Lighter summer sides?

Question

Potato and pasta salads are such delicious summer staples.  But they're almost total carbs, and we all know it.  Sure, we throw in a few carrots, celery and onions, but when you add something like corn-on-the-cob to the menu, it's carb overload.  Has anyone tried making those salads lighter...but adding some nontraditional things?  A head of romaine, chopped up might look weird, but it might be good too.  How about a half a head of cabbage?  Cherry tomatoes?  cucumber doesn't sound good, but a whole package of sprouts might work. Sun-dried tomatoes?  serving them by stuffing a green pepper?  Let me know if you have...or even would...try any of those.  Thanks in advance.

SuZQ · Accepted Answer

cut cauliflower into pieces the size you usually cut potatoes for potato salad. steam it til barely crispy - al dente! Use your potato salad recipe and make cauliflower salad! It is great and about 1/4 the total carbs!!

coleslaw! change up the dressing you usually use on coleslaw! My mom always drained crushed pineapple, blended honey into it, then half the Mayo! Fabulous and lower carb than most other salads.

My Waldorf Salad is walnuts, apples, red onions, bell peppers and Mayo! Change this up even more by changing the nut variety!

BBG · Answer

There are all kinds of nice potato salads, pasta salads and cabbage salads (cole slaw) that have vinaigrette type dressings instead of mayo/dairy based dressings.

If you really need a bit of creaminess in your coleslaw you can use low fat sour cream and/or plain yogurt instead of mayo.

There are all kinds of summer salads that AREN'T carb overloads.  Try some vegetable salads.

I love sliced cucumbers with tzatziki  (plain yogurt, fresh garlic, dill, lemon, salt).

I love a tomato & cucumber salad with cilantro, spanish onion, garlic, salt and cumin.

I love celery salad - cross-cut celery with fresh mint, lemon zest, slivered spanish onion, olive oil, salt and feta cheese.

I love cabbage salad with lime juice.

Hope that helps!

P.S.  Be careful about adding ANY "watery" vegetables to a salad that has a creamy dressing.  If you add tomatoes or cucumber it will dilute the dressing and you'll get a runny mess at the bottom of the bowl.  It does not make for good leftovers.   Adding "dry" vegetables like onions, celery, bell peppers, carrots, peas etc. generally hold up a bit better.

Kurious · Answer

Fruit salad
Stuffed mushrooms or stuffed tomatoes or stuffed artichoke hearts, use lighter things in stuffing them with whatever you choose
Tomato, Mozzerella and Basil with a drizzle of Italian dressing, stack it and you can change it up with crab meat and avocado.
Grilled veggies, I like to add some Braggs for seasoning (find on Internet at their web site)

Chiralty · Answer

My favorite is tomato salad http://artfrommytable.blogspot.com/2011/07/tomato-salad.html
or cucumber salad http://laurassweetspot.com/2012/05/18/cucumber-salad/

Tulip · Answer

Vegetable salads, raw vegetables and dip, cottage cheese, deviled eggs, corn on the cob, mixed fruits, jello salads.

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Lighter summer sides?

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