Substantial salads

[MrsKippling]

Like many people, I have overindulged over the festive season and am feeling so bloated and ugh! Craving some lovely healthy food.

I have loads of lovely healthy soups I'm planning to load the freezer with but my salads are never very exciting. I wish I was one of those people who could be full on a small portion of protein and some leaves, but unfortunately I have a huge appetite so am after some lovely healthy filling salad recipes. I don't eat fish other than tuna and am not keen on cheese but feel free to share any recipes as it may inspire others 😊.

Cucumber, red pepper, onion, tomatoes, orzo pasta, seasoned with salt and lemon juice.

This is one of my favourite salads - really filling, tatsy and healthy. You could substitute the feta for cubes of crispy fried tofu if you don't like cheese.

Fast 800 lentil, courgette, feta and beetroot salad

I buy those Merchant Gourmet packets of quinoa (or fucking quinoa as it’s known in this house).
Add diced cucumber, red pepper and red onion
Drained tin of chickpeas
Diced beetroot (vacuum pack - the chilli one is nice)
Feta
Drop of olive oil, lemon juice, herbs if I’ve got them, salt and pepper and a bit of paprika
This makes a big bowl full and then I add leaves to a portion when I want to eat/take to work

At the risk of revealing just quite how obsessed I've become with salads...

This one is good too: Crispy Kale and Quinoa Salad

And this one: Chopped Salad with Spinach, Butternut Squash, Apples & Cheddar

And: Ultimate Superfood Salad

And: Cranberry, walnut and chickpea salad

And: Sichuan-Style Asparagus and Tofu Salad

And: Spinach & Warm Mushroom Salad

And: Spicy Beetroot, Leek and Walnut Salad

And: Chargrilled mackerel with sweet & sour beetroot

And in case it's useful... I recently discovered it's possible to cook beetroot in the slow cooker and roast garlic too (latter very good for salad dressings).

In both cases, prep as you would for roasting whole in the oven.

I'm another one who struggles with cold salads in the winter - I'm not a fan.

I do big batches of roasted veg; sweet potato, peppers, courgettes, onions, cauliflower, cherry tomatoes, anything else really. Then add a spoonful of pesto and some feta crumbled over the top - yum. You can add some sunflower seeds or similar but a bit of extra protein but I find that much more filling than cold salads.

This sounds yum

I go to M&S to seek inspiration from their readymade salads.

The thing is I feel hungry a few hours later in winter there has to be some sort of protein or carb - eggs ? Bit stinky or you could add croutons . Agree that summer is so much easier as you can add fruits etc - ottelingihi ( can’t spell ) has great recipes check it out

I use pulses to give my salads some more substance, or you could always chuck in a few cold boiled potatoes?

@RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie
fucking quinoa, brilliant !

(also cheekily placemarking for inspiration when I’m stuck )

I often make a big tub of mixed salad topping (not sure how best to describe it!) Things like chopped tomatoes, cucumber, beetroot, peppers, onion, celery, maybe a few sundried tomatoes in oil, olives, capers, raisins, pickled chillies, chickpeas, borlotti beans, cooked broccoli or cauliflower... plus herbs and spices, vinegar or lemon juice, olive oil. I try to choose combinations that I think will work. Mix it all up and allow the flavours to develop. Then I can add it to a bed of salad leaves, use as a jacket potato topping, mix with cold cooked pasta etc. It keeps in the fridge for a few days.

I love a salad. I bought some butternut squash and courgette to roast to add to my usual of leaves, cucumber,tomato and onion. Loving all these suggestions.

Cubed and roasted salt & pepper tofu is quite filling. I add it to whatever suitable leafy stuff is in the fridge, it also works with tuna. I add cucumber, tomatoes, beetroot, avocado, sliced raw mushrooms, cauliflower, peppers either raw or roasted, grated carrot, red cabbage salad - sliced, crushed up with salt and left for a while, then rinsed thoroughly and squeezed. Anything else you fancy, chuck it in. Olive oil over the top and bread if you eat it.

I just make a big salad out of all the suitable veg in my fridge, chuck in some tinned pulses and either tuna or some chopped up cold meat (chorizo, salami, ham etc or some leftover roast chicken), olives or sundried tomatoes if I have any. I either add some homemade vinaigrette or some out of a jar. Sometimes I sprinkle some pumpkin seeds or pine nuts on top.

Following for ideas

or fucking quinoa as it’s known in this house

It's fucking quinoa in my house too, because Dh thinks it's wanky, and it gives me vicious stomach pains!

Fucking quinoa here ever since dp and I tried to have a pub tea in a rather nice part of London, and the veggie options everywhere were either vegan burgers or fucking quinoa when I wanted pie and chips!

Wow some fabulous ideas. Thanks all. Will definitely be trying loads of them! Have cowboy caviar and the Tiktok green goddess one,as well as a squash and pearl barley one planned for the next week.

Tonight I've had this Nando's inspired one. It was really nice. I added peri peri chicken though.

I have also made a big batch of boiled eggs, roasted a load of veg, made up some chicken tikka & lots of turkey kofta/meatball things to and think I will try roasting some chickpeas too that someone mentioned. Stocked up on pickled jalapeños, olives, cabbage etc to keep things interesting.

I've just made a version of Claudia Roden's vegetable cous cous.

I didn't make that much and used a slightly different mix of veg and cheated by using sweet chilli sauce instead of making tomato jam but it is absolutely delicious and I'll definitely be making it again.

I watched a YouTube video by tasty called how to make salads tasty

1. cut up into small pieces, esp ice berg lettuce or bell pepper
2. salt and pepper (season) the salad

Also, there is a blog that did copycat leon super food salad that is amazing

Croutons are great. I use Gordon Ramsay recipe to make ends of loaves into croutons

Some fab ideas. I love warm salads in winter - roasting veg and adding it to leaves, or cooking salmon and/or lentils. Makes it feel much more comforting in winter.

I’m in a similar state (aren’t we all) but I can’t be doing with the time spent making big salads. At Tesco you can buy the BOL tubs which seem quite healthy with lots of veg for about £2.10 at the moment, with £4 off a £12 spend so I’m trying some of those this week!

Yesterday's lunch: Sesame Ginger Chicken Salad

We are having a warm roasted butternut salad tomorrow for dinner. I roast cubes of butternut then toss with baby spinach leaves. Top with lightly chopped walnuts and crumbled blue cheese. Dressing is usually lemon, honey and mustard.

I've also done it with chilli flakes when roasted and served with pine nuts and goats cheese rather than walnut and the blue cheese. Similar dressing but less mustard.

I don't like sweet potato but have been known to buy those packs of sweet potato/butternut mix to make it for convenience. Might be more filling as well that way (I usually serve it with some garlic bread for the boys).

Thai beef noodle salad is a bit of a faff so NOT an easy one, but delicious and it's one I've made if a girlfriend is coming over and we want something light but still nice:
Cook fine rice noodles by soaking in hot water
Cook a steak to desired doneness (recommend medium rare)
Create salad base - I usually use a mix of salad leaves, some finely sliced peppers, cucumbers and carrots
Make the dressing: chop lots of mint finely. Chop lots of fresh coriander finely. Chop chilli finely (to taste). Mix with soy sauce and lime juice (I think roughly 2 parts lime to 1 part soy).
Mix noodles and salad. Slice steak and add. Add sauce.
Top with crushed peanuts, if you like.