The Magical Ingredients for a Wholesome Life From the Heart of my Home: Rainbow Salad With Tandoori Dressing

This is a healthy, nutritious, and easy to make rainbow salad made with colorful veggies and with the ultimate tandoori ranch dressing! This healthy and flavor packed salad is a visual and flavor treat! This salad will make every occasion special and is also a crowd pleaser.

Tandoori ranch is an amazing dressing for salads. This can be made using the aromatic and flavorful mix of spices, Tandoori Masala (a spice mix that is used to make veg and non-veg dishes cooked in a clay oven, check the link for an easy homemade recipe). Store bought tandoori masala can also be used. Ginger, garlic, Thai chili, and the masala make the flavors of this ranch outstanding and out of the world! Creamy, spicy, rich in herbs and spices - this ranch is packed with flavors!

Rainbow salad makes any event special! Looking at it may seem like a lot of work, but actually not that much. It is easy and simple. The time taken to make this salad is the veggie prep time. These veggies are not hard to process. Food processor can also be used, if preferred.

To make this salad all you require is color veggies, tandoori masala, garlic, ginger, sour cream, Vegannaise, and buttermilk. Salt and green Thai chilies are also added and they bring out the top notch flavor. Paneer is great to add in salads like this chat style Layered Garbanzo Beans and Paneer Salad (a crowd pleaser too!) and it gives good proteins. Peanuts are easy pantry staple and gives an amazing crunch.

Purple - Purple colored veggies cabbage and onions

Green - lettuce, cucumbers, and green bell peppers. Ice berg lettuce is used here. Any choice of lettuce can be used.

Yellow - Corn is used and have used canned ones. Frozen or fresh corn can be used after boiling for 2-3 minutes. Yellow bell peppers and sweet peppers can also be used.

Orange - Carrots are perfect. Orange bell pepper and sweet potatoes aka yams can also be used.

Red - Tomatoes are used in this recipe. Red bell pepper also works great and can be added together.

Paneer - adds to the protein and calcium, and gives a meaty texture.

Nuts - Peanuts give amazing crunch as well as proteins. Any nut of your choice can be used. Use roasted nuts for the best flavor.

Tandoori masala - Fragrant mix of spices used with veg and non veg dishes that are cooked in a tandoor oven. These dishes are very popular.

Vegannise - I used vegannaise which is egg free. Mayo can be used.

Herbs -Cilantro, mint, and chives are used. Do not skimp on them, they add great flavors!

This salad can be a meal as such or as a side for any occasion. This can easily feed a crowd. The colorful layers will attract any one to try this and with the tasty ranch, this will please even the picky eater. The following measurements may be served for 4 to 8 persons, or even a couple more, depending on whether it is served as a main or side. This is a great meal for summer as it doesn't require cooking other than heating two tablespoons of oil.

The salad and dressing can be made ahead and refrigerated. This makes entertaining easier. When making for a large crowd, other colored veggies like yellow, orange, and red peppers can also be added to help make in bigger quantities. The ranch recipe can also be easily doubled or tripled. The flavors of the tandoori ranch will be so addictive that you'll be tempted to smother it on your salad. YUM!

What can be more special than a rainbow? Rainbows bring happiness and so does MOM! MOM is everything for me and this is the same for everyone. A great, tasty, and delicious meal is necessary to celebrate MOM who is the ultimate of everything! Mom is a rainbow and what to make for her? This salad is the perfect one to bring a smile and happiness! This is healthy and very easy to make. This meal of fresh rainbow veggie salad, fresh juice, ginger cardamom chai, and vadapav ( this can be quickly made with aloo tikkis or patties) in under an hour to celebrate this Mother's Day!

Mother's Day is around the corner and Christie is hosting an event in our #OurFamilyTable group, to help plan and make a surprising and special meal for Mother's Day brunch. We share Recipes From Our Dinner Table! Join our group and share your recipes, too! While you're at it, join our Pinterest board, too!

Salads are healthy and help us maintain health by providing necessary vitamins, minerals, and fiber. If you are a salad lover like us, here are some amazing salads to try.

Layered Garbanzo Beans and Paneer Salad

Orange and Greens Salad With Orange Vinaigrette

Greek Style Millet Salad Lettuce Boats

Ingredients

Serves 4 to 8

Paneer - 1 cup, 1/4 or 1/2 inch cubes

Purple cabbage - 1 cup, thinly sliced

Onions - 1 cup, thinly sliced

Lettuce - 1 cup, thinly sliced

Cucumber - 1 cup, 1/2-in cubes

Green bell pepper - 1 cup, thinly sliced

Corn - 1 cup, canned

Carrots - 1 cup, thick and long shreds

Tomatoes - 1 cup, halved or whole

Cilantro - 2 tbsp, finely chopped

Mint - 2 tbsp, finely chopped

Peanuts - 3/4 cup, roasted

For the Tandoori Ranch

Oil - 2 tbsp

Tandoori masala - 2 tsp (recipe here)

Ginger - 1 tbsp, finely minced

Garlic - 1 tbsp, finely chopped

Green Thai chili - 1 to 4, finely minced

Lime juice - 1.5 tsp

Buttermilk - 1/2 cup

Sour cream - 1/2 cup

Vegannaise - 2 tbsp

Salt - 1/2 tsp

Cilantro, mint, chives - 1 tsp each, finely chopped

Method

To Make the Tandoori Ranch: Add the finely minced ginger, garlic, and Thai chiles and tandoori masala to a bowl. Heat two tablespoons of oil and when it is hot, pour onto this mixture. It will sizzle. Mix and set aside to cool.

In a couple of minutes, this mixture will cool down, add the herbs (reserve a little to garnish), lemon juice, buttermilk, sour cream, and vegannaise, mix thoroughly.