Make these 4 easy tried-and-tested salad recipes at home this summer

WHO says salads are all green and no taste We love a good mixed bowl and the usual complaints against this versatile dish donrsquot stand a chance Donrsquot think thisrequires exotic vegetables precisely measured complicated dressings and deft tossing Think that it takes half the prep and cooking time and effort than Indian subzis What a boon in the scorching summer right And the fact is most people stay away from making salads at home but donrsquot mind shelling out big bucks at their favourite joint Wersquore about to let you in on a secretItrsquos less about the veggies and more about the dressings And it doesnrsquot help to load up on ingredients to make it lsquotasty enoughrsquo for our Indian palate Instead keep it mild by striking the right balance with veggies and fruits and drizzle one of our top four easy and affordable dressingsTastes like summerNothing spells summer better than citrus fruits but sometimes the trusty lemon needs a break the tang of orange juice fills the shoes very well and is perfect for those hot summer lunches or light dinners While it might be hard to find oranges this season you can always go for bottled organic orange juicepulp that has no added sugar or preservatives Pair it with vegetables that have high fibre content to balance the fructose levels of the juice Note that this salad is highly perishable and will not last at room temperatures in the city Take it to work only if your office has a refrigeratorIngredients12 tsp balsamic vinegar1 tsp mustard sauce1 tbsp honey12 cup orange juice2 to 3 tsp lime juice1 tbsp olive oilA few garlic cloves choppedFreshdried herbsSalt and pepperMethodMix all the ingredients beat well and keep refrigeratedGoes best with 12 cup stirfried chopped or sliced bell pepper English cucumber broccoli zucchini and mushrooms optional boiled and shredded chicken optionalPro tip Keep boiled chicken handy at all times Boil around half a kilo of chicken with bones and use the broth for a quick cold lettuce soupKorean twistOur salad dressing for the Korean twist includes the versatile ingredient gochujang PicPradeep DhivarThis Korean hot favourite fermented sauce is spicy savoury and slightly sweet but so much more complex than other hot sauces Gochugaru chilli flakes glutinous rice fermented soybeans malted barley and salt are left to ferment together in large earthenware pots We like how versatile it is going into dips and stirfries alike In salad form it is traditionally eaten with cabbage and cucumber but we usually toss in whatever is availableThe twist we bring to it is the hint of tang and spice with orange juice and honey You can always add more gochujang if you want it to be spicier but we wouldnrsquot recommend it in this heat Both the salad and the vegetables can be prepared and stored in the refrigerator overnightIngredients2 tbsp gochujang1 tbsp honeyFew baby carrots julienned12 tsp chilli flakes12 tsp of olive oilPinch of pepperMethodPut ingredients in a jar and shake well and refrigerate overnight to let the carrots soak in the gochujang flavours Add the dressing to veggies right before you eatGoes best with 12 cup of stirfried broccoli capsicum and bell peppers 12 cup handtorn lettuceAdd the tadkaMuga Kosimbiri is the tastiest desi salad wersquove ever had Usually served at summer weddings in the South and as prasadam in Karnataka the only dressing here is the tadka Extremely pocketfriendly and even more filling it wears glutenfree vegan and healthy tags too Itrsquos a meal on its own getting the sweetness from seasonal fruit and the spice punch from chilliesIngredients2 tbsp gheecoconut oil2 to 3 green chillies1 tsp hingPinch of cuminCurry leavesMethodHeat oil and add the tadka ingredients and pour over the ingredients Mix with moong dal and serveGoes best with Soaked yellow moong dal grated carrot fresh coconut mango coriander salt and sugar to tasteFresh and fruityWhen working with strong flavours in both the dressing and the salad itrsquos an art to pair them right Fruit salads are the quickest to make peeling time included if you are a pro and the coloursrefresh the mind Ingredients3 tbsp lime juice1 tbsp honey1 tbsp orange juice12 tbsp olive oilPinch of saltMethodWhisk the juices together and adjust proportions as per your taste Refrigerate until you are ready to pour on the fruitsGoes best with 1 cup mango 12 cup pineapple 12 cup musk melon 12 cup green apple and figs optional