Friendship Day 2023 recipe special: Summer salads to binge with your best friend

Looking for a delightful summer meal to enjoy with your best friend this Friendship Day? Try these 3 summer salads and thank us later

Summer salads are a refreshing and delightful choice for warm weather so this Friendship Day 2023, embrace the opportunity to relax, chat and savour the summer flavours with your favourite people by trying your hands on some delicious summer salad recipes that you can whip up for your best friend. Visit local farmers' markets together to pick out the freshest and most colourful ingredients for your salads, turn salad-making into a friendly competition, divide into teams and see who can come up with the most creative and delicious salad using a pre-determined set of ingredients.

As for you, we got you sorted with some classic summer salad recipes with more exotic combinations that are not only visually appealing but also convenient to carry and enjoy on-the-go. If you are looking for a delightful summer meal to enjoy with your best friend this Friendship Day, try these 3 summer salads and thank us later:

1. AG Diet Salad

AG Diet Salad (Chef Amiel Guerin)

Portion: 1 serving | Duration: 45 mins

Ingredients

White Quinoa 125 gms

Finger millet 100 gms

Roasted Pumpkin25 gms

Mixed Nuts 20 gms

Mixed seeds 13 gms

Lemon-Honey dressing 55 gms

Imported Orange 19 gms

Pomegranate 25gms

Lemon Honey Dressing

Lemon Juice	70	gms
Sunflower oil	140	gms
Extra virgin olive oil	70	gms
Fresh Thyme	1	gms
Shallots	1	gms
Dijon Mustard	8	gms
Honey	10	gms

Method for dressing -

Blend lemon juice, chopped shallots, fresh thyme and honey together. Mix extra virgin olive oil and sunflower oil together and then blend it into the lemon mixture to make an emulsion.

Add salt, pepper, and mustard and blend further to season and stabilize the dressing. Finally, add pistachio powder if required and give a gentle mix.

Method for salad -

Mix boiled quinoa, finger millet, orange segments, pomegranate seeds and roasted pumpkin. Add the required amount of lemon–honey dressing to the salad and mix. Add salt, and pepper to season.

Plate the salad and garnish it with a mixture of roasted nuts and seeds. Some more orange segments and pomegranate seeds can be added to the top of the salad to increase visual appeal.

2. Fruity Greek Salad

Fruity Greek Salad (Chef Amiel Guerin)

Portion: 1 serving | Duration: 30 mins

Ingredients

Organic Lettuce	50	gms
Figs	15	gms
Colored bell pepper	15	gms
Cherry tomatoes	20	gms
Black Olives	15	gms
Pomegranate	25	gms
Feta	30	gms
Cucumber	20	gms
Watermelon	45	gms
Balsamic Dressing	30	gms
Mango	10	gms

Balsamic Dressing

Olive Oil	100	gms
Balsamic Vinegar	30	gms
Dijon Mustard	3	gms

Method for dressing -

Mix Balsamic vinegar, Olive Oil and Dijon mustard. Season with salt and black pepper.

Method for salad -

Mix all the ingredients mentioned apart from the dressing. Add the dressing to the salad and season with salt and black pepper. Garnish with watermelon, figs, pomegranate seeds and mango.

3. Tomato and Mozzarella Salad

Tomato and Mozzarella Salad (Chef Amiel Guerin)

Portion: 1 serving | Duration: 20 mins

Ingredients

Monterosa tomato	200	gms
Mozzarella di bufala	55	gms
Pesto	5	gms
Tomato coulis	20	gms
Gastrique tomato	10	gms
Extra virgin olive oil	7	gms
Organic lettuce	15	gms
Balsamic dressing	5	gms
Basil	2	gms
Microgreens & Watercress	20	gms

Tomato Coulis

Tomato	500	gms
Red Vine Vinegar	15	gms
Extra Virgin Olive Oil	90	gms
Basil	5	gms

Method for Tomato Coulis -

Blanch, skin and deseed the tomatoes. Blend with all other ingredients mentioned above.

Method for salad -

Slice tomatoes and buffalo mozzarella cheese. Dress with extra virgin olive oil, salt and pepper. Make a salad with lettuce, gastrique tomatoes. Dress with balsamic dressing.

Alternate and arrange the tomatoes and mozzarella on a big dollop of tomato coulis. Place a handful portion of salad on the side. Garnish with gastrique tomatoes, basil, pesto, watercress and microgreens.

(Recipes: Chef Amiel Guerin)