No Croutons Required - Bean Salads

The challenge for July was to come up with a vegetarian salad featuring legumes. It's plenty hot this month and salads are an easy way to provide nourishment without too much fuss or heat in the kitchen. A special thanks to all the cooks who submitted an entry. I kindly ask that you vote for your favorite in the comment section or via email. Please note that neither my submission nor Jacqueline's is eligible for the vote. Without further ado, let's serve it up.

Our first entry is this healthy Sprouted Black Chickpea Mixed Salad from Anshu of My Mom's Recipes. Intended as an entree salad, this one is a feast for the eyes and the body. Here sprouted black chickpeas are tossed with cherry tomatoes, sweet pepper, red onion, carrots, cucumber, beets, jalapeno, seasoning and olive oil and served over fresh greens and drizzled with some Italian dressing and garnished with Parmesan. That is one fancy salad that sounds perfect for hot summer days.

Next up is Elizabeth of Elizabeth's Kitchen Diary with this colorful Three Bean Couscous Salad that is a complete meal in itself though it was made as a side dish. Either way, this combination of red onion, couscous, red pepper, cannellini, flageolet and adzuki beans, sultanas, seasoning and parsley makes for an impressive patio dish that will surely impress your dinner guests.

Janet from the Taste Space enters this month with a most flavorful Morrocan Carrot and Chickpea Salad that makes good use of pantry ingredients. Carrots, chickpeas, dates and cilantro are dressed with a mixture of cumin seeds, olive oil, lemon juice, sweetener and some seasoning. Sweet, earthy, tart and obviously nourishing, served alongside a bed of brown rice, you are in for one delicious supper.

Kavitha of Techie Cookie Freaky shares an innovative Kosambari (With Strawberry) that I am certain I could not resist. Mung beans star here, along with grated carrots, lime juice, strawberries, olives, seasoning and red onion if you please. Certainly a lovely balance of flavors in this dish and yet another ideal summer meal.

My contribution this month is a Black-Eyed Pea Salad with Indian Spices that is sure to impress your dinner guests, especially if served in some radicchio leaves. I've combined earthy black-eyed peas, simmered with some salt and turmeric, and then tossed with tomatoes, green onions, ginger, fresh mint, chillies, chat masala and lime juice and then tempered with cumin seeds, chili powder, ground cumin, paprika and some rock salt. Simple, but most nourishing and light for a perfect summer meal on the patio along with some goat cheese toasts with fresh dill.

My lovely friend and co-host of NCR, Jacqueline of Tinned Tomatoes, has prepared a substantial Potato and Bean Salad with Zingy Herb Dressing that cannot fail to please. This celebration of beans is comprised of wholegrain rice, jersey royal potatoes, black-eyed peas, kidney beans, ripe tomatoes, red pepper and dressed with fresh coriander, olive oil, lemon juice and freshly cracked black pepper. Comforting and delicious indeed.

Our final entry is from Rachel Cotterill. This gorgeous Warm Halloumi Salad with Lime Dressing surely would make for a lovely lunch or light dinner to be enjoyed outdoors with some chilled wine. Halloumi is marinated in lime juice and olive oil and then seared, and combined with lightly steamed green beans, asparagus and edamame beans. The vegetables are arranged over salad greens and coriander and topped with the cheese. Elegant and an ideal summer time meal that may be filled out with some crusty bread.

Jacqueline will be hosting the August 2013 edition of No Croutons Required. Check back at the beginning of the month for the theme.