15+ Best Indian Salad Recipes (2024)

Indian cuisine is renowned for its diverse and delicious vegetarian main dishes, which include Paneer Butter Masala, Punjabi Chole, Dal Makhani, Biryani, and Pulao.

There are times we don't want to stuff our mouths with greasy, and deep-fried meals. Our favourite option during these situations is a salad. Salads are a great way to complement Indian food and balance out the spiciness and richness of the main course.

Salads are actually a diet enthusiast's favourite food. They do, after all, pack a variety of nutrients into a single bowl. For maintaining a healthy weight and radiant skin, it's essential to include fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet.

In most Indian households, a wholesome meal is always accompanied by a plateful of tomato, cucumber, and onion slices topped with lemon juice and chaat masala. This kind of salad is a must-have in every Indian meal.

Different Types Of Salads

Indian cuisine boasts a wide range of authentic salads, each with its own unique flavor and aroma, as well as diverse ingredient choices.

Some popular traditional Indian salads include Kosambari,Pachadi, Kachumbar, and Laccha Pyaaz.

You can easily make Indian salad recipes with a few Indian-style dressings, including salt, pepper, and lemon juice. They can also be made in the North Indian chaat style with green chutney and chaat masala, or with the addition of a traditional South Indian Classic Tempering with mustard seeds, curry leaves, and freshly grated coconut.

Make your own healthy Indian-style salads by selecting your favorite Indian herbs and spices, and then toss them with locally sourced produce.

Accompaniment Salad for Indian Food

Indian salads serve as a refreshing and nutritious accompaniment to the Indian main meal. They pair well with Indian curries, dals, and rice dishes.

They also go well as a side dish with Tandoori dishes like paneer tikka, tandoori gobi, kebabs, cutlets, etc.

Indian Onion Salad (Laccha Pyaaz)

Laccha pyaaz is a classic Indian onion salad recipe made with sliced onion rings, lemon juice, fresh herbs, and Indian spices.

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Kachumber Salad Recipe

Kachumber / Kuchumber Salad is a simple Indian salad recipe made with freshly diced cucumber, tomatoes, onions, chili peppers and lime juice

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Corn Pomegranate Kosambari

Sweet Corn Kosambari is a south Indian style salad made with corn, pomegranate, and coconut and tempered with a few spices. This can be served as a side dish with meals or can be eaten as a snack.

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Kakdi Koshimbir (Indian Cucumber Salad)

Kakdi Koshimbir is a simple and refreshing Indian Cucumber Salad made of cucumber, peanuts, coriander and few seasonings

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Sprouted Moong Salad Recipe

Easy, wholesome, and fresh, sprouted moong (mung) salad made from sprouts, fresh vegetables, herbs and, seasonings. Vegan, gluten-free, and oil-free.

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Boiled Peanut Salad | Boiled Peanut Chaat

Peanut vegetable salad is a healthy and nutritious Indian style salad made with boiled peanuts (groundnuts), raw vegetables, lemon, and few spices

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Chickpea Salad Recipe

This healthy Chickpea Cucumber Tomato Salad recipe is simple and ready in minutes made with fresh vegetables, herbs ,simple dressing and is Vegetarian + Vegan.

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Avocado Cucumber Tomato Salad

This healthy Avocado Tomato Cucumber Salad recipe is light, fresh and ready in minutes! Good side dish for pot lucks or summer picnics and is Vegetarian + Vegan + Whole30 + Paleo + Keto

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Kala Chana Chaat Recipe (Black Chickpea Salad)

The Kala Chana Chaat recipe is healthy, protein-packed, refreshing, and tangy, made with black chickpeas, onion, tomatoes, and a few Indian spices.

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Hesarubele Carrot Kosambari (Moong Dal Carrot Salad)

A South Indian style Moong dal Carrot salad recipe is simple, quick and easy made up of moong lentils rich in protein and vitamins.

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Cucumber Kosambari

Hesaru Bele Southekayi Kosambari or Cucumber Kosambari isa healthy and easy South Indian style salad recipe, from the state of Karnataka and is a part of every festive meal and celebration.

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Beetroot Chickpea Salad

This healthy beetroot chickpea salad is made with beets (boiled or roasted), chickpeas, cottage cheese (paneer), cucumber, red onion, and a tangy lemon vinaigrette.

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Black Eyed Peas Salad (Lobia Chaat)

The Black eyed peas salad (or lobia chaat) is a healthy, protein-packed recipe made with black-eyed peas, chopped veggies, and fresh herbs, all tossed in a bright, Indian-spice lemon dressing. Makes a perfect light lunch or side dish.

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Foxtail Millet Salad

Nutritious and protein-packed Millet Salad made with foxtail millet grains, chickpeas, and a medley of colorful vegetables.

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Chickpea Salad with Yogurt Dressing

Chickpea Cucumber Salad with yogurt dressing is a protein packed salad which comes together in 10 minutes.

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Sprouted Fenugreek/Methi Salad

Wholesome, high protein, sprouted methi salad recipe made from mung and fenugreek sprouts, fresh vegetables, herbs and, seasonings

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Indian Fruit Salad (With Chaat Masala)

The Fruit Chaat is a delicious, sweet, spicy & tangy Indian-style fruit salad recipe made with a combination of juicy seasonal fresh fruits flavored with chaat masala, mint leaves, lemon juice, and other spices.

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How to Build Your Own Indian Salads

Try adding various ingredients and textures to create a flavorful Indian salad. Here are some tips on how to do so.

1. Add Veggies & Greens- Some popular raw veggies that go in Indian salads are cucumber, tomatoes, carrots, onions, bell peppers, and cabbage. These veggies are packed with fiber and rich in essential vitamins and minerals. Add raw greens like lettuce, and baby spinach.
2. PickSeasonal Produce- Always pick the veggies and fruits that are in season, as they will taste fresh and delicious.
3. Dressings or Chutney - Indian salads are often served with green chutney made from mint and coriander or/and tamarind chutney and dressings made from lemon juice, oil, and Indian spices like cumin, coriander, turmeric, red chili powder, and chaat masala.
4. Add Protein- You can add plant-based protein sources like paneer (cottage cheese), and boiled legumes (like kidney beans, chickpeas, black-eyed peas, or lentils) for added nutrition.
5. Fresh Herbs - Top with fresh herbs such as mint and coriander leaves for a fresh and bright flavor.
6. Healthy Fats - Nuts, seeds, salad dressing, or tempering made from coconut oil or extra-virgin olive oil are great options. Nuts like walnuts, pistachios, almonds,peanuts, cashews, and seeds likepumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, and flax seeds, are great salad toppings. Toast the nuts first to bring out their flavor.
7. Add crunchy salad toppings - Top your Indian salads with crunchy elements such as sev, boondi, roasted peanuts, fried cashews, roasted chickpeas, or papads to add extra texture and flavor to each bite.
8. Add some sweetness - Sometimes Indian salads also include sweet elements such as golden raisins, and fruits like pomegranate arils, or diced apples.

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15+ Best Indian Salad Recipes

Bhavana Patil

You will find a list of 15+ best Indian vegetarian and vegan salad recipes that are healthy and nutritious.