Contary to the images of exotic vegetables and dressings that come to mind when we hear the word salad, food blogger Nandita Iyer asserts that it doesn't have to be fancy. Urging us to think of the humble kachumbari, raita and even the lightly sauteed poriyals, the Bengaluru-based author of The Everyday Healthy Vegetarian, says we tend to look at salads as a European concept. "Anything that is lightly cooked and retains the original flavour and nutrients of the ingredients can qualify as salad," shares Iyer, who's been decoding various aspects of the healthy dish through live chat sessions called Salad Series on Instagram.

As someone who's always been fond of making salads, conducting workshops, and growing vegetables herself, Iyer felt it was a good time to share her knowledge with the world. Five episodes old, the series has fetched 3,000 to 7,000 views, with Iyer deep-diving into the different kinds of salads; various components including base, body, garnish and dressing; chopping techniques; handy tools, and more. "There will be 14 episodes, each covering various topics related to salads," she tells us.