Sweet Salad in Creamy Yogurt Sauce

Summer call with little rain here and there. Bell peppers are my favorite with their endless health benefits needless to say about other vegetables though, Bell peppers still top my chart during this weather.

This is another quick easy salads of mine with yogurt after the cucumber salad. You can make your own twist to this and make the salad interesting.

I have used apple and grapes in the salad, with some sweetness in the yogurt sauce.

For Salad : Use vegetables and fruits of your choice.

For Sauce :
1 - cup yogurt/curd
Chopped mint leaves
Crushed cumin - to taste
Crushed pepper - to taste
Lemon Juice - 1/2 t.spn
Orange Juice - 3-4 tb.spn
Sugar - to taste
Salt - 1 pinch
Sesame Oil - 1 tb.spn (Optional)
Chat Masala - 1 t.spn (optional)

Preparation:

1. Take yogurt, if thick add water bring to a creamy pouring consistency using a whisker.
2. Add all other ingredients, mix well. Check seasoning.
3. Refrigerate the Sauce. 

Just before serving, in a mixing bowl add the vegetables, pour the sauce over it, toss well. 

This tastes best when chilled. Do not mix it and store. If you are to carry for lunch or snack pack these to separate and mix just before having.

Summer Delight - Quick Salad with creamy yogurt, mint dressing

Summer ...here I come ! First vegetable that comes to our mind and available in market during Indian Summer is Cucumber. It's also consumed during other seasons, but we see vendors selling all over the country during this time.

If you are tried of having the regular plain cucumber for salad we have a yummy, yet easy to prepare salad, filled with the richness of yogurt and the sweetness of mint.

Here is what you need:

• Diced cucumber as shown in picture. 
• Whisked yogurt - ensure you add little water whisk and bring to a creamy pour-able consistency
• Chopped mint leaves
• Crushed cumin - 1/2 t.spn
• Crushed pepper - 1/2 t.spn
• Chat masala - 1/2 t.spn (optional)
• Lemon juice - 1 t.spn
• Sugar - 1 - 2 tb.spn
• A pinch of Salt

In a bowl add all ingredients except cucumber, whisk well and taste for seasoning. Add anything if required. Finally add the dressing to cucumber and toss well. Refrigerate and serve. It's very refreshing and filling.

You may add little olive oil or add in olives or other seasoning as per your taste.

Let me know how you liked this, and suggest other alternate for this.

You may also try this summer delight recipe, with rice / curd / cucumber / carrot.

Quick Salad with Unripe Watermelon

We bought plenty of small sized watermelons during summer as its seasonal here in India. Unfortunately one was white hardly we could see any red color in it. Left in fridge for couple of days to decide to make something with it than throwing it away. Thought of blending and making some kind of juice but then made my mind to make a refreshing salad as its summer. It tasted a bit like cucumber though not sweet. I cut them into small pieces and removed the seeds before preparing the salad. You can top it up with any green vegetables you have such as bell peppers, mint or basil, lettuce etc. I only had tomato and some fresh coriander leaves so used that.

Ingredients:

1. Watermelon - 1 bowl - cut and seedless
2. Tomato - Large 1 - Cut in halves and remove the pulp , then slice or chop.
3. Coriander leaves - a bunch finely chopped
4. Salt - as per taste
5. Chaat masala - 1 tb spn
6. Cumin seeds - crushed 1/4 tb spn
7. Honey - 1/2 tb spn (optional)
8. Lime juice - 1/2 tb (optional)

Preparation:

1. In a large bowl, put the cut watermelon, tomato and coriander leaves along with any other vegetables chosen.
2. Sprinkle all other ingredients mix and toss nicely. Taste for seasoning and add if required.
3. Refrigerate for 15 - 30 minutes and serve chilled.