Simple and Healthy Salads

Tired of the same sad salad? Step away from the Caesar and dive into something with real flavor. These salads are fresh, and packed with ingredients your grandma probably swore by — nettles, beans, cabbage, and even cauliflower. No fancy gadgets, no trendy toppings — just old-school recipes that hit hard and taste even better the next day.

Young Nettle Salad

Ingredients:

• 1 lb (450 g) young nettle leaves
• 1 medium onion (about 3.5 oz / 100 g), finely chopped
• 3 hard-boiled eggs
• A handful of chopped parsley
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Oil and vinegar to taste

Instructions:

1. Wash and finely chop the nettle.
2. Finely chop the onion.
3. Mix everything together and mash with a mortar and pestle until well combined.
4. Transfer to a salad bowl, season with salt, pepper, oil, and vinegar.
5. Garnish with chopped parsley and sliced hard-boiled eggs.

Pasta Salad with Roasted Peppers

Ingredients:

• 1 package (about 12 oz / 340 g) spiral pasta
• 1 jar (about 10 oz / 280 g) roasted red peppers, sliced into strips
• 10 oz (300 g) cooked deli ham, diced
• 1 cup sour cream
• 7 oz (200 g) mayonnaise
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Optional: grated smoked cheese

Instructions:

1. Cook pasta according to package instructions.
2. Let it cool, then mix in all ingredients.
3. Chill for several hours or overnight.
4. Add grated smoked cheese if desired.

Healing Spinach Salad

Ingredients:

• Fresh young spinach leaves
• Garlic, finely minced
• Lemon juice
• Olive oil
• Optional: plain yogurt

Instructions:
Mix raw spinach with garlic, lemon juice, and olive oil. Add yogurt if desired.

Tip: Raw vegetables preserve nutrients best—perfect for students and mental workers.

Green Bean Salad

Ingredients:

• 1 lb (450 g) green beans
• 3 small onions, sliced
• 1 cup pitted black olives
• Cold-pressed oil
• Sea salt
• Lemon juice
• Oregano

Instructions:

1. Boil green beans until just tender.
2. Drain and mix with onions and olives.
3. Season with oil, lemon juice, salt, and oregano.
4. Serve with mashed potatoes.

Carrot and Celery Salad

Ingredients:

• 4 carrots
• 1 small celery root
• Lemon juice
• Sea salt
• Olive oil

Instructions:

1. Grate the carrots and celery.
2. Toss with lemon juice, salt, and oil.
3. Let it rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Kale Salad with Lentils

Ingredients:

• 2 cups chopped fresh kale
• 1 cup soy yogurt
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• ½ cup cooked lentils
• Pinch of sea salt

Instructions:
Mix all ingredients and let sit briefly before serving.

Raw Cauliflower Salad

Ingredients:

• 1 small head of cauliflower
• Soy sour cream or tofu-based cream

Instructions:
Grate the cauliflower and mix with the soy sour cream.