The Healthy Tasty Cucumber Papaya Salad

Recently my husband was reading a classic book written by Harvey Diamond "Fit for Life Not Fat For Life" which advocates the importance of living food. The secret formula Harvey Diamond advocates is 50% Living Food 50% Cooked Food.The middle path proposed by harvey diamond is the best path and so does our ancient indian tradition of ayurveda. 

I have found this salad so delightfull that I have begun to have it first thing in the morning at breakfast and a great source of energy to begin the day. This light refreshing salad is the perfect combination that will delight your family and can be served to your family whenever they feel like snacking.

Papaya is highly recognized for its antioxidant properties, its fiber content, natural laxative abilities, and the enzymes that help with balancing stomach acid for healthy digestion. Cucumber contains 95% water and eating them is a great way to keep yourself hydrated.And with tomatoes rich in vitamin C, Collagen, the skins support system, is reliant on vitamin C as an essential nutrient that works in our bodies as an antioxidant to help prevent damage caused by the sun, pollution and smoke, smooth wrinkles and improve overall skin texture...

Ingredients

• 1 cup chopped papaya
• 1 cup chopped cucumber
• 1/4 chopped tomatoes
• 1/2 tbsp chopped cilantro / coriander leaves
• 1 tsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1/2 tsp lemon juice
• salt and pepper to taste

Procedure

Mix all the above ingredients nicely in a big bowl and refridgerate for 1/2 hr

Serve chilled

Wholesome and Healthy Apple Barley Salad

Yesterday I was watching Sanjeev Kapoors "Cook Smart" on foodfood channel. He described some good recipes with barley. This salad was a amazing fusion of colors and flavor and I tried it out today.

The salad has a unique flavor that blends all the ingredients into one wholesome salad that is filling and healthy.I used some garden fresh mint that made it very aromatic too.

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup barley
• 1 medium size apple
• 1 tbsp chopped mint leaves,parsley and cilantro leaves
• 1/2 tsp honey
• 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tsp lemon
• 3 tbsp shredded lettuce
• 2 tbsp roasted melon seeds
• 2-3 tbsp apple juice
• salt and pepper to taste

Procedure
Roast the barley lightly, add 3/4th cup water and pressure cook for 3 whistles and 10 minutes in sim.

Cut the apples in small chuncks. Toast the melon seeds lightly and keep aside. Now in a salad bowl add chopped apple chuncks, cooked barley lettuce and all the above ingredients (greens,honey,olive oil,lemon,apple juice) with salt and pepper to taste.Stir nicely.

Top the salad with the roasted melon seeds and stir lightly. Refridgerate add serve chilled.

A flavorful crunchy and cheesy salad

Lifestyle has become fast paced with little time for nutrition, salads can be healthy, satisfying meals on their own or perfect accompaniments to main dishes.

This salad is a combination of fresh chrunchy veggies,fruits,nuts and feta cheese tossed with a yummy dressing.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup diced cucumber
• 1 cup shredded lettuce
• 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes
• 1/4 cup pitted olives
• 1/4 cup feta cheese cubes
• 1/4 pomegranate seeds
• 1 tbsp chopped walnuts

For dressing

• 6-7 mint leaves
• 2 garlic cloves
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp honey
• 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 1 chopped green chilli
• a pinch of black pepper
• a few drops of lemon juice
• 1/4 tsp himalayan salt 

Procedure

Mix all the above in a salad bowl and give it a nice toss then refrigerate to 15 min and serve chilled

Crunchy Sweet Corn Walnut Salad

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Recently my hubby has fallen in love with salads and I was looking out for salads with different flavors. I noticed in some of them balsamic vinegar is used commonly for salads.Surprisingly he came one day with a bottle of balsamic vinegar, it looked like a wine bottle !!

So it was decided I had to make a lot of varieties of salads , so here is one recipe

Ingredients

• 1 cup sweet corn kernels
• 1 tbsp chopped spring onions
• 1/4 cup diced tomato
• 1 tbsp chopped walnuts
• 1/2 tsp olive oil
• 1/2 tsp black pepper powder
• 1/2 tsp mustard powder
• 1 tsp balsamic vinegar
• salt to taste

Preparation

Microwave the corn for 2 min and once it cools mix all the above ingredients and refridgerate for minimum half hour

Serve chilled

Pomegranate Cucumber Sesame Salad

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Pomegranates are being hailed as a super-food which can protect the heart.

Scientists in Israel have shown that drinking a daily glass of the fruit's juice can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

"Pomegranate juice contains the highest antioxidant capacity compared to other juices, red wine and green tea," said Professor Michael Aviram, who led the team.

This is good news, for antioxidants are the naturally occurring substances in plants that protect the body from free radicals - 'bad' chemicals in the blood.

Free radicals alter cholesterol in a process known as oxidation, which is thought to speed up the hardening of the arteries.

In studies at the Rambam Medical Center in Haifa, the juice of the fruit was found to slow down cholesterol oxidation by almost half, and reduce the retention of LDL.

That is the 'bad' cholesterol which forms atherosclerotic lesions, the fatty deposits which narrow the arteries and lead to heart disease.

"Antioxidants can protect us against the oxidative stress in our industrialised world, such as pollution, chemicals, viruses and bacteria, and consequently cardiovascular diseases and cancer," said Professor Aviram.

Source - http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3937053.stm

Pomegranate Cucumber Sesame Salad

Ingredients

• 1 cup pomegranate seeds
• 1 cup chopped cucumber
• 2 tbsp chopped cabbage
• 1 tsp toasted sesame seeds
• 1/4 tsp honey
• 1/4 tsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp extra vergin olive oil
• 1/4 tsp finely chopped green chilli
• salt to taste

Procedure

In a bowl add the olive oil,honey, lemon juice, toasted sesame seeds with salt and mix nicely.
Now add the pomegranate, cabbage, cucumber and green chilli.

Toss well and serve chilled.

I am sending this salad to Pia wonderful event : Innovative Salads

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