Add chicken, fish or beef to your salad to make it more filling.
Eating healthy doesn't always produce the most exciting meals to tantalize your taste buds, especially if you are eating salads. However, just because you're having a salad for lunch doesn't mean your taste buds have to suffer. There are many recipes for creative salads that will satisfy your need for good-tasting food without expanding your waistline. Ingredients such as quinoa, watermelon and chilies can turn an otherwise boring salad into a delicious meal.
Quinoa Avacado Salad
Quinoa is a gluten-free, grain-like product that is a source of protein and contains lots of nutrients. To make a quinoa salad with avocado, rinse the quinoa with cold water to improve its taste, and remove the saponins from the seeds, which can give it a bitter taste. Cook the quinoa and, while it cooks, chop up the avocados and thinly slice some green onions, radishes and cucumbers. Mix a dressing of lime juice, cumin, salt and olive oil. When the quinoa has cooled, toss it with the other vegetables and the desired amount of dressing. Add black pepper to taste.
Watermelon Feta Salad
Watermelon and feta are two opposing tastes --- sweet and bitter --- that go surprisingly well together in this summery salad. To make this salad, cut the watermelon into bite-sized cubes, and place them in a large salad bowl. Chop up a small bunch of basil, and put it into the bowl, along with 2 tbsp. of fresh lime juice. Divide the watermelon mixture onto four plates, and crumble feta cheese on top. Season with salt and pepper. Substitute light feta cheese to cut down on a few calories.
Thai Mango Salad
If you enjoy sweet and spicy flavors, a Thai mango salad might be the ideal salad to satisfy your hunger. To make this salad, toast peanuts in a skillet until they are golden brown, and set them aside for later use. Then, cut out the pit of the mango, peel it, and slice it lengthwise. Thinly slice red bell pepper and carrots, and set them aside. Make a dressing of olive oil, lime juice, fish sauce, sugar, hot pepper, and salt and pepper to taste. Mix the sliced mango and vegetables in a bowl with mixed greens, green onions and mint. Toss with the dressing.
Picotica Salad
Picotica salads are often served alongside Mexican dishes --- they contain red chilies and are spicy, just like the dishes they accompany. Cut red and yellow bell peppers, cucumber and carrots into cubes. Mix the vegetables with chili paste, lemon juice, cumin seed powder, and salt and pepper to taste. Toss the salad in a large bowl so the vegetables become saturated with the spicy dressing.
Tags: lime juice, pepper taste, salt pepper, dishes they, feta cheese, green onions