Iceberg Salad with a luscious Thousand Island Dressing

Actually salads are suppose to be “the health food“, light, without fats, easy to digest, perfect for the conscious careful eater. That all is true, as long as you choose the right dressing. My experience is the tastier the dressing the naughtier the calories and the more you will curse the oh so amazing salad you had that day in your favourite Restaurant. Yes, live is tricky, full of little traps of the sort.

I am aware that the real world and the virtual web surfers literally fight against heavy fats. But you know what is more difficult then loosing weight? ……gaining weight…. That’s exactly what I am going through right now. I know you won’t believe me but its really not that simple.

I used to be more chubby, used to eat every 2 hours a good portion of food, anything my taste fancied. No wonder I was a bit plump, the food was heavenly good in Europe. India, has great food too, don’t misunderstand me, the aromas are overwhelming godly and sexy spicy but compared to Europe less heavy and pungent food makes you sweat like in a sauna, resulting in a burn down of fat. An other reason why you would loose weight in India, especially in the south, is when you get to experience humid heavy heat, which is like a slap in the face. A total appetite killer. People who are not used to pungent spicy food might get a surge of homesickness.

Some Indians are heavily overweight, that’s because food is mostly fried with lots of oil or deep fried, but that’s an other story. In my weight loss case it was the whole combination of the above mentioned reasons. Yes I miss my ham and sauerkraut, I really do. My stomach makes noises when I visit a fellow friends blog watching those AMAZING photos of things which I wont get for another loooong time.

My observation is that a hot climate makes you burn fat more. You crave for fruits in those sticky delirious days, your body only asks for liquids. The evenings, when it cools down a little bit, is the time when you ll try to eat some “proper” food. After the hot summer, in the monsoon, you will realize that your food portions have gone down. This is the time when it rains heavily for days and where you love to be at home, comfortable enjoying a peaceful life. The rains means too that most of the shops don’t keep that much different choice of foods because everything gets spoiled in no time, mold growing literally everywhere, because of the high humidity. So you end up eating rice and curry everyday, like everybody else.

Now the season has started here and I have a huge aim on gaining my kgs back. Since we have a Gym I am up to that too, which will help in a good shape up.

Thats why I thought of my little iceberg salad today, which is so addictive that it will make you lick your fingers for more. Ah… I am not exagerating, the dressing is a bit evil! ]=D

It is perfect for hot drainy days and a wanton. Don’t count the calories on the Thousand Island Dressing, just enjoy!

Iceberg Salad – Serves 2

1 small Iceberg

few french beans

2 small Tomato

1/2 Cucumber

1-2 Ham slices

Spring onion, garnish

You will start by cleaning the French beans, cleaning and cutting of each end and after cutting the beans into 2 cm long sticks. Heat up a pot and boil the French beans in little water till they are donne and soft. Drain the iceberg after washing it and shred it into mouth size bites. Cut the Tomatoes in 4 wedges each and the cucumber into half first and then into slices. Chop the spring onions and slice the Ham into small pieces.

Arrange all the Vegetables in a sloted plated or bowl, how ever you like it and keep it in the fridge to cool.

Thousand Island Dressing – Serves 2

2 Tbs Tomato ketchup

4 Tbs Mayonnaise

2 Spring Onions, finely chopped

6 drops of Tabasco

1 Tsp Worcestershire sauce

1 large Gherkin, finely chopped

Juice of ½ lemon

Salt, Pepper

Mix all of the ingredients together in a blender for the dressing. Taste for seasoning if it needs more.

Oh… by the way! I want to introduce you to some great food blogs out there, which will make your eyes pop out. (O.O)

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Tagged as: dressing, food, french beans, Iceberg, salad, thousand island Dressing, tomato

{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }

sliceofmylyfe: Whereabouts in South of India are you? You are so lucky that you are attempting to gain kgs. It is true that weather has a great influence on the kind and quantity of food we consume.
But we Indians do eat healthy food really.
The salad and dressing are lovely.

Helene Dsouza: @sliceofmylyfe thank u, I am actualy in Goa. lucky? its very stressfull but one thing is true, I can eat whatever I want. I agree u Indians eat healthy food,thats why I am slim and trim.
Indian food is lots of Veggis, Pulses and curds. European food is all meat, cream and desserts.

Nami | Just One Cookbook: Helene, thanks for the shoutout! You are so kind!!! I really didn't know how to make thousand island dressing! It has ketchup in it? Wow no wonder it's red/pinkish. =P I love your pictures of salad. So refreshing! Summer in Japan is really humid and everyone thinks they lose appetite. But me, I don't know why, I always have appetite… I'm always hungry. I wish I can lose weight by going to humid weather.

the food dude: Great salad! I should be eating more of this, great post!

Helene Dsouza: @Nami oh maybe u should try out a trip to south india, but then u might get lost in the great indian food too. =/ hey what about some Gym work out!? XD

@fooddude I am always glad connecting my readers with old day to day dishes. thank u! =)

Sunshine And Smile: you gave a fantastic write up! I agree .. the humid in south is like a slap and appetite killer

Helene Dsouza: @Sunshine thanks for passing by and for the compliment. hope to see u around. =)

Frugal in WV: Your salad looks delicious! I love thousand island dressing, it is one of my favorites

Plateful: I'm a salad person. With a bit of dressing like this, I can munch on it any time of the day. Lovely!

Helene Dsouza: @frugal @plateful thank u for the compliments =)

Iceberg Salad with a luscious Thousand Island Dressing

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