Vegetable Pasta Salad

Ingredients:
1 packet vegetable rotini pasta,
1 cup frozen peas,1 tomato, chopped,
2 carrots, sliced,
4 spring onions, sliced, (white and green up to 3/4th of top) ,
1 cucumber, chopped,
1/2 red pepper, chopped,
1/2 green pepper, chopped,
1 stalk broccoli florets,
1/2 head cauliflower florets, chopped
Black pepper to taste,1 tsp basil leaves (dried),
1/2 cup honey,
1/2 cup mustard paste.

Method:
Cook pasta according to package directions, add peas for the last few minutes and drain. Place in a large bowl and mix with remaining vegetables and spices. In another bowl, blend honey with the mustard paste and pour this dressing on the top, starting with 1/2 cup and adding more if necessary.

Tip:
If you donot find rotini pasta, you can try any other shell pasta.

Cilantro Pesto Pasta Salad

Ingredients:
500gms rigatoni or shell or any other small pasta,
1/2 cup olive oil,
1 cup fresh cilantro leaves, washed,
2 cloves garlic, crushed,
1/4 tsp dried oregano leaves,
1/4 cup pine nuts(optional),
1/2 cup sliced black olives,
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste.

Method:
Cook the pasta according to package directions, drain well. In blender, blend oil, cilantro, garlic and oregano until smooth. Toss pasta with dressing; toss in pine nuts and olives; season to taste with salt and pepper. Cover and refrigerate. Toss again before serving.

Nutrition Facts:Calories 370 calories

Tips:
1. Use Extra Virgin Olive oil for rich flavour and nutrition.
2. You can add some parmesan cheese to the salad if you are not watching out calaories.

Jelly Veggie Salad

Ingredients:
1 packet jelly (your choice),
1 cup cabbage shredded,
1 cup carrot chopped,
1 sprig spring onion finely chopped,
1 tomato, chopped,
1 capsicum small chopped,
1 apple, chopped,
2 pineapple slices,
1/2 tbsp coriander finely chopped,
Salt and pepper to taste,
1/2 tsp ground sugar,
1 tsp white vinegar.

Method:
Set jelly as per instructions on packet.Meanwhile place any empty salad bowl in the fridge to chill.When jelly is well-set cut into tiny cubes.Remove the bowl from fridge. Chop apple and pineapple to pieces.Fill it with cabbage, carrot, capsicum, apple, pineapple, spring onion.Sprinkle salt, pepper, vinegar and sugar. Add jelly pieces.Toss with chopsticks or fork.Garnish with slices of tomato and coriander. Serve chilled.

Making time: 10 minutes (excluding jelly-setting time)
Makes: 6-7 servings

Indian Pasta Salad

Ingredients:
1-1/2cup water,
1/3cup toasted cashew pieces,
1/4cup lemon juice,
2tbsp ghee,
1tbsp mustard seeds,
1/2 to 1tsp red chilli powder,
1/4 tsp asafoetida,
3 tomatoes, deseeded and diced,
300gms thin vermicelli,
250gms thin green beans, stemmed,
Salt and pepper to taste,
1/2 cup chopped cilantro(corriander).

Method: Place the water, half of nuts, and the lemon juice in a blender; process until smooth. Heat ghee add mustard seeds. When they crackle add asafoetida. Then add tomatoes, chilli powder and cashew puree; remove from heat. Bring a large pot of salted water to boil; add the green beans. When the beans are just shy of cooked, stir in the vermicelli. Cook until the pasta is tender but firm. Drain well and add the pasta to the ingredients in the saucepan. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in the remaining cilantro and garnish with the remaining cashews.

Healthy Salad

Ingredients:
1 head red cabbage, shredded,
1 large red Bermuda onion, sliced thin,
1 medium or large cucumber, sliced thin,
1 large tomato, sliced thin,
1 can chickpeas, drained, (Or soak 250 gms chickpeas overnight and boil in water with some salt),
1 cup extra virgin olive oil,
1 cup wine vinegar,
Salt and pepper to taste.

Method:
Mix all salad ingredients in a large bowl. Mix oil and vinegar in a separate bowl and add to salad.
Salt and pepper to taste.

Tips:
1. Add lemon juice instead of oil.
2. If you do not like chickpeas or want other beans in the salad feel free to experiment.
3. Use Garlic and oregano to taste.

Introduction

Gone are the days when salads were served as a side dish along with your regular meal or we ate soup only at the restaurants. Who does not like to eat burgers, pizzas, lots of meat and fries? But this unhealthy junk food has driven people to be health conscious. And salads and soups have become a daily diet for most of us.

Today most of us are taking efforts to get a perfect body by exercising and maintaining their diet. Replace one of your meals with lots of salads and a soup and you will do the bit that is necessary to live a healthy life.

This blog would give you a complete range of healthy, rich in nutrition and truly appetizing salads and soups.