No matter whether you are following a strict diet regime or you look for some mouth-watering salad recipes, you can’t do it without using a lot of green leafy veggies. And when it comes to Greens, there could be nothing better than having sparkling green lettuce into your salad recipes. Lettuce is undoubtedly one of the healthiest leafy vegetables which are an excellent source of vitamin K and vitamin A, and a moderate source of folate and iron [1].
So here are three super easy, health-packed and delicious Thai style lettuce salad recipes:
1. Thai Tossed Lettuce Salad
Ingredients (For serving 2)
- 150 gm Lettuce
- 1 cucumber (sliced into matchstick-like pieces)
- 2 spring onions (chopped)
- 1 cup fresh coriander (chopped)
- ½ cup fresh basil (chopped)
Salad Dressing
- ½ cup coconut milk
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- A pinch of salt
- 1-2 garlic cloves (minced)
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
Method
- Mix lettuce, spring onions, cucumber, coriander and basil in a salad bowl. (Leave some of the coriander leaves and basil for dressing up the salad)
- Toss them together thoroughly.
- For the salad dressing, mix the salad dressing ingredients together in a cup and stir them until the sugar dissolves.
- Pour the dressing over the salad and toss well to combine.
- Dress up the salad by topping up with the remaining coriander and basil leaves.
2. Thai Yam Yai Salad
Ingredients (For serving 2)
- 5-6 broad lettuce leaves to form a base for the salad bowl
- 2 onions, sliced
- ½ cup of tomato wedges
- ½ cup of cucumber, sliced
- ½ cup Thai jalapenos, julienned
- ½ cup of broccoli florets, blanched
- ½ cup of bean sprouts
- 1 cup fresh coriander (chopped)
Salad Dressing
- ½ cup of lime juice
- ¼ cup of peanuts
- 2 tablespoons light soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons vinegar or tamarind juice
- 2 tablespoons palm sugar
- 1 tablespoon dried red chillies, ground
- 1 tablespoon toasted rice
Method
- Line a serving bowl with the lettuce leaves.
- Toss onions, tomatoes, cucumber, Thai jalapenos, broccoli and bean sprouts together and place on the lettuce.
- Garnish with coriander leaves.
- For dressing, in a pan, toast the peanuts until light golden brown, allow them to cool and then grind them.
- Next, toast 2 tablespoons of uncooked long grain rice (either white or brown) in a pan and then when cool, grind to a coarse powder.
- Combine all the remaining ingredients along with crushed peanuts and rice powder to form the dressing, and place in a small bowl.
3. Thai Style Green Salad
Ingredients (For serving 2)
- 1 tablespoon peanut oil
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
- 2 tablespoons sweet chilli sauce
- 2 tablespoons fish sauce
- 150g cucumber, chopped
- 1 medium carrot, chopped
- ½ medium red capsicum
- 150 g Lettuce leaves
- 1 medium onion, sliced thinly
- 1 cup fresh coriander leaves
- 1 cup fresh mint leaves
- 1 cup bean sprouts
- 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
Method
- Arrange the lettuce leaves on a large platter.
- Cut cucumber, carrot and capsicum into long, thin strips.
- Top the lettuce leaves with cucumber, carrot, capsicum and onion.
- Sprinkle with herbs and bean sprouts.
- For dressing, combine the oil, juice and sauces in a bowl.
- Just before serving, drizzle with dressing; sprinkle with sesame seeds.
Try these lettuce salad recipes and be ready to tickle your taste buds with a guaranteed healthy appetite! Also, talk to our Possible Nutritionist today for more such interesting ways to prepare health-friendly foods, which not only nourish your body but also your soul. The first consultation is on us.
What’s more amazing is that lettuce recipes offer such great health benefits that even a foodie can relish the delectable lettuce salad recipes without any guilt. Since ancient times, people use lettuce recipes as lettuce is considered to have medicinal properties. Some of the significant benefits of lettuce are:
- Lettuce keeps the cholesterol levels low, thereby reducing the chances of heart attack and strokes [2]. So, keep your heart healthy with lettuce in your diet.
- Lettuce is considered to be a sleep inducer [3] [4]. So in case, you are battling with insomnia, add lettuce salad recipes or lettuce juice into your daily food intakes.
- Lettuce salad recipes are a must for those who intend to lose weight. In fact, the one who consumes lettuce seems to lose more weight as compared to those who focus on fruits and other vegetables. Lettuce is also high in fiber and cellulose, making it a sure shot way to weight loss [5].
- Lettuce can also help you prevent chances of cancer [6]. Research has shown that leukaemia cells and breast cancer cells can be controlled to a certain extent after being treated with lettuce leaf extract.
- Lettuce seems to possess anxiolytic properties which can help in controlling anxiety. The omega-3 fatty acids found in lettuce helps in combating depression and controlling the anxiety [7].
- Lettuce promotes brain health. Research has shown that lettuce has the properties to be used in neuroprotection, thereby making it a common remedy for neurodegenerative diseases.
- If you are looking for a remedy for inflammation, then lettuce is your saviour as it possesses anti-inflammatory properties [8].
- Lettuce seems to cut diabetes risk as it contains lactucaxanthin, an anti-diabetic carotenoid that lowers blood glucose levels and can be a potential treatment for diabetes [9].
- Omega 3 found in lettuces can even reduce the chances of any potential eye related ailments, thereby improving vision health.
- In case of digestion related ailments like constipation and bloating, lettuce can be a trusted remedy because of a high level of fiber in it.
Keeping these incredible health benefits in mind, I must say, Lettuce is a magical food which is truly healthy for your appetite. Therefore, lettuce recipes have found an important place in Thai cuisine with many Thai salad recipes using lettuce as one of the main ingredients. Let’s have a look at three healthy yet finger licking Lettuce Thai style salad recipes which can make you bring the whiff of Thai food into your kitchen. To know more about how you can make your diet healthier, talk to a Possible Nutrition expert today. Click here to avail the first consultation for FREE!