Staying hydrated when summer comes, is a harder task and so here are a few delicious summer salads to keep you hydrated!

As the temperature rises outside, you are naturally more tempted towards biting into ice creams and gelatos. But these treats may not be a good option to keep you hydrated during summers. To help you out, we have put together a list of five refreshingly delicious salads to enjoy all summer long. Packed with powerful vitamins and antioxidants, these salads will keep you hydrated by contributing to your overall fluid intake. Additionally, these salads will help keep your sweet tooth under control, keeping your waistline in check.

1) Cucumber and mint salad:
This salad recipe is easy, delicious as well as healthy. Cucumbers are a great source of sustained energy plus they can keep you hydrated throughout the day. Both cucumber and mint are best known for their minerals and vitamins, but they are more than just nutritional powerhouses. They are an amazing way to detoxify your body.

Recipe:
During the summer months, one craves for something refreshing which tastes good but isn’t too heavy on the tummy. And salads fit the bill perfectly. But if you are bored of eating too many raw veggies in your salad, try this cucumber and mint one which has a light lemon dressing. This makes it absolutely summer-friendly. Nutritionist Naini Setalvad shares the recipe of this delicious and healthy salad below.

Ingredients:

• 300g cucumbers chopped in small cubes
• ½ cup pomegranate
• ½ cup mint leaves (pudina) finely chopped
• 2 tsp til (sesame) seeds
• 1 green chilli, finely chopped (optional)
• Salt and lemon juice to taste

Method:

• Peel and cut the cucumber in small cubes and put it in a bowl.
• Add pomegranate, til seeds and mint leaves in the bowl.
• Add salt and lemon to taste.
• Add finely chopped green chilli (optional).
• Mix well.
• Serve chilled.

2) Cucumber mango salad:

If you are craving for something cold as well as sweet this summer, you must dive into this salad. Being rich in both vitamins and fibre, it cleanses your system and bolsters your immunity.

Recipe:Here’s a cool cucumber and mango salad to keep you refreshed and healthy in the summer months. All ingredients used in it enhance its taste and add a zing to it to make it more flavorful and yummy.Ingridients:

• 2 medium cucumbers cut into dices
• 1 medium just ripe mango cut into dices
• 1/4 cup chopped coriander
• 4 teaspoons light soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon grated sweet lime zest
• 2 tablespoon sweet lime juice
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 teaspoon light brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vinegar
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper

Method:

• Whisk soy sauce to taste, sweet lime zest, sweet lime juice, oil, brown sugar, vinegar and crushed red pepper in a large bowl until they combine properly.
• Add cucumber, mango and coriander and gently toss to coat them with the mix.
• Serve garnished with lime zest, if desired.
• You can make this salad and cover and refrigerate up to 1 hour.

3)Tomato-Chaat Salad:

This cool and refreshing smoothie can be the perfect antidote during summers. The juicy and sweet watermelon, which is 95% water, boosts your fluid intake. Besides, consuming this salad will boost your vitamin C and A intake that is important for your eye health.
Recipe:Eating watermelon can help prevent heart disease by halting the build-up of harmful LDL cholesterol. Tomatoes on the other hand are a good source of calcium and vitamin A. Both of these fruits are low in calories and are fitting for people on a weight loss diet. But the chaat flavour certainly adds a zing to it, making this salad apt for the Indian palate.Ingredients:

• ½ watermelon  

For dressing 

• 2 tbsp olive oil   
• ½ tsp cumin seeds  
• ½ tsp mustard seeds
• ½ tsp chopped ginger   
• ½ chopped onion  
• Salt to taste 
• Crushed black pepper to taste 
• 2 tsp lemon juice   
• 1 tbsp finely chopped mint leaves   
• 2 tomatoes 

For salad 

• 1 cucumber slices  
• 2 – 4 radish slices  
• Chopped coriander as required 
• Chopped mint leaves as required 
• ¼ tsp chaat masala   
• 1 tsp lemon juice   
• ½ tsp black salt   
• ½ tsp oil   

For garnish 

• Few papad strips

Method:

• Few papad strips

Method

• Cut the watermelon. Discard the cover and remove into bowl. 
• To prepare dressing heat olive oil on a pan. Add cumin seeds, mustard seeds, chopped ginger, chopped onions, salt, crushed black pepper, lemon juice and mix well. 
• Add this dressing to the chopped pieces of watermelon. Now add chopped mint leaves. 
• Chop the tomatoes into slices and add to the watermelon mixture. Keep this mixture in the fridge to chill. 
• For garnish chop the cucumber slices into strips and finely chop the raddish slices too. Add chopped coriander, chopped mint leaves, chaat masala, lemon juice, black salt, oil and mix well. 
• Remove the watermelon mixture from the fridge. 
• On a plate place the marinated watermelon and tomatoes. Garnish with cucumber raddish salad. 
• Decorate with papad strips.

4)Lettuce and strawberry salad:

Want to try something different? Try this lettuce and strawberry salad. Indulging in this salad will not only provide you with vitamins but it will also keep you hydrated. Strawberries will provide you with the much-needed antioxidants that are vital to protect your body from free radicals

Recipe:

Including salads in your regular meals is perhaps one of the simplest ways to stay fit. The leafy greens, lettuce, combined with bite-sized strawberries make a great weight loss food. This yummy salad is not only low in calories but also rich in antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids. The antioxidants can further contribute to weight loss by boosting your metabolism. 

Ingredients:

• 1 whole iceberg lettuce
•  5-6 strawberries
• 15-20 roasted pine nuts (can be replaced with roasted almond flakes)
• 1 tsp sugar
• Black pepper to taste
• Salt to taste

Method:

• Julienne strawberries and marinate for half hour with sugar and a pinch of salt. Drain any excess fluid.
• Wash whole lettuce and let it dry. Once dry, tear lettuce leaves in small bites
• Add roasted pine nuts, marinated strawberries, salt and pepper to taste.
• Toss and serve fresh.

5)Leafy salad:

If you want a simple and delicious treat this summer, you can’t go wrong with this leafy salad. Lettuce is a must addition to your summer salads as it increases your fluid intake. Additionally, this salad is a low-calorie treat even while it adds volume to your meal. If you wish, you can also relish this salad by adding cherry tomatoes to it.

Recipe:

Ingredients:

• 1 small bunch iceberg lettuce
• 1 small bunch butter lettuce
• 1 small bunch lollo rosso lettuce
• 1 small bunch romanian lettuce
• 1 medium onion cubed
• ½ small green capsicums cubed
• 1 apple cubed
• ½ cup alfalfa

For the dressing:

• 10 back peppercorns
• 1 tsp mustard seeds
• Salt to taste
• 10 cloves garlic
• 2 tsp lemon juice
• 1 ½ tsp strawberry crush
• 2 tsp olive oil

Method

• Tear all the lettuce and place them in a bowl, add the onion, capsicum, apple and alfalfa.
• For the dressing place the black peppercorns in a mortar. Add the mustard seeds and salt crush them with a pestie. Add garlic and continue to crush.
• Add lemon juice, strawberry crush, and olive oil mix well.
• Pour the dressing over the salad mixture in the bowl and mix with your hands.
• Serve immediately.