DELICIOUS summer salads are easy to throw together when you don’t feel like cooking.
And just because they are light, it doesn’t mean you will be left feeling peckish.
Try one of these simple, budget recipes to fill up on a balmy evening . . .
CHICKPEA AND YELLOW RICE: This dish is really fresh, tasty and substantial.
Chop up tomatoes, red onion and fresh parsley, mix together with a tin of chickpeas and season generously while adding a big glug of virgin olive oil.
Bulk it out further by cooking ordinary rice and adding a couple
of teaspoons of turmeric to the water, which will give it a lovely golden colour.
When ready, mix the rice with the rest of the ingredients. You can swap or supplement the chickpeas with other pulses, such as black or cannellini beans.
GO GREEK: Feta cheese is tasty and great for adding a little texture to salads. You can’t go wrong with a Greek salad of feta, lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes, olives and red onion.
Quinoa also mixes well with feta, while adding some extra protein and helping to bulk out a salad.
A pack is £2.59 from Morrisons. To cook, you just need to simmer it in boiling water for about 15 minutes and add to your salad.
POTATO SALAD: Turn a potato salad from a side dish to the main event. Boil some new potatoes then chop into bite-sized pieces, before mixing in mayonnaise and sliced spring onion.
Raid your fridge for extra ingredients, such as chopped lettuce, peas, green beans and bacon.
Finally, finish off with a couple of halved soft-boiled eggs.
BEST DRESSED: A dressing can make or break your salad. You can buy it, but it’s also simple to make your own.
One fail-safe option is to mix together a couple of tablespoons of virgin olive oil, a squeeze of lemon and a teaspoon of wholegrain mustard, plus salt and pepper.
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