onions, a tiny bit of garlic, parsley, char grilled capsicum, tuna, walnuts and/or capers if you fancy any of them.

    I love the thai noodle and chicken salads with lime, fish sauce, sugar, mint, coriander, shallots and peanuts.