Are you wondering what salad goes with butter chicken?
Butter chicken is a creamy, flavorful, and delicious Indian dish, but it can be tricky to know which side dishes will pair well with it.
But don’t worry – I’ve got you covered!
Today I’m sharing 15 of the best salads that go perfectly with butter chicken.
From leafy green salads to crunchy vegetable salads to fruit-based salads and more, there is sure to be something on this list that will complement your butter chicken dish.
So let’s get started!
Read Also: Butter Chicken Wine Pairing – The Best Wines for Butter Chicken
Why Serve A Salad With Butter Chicken?
- Balance of Flavors: Serving a salad with butter chicken helps to balance out the richness and spiciness of the dish. The crunchy, fresh vegetables in the salad provide a contrast to the creamy sauce and tender chicken, creating an enjoyable combination of flavors.
- Textural Contrast: A salad also provides a nice textural contrast to butter chicken, which is usually served as a saucy dish over rice or naan bread. The crispness of the lettuce and other vegetables adds another dimension to your meal that can be quite satisfying.
- Nutritional Benefits: Salads are packed with vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants that can help boost your immune system and keep you healthy overall. Eating salads alongside dishes like butter chicken ensures that you’re getting all these important nutrients in one meal!
- Variety: Adding a salad to your plate gives you more variety when it comes to flavor profiles and textures on your plate – something we all need from time to time!
- Colorful Presentation: Finally, serving up a colorful side salad alongside butter chicken makes for an attractive presentation that will make any dinner table look inviting!
What Salad Goes With Butter Chicken? (15 Best Salads)
Butter chicken is a delicious and flavorful dish, but it can be difficult to find the right salad to pair with it.
Here are 15 salads that will perfectly complement your butter chicken dishes:
1. Greek Salad
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/228557749832595949/A classic Greek salad is a great companion to any meal. It’s loaded with crunchy vegetables like cucumber, tomatoes, and bell peppers, plus flavorful olives, feta cheese, and a tangy vinaigrette dressing.
The flavors are light yet bold enough to stand out next to an intensely flavored dish like butter chicken.
Plus, it’s always fun making your own version of the classic by adding different ingredients.
2. Caesar Salad
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/26247610320529903/A crisp Caesar salad goes perfectly alongside rich dishes like butter chicken.
The romaine lettuce adds crunch and freshness while the distinctive dressing provides a hint of umami that pairs nicely with creamy sauces.
I also love adding grilled chicken or shrimp for extra protein and more flavor complexity for the whole family to enjoy.
3. Coleslaw
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/128352658123241447/Everyone loves coleslaw with its sweet-savory combination of cabbage and shredded carrots dressed in a mayo-based cream sauce.
This side dish has just the right texture and mild sweetness that really balances out other foods on your plate – perfect when combined with robust Indian dishes like butter chicken!
4. Caprese Salad
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/34902965851150405/Caprese salad is an Italian dish, perfect for accompanying classic dishes such as butter chicken. It consists of fresh tomatoes and slices of mozzarella cheese layered with basil, garlic, salt, and pepper.
The colors are so vibrant and appealing that every bite looks like a little piece of art – plus it tastes delicious! It’s the perfect light summer side to go alongside rich creamy Indian dishes.
5. Potato Salad
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/386465211784933081/Potato salad is a great accompaniment to serve with butter chicken.
Whether you choose red potatoes or baby potatoes, boiled them in salted water until just tender then dress them with mayonnaise or vinaigrette adding some hard-boiled eggs, spring onions for crunchiness, celery for sweetness, and bacon bits for flavor.
Deliciousness awaits!
6. Spinach Salad
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/77264949855224311/A spinach salad makes the perfect starter or side dish when served with butter chicken.
Start by boiling your favorite pasta shapes in salted water until cooked al dente then rinse under cold water to cool down quickly and thoroughly before tossing it together while still warm tucked into a bed of fresh spinach leaves along with some cherry tomato halves and crumbled soft blue cheese pieces; all dressed in olive oil vinaigrette made with crushed garlic cloves lemon juice oregano sea salt black pepper flakes minced parsley and honey.
Yum!
7. Waldorf Salad
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/68609594314072196/A Waldorf salad is a classic, crowd-pleasing side that pairs perfectly with all kinds of main dishes. It’s generally made with apples and nuts, as well as lettuce or celery to add crunch.
I like to add some yogurt and honey dressing to balance out the tartness of the fruit and bring it all together.
Not only is it refreshingly light, but it looks beautiful on the plate when served alongside butter chicken.
8. Tomato Cucumber Salad
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/70437486336073/This simple salad brings some much-needed freshness to any meal, especially hearty ones like butter chicken.
The combination of juicy tomatoes and crisp cucumbers creates an appetizing texture contrast that I always enjoy biting into – plus it has that touch of sweetness from red onion slices for extra flavor.
Top with herbs for added aroma and color, or even a light vinaigrette if you feel creative!
9. Pesto Potato Salad
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/387450374202579290/Move aside, regular potato salads!
Pesto potato salads are where it’s at these days – they take potatoes from boring sides to flavorful sauces in just one step.
Simply combine boiled potatoes with your favorite pesto recipe and presto – you’ve got yourself a delicious side dish perfect for serving alongside spicy dishes like butter chicken.
Add olives or capers if you want some more zing in there!
10. Roasted Beet Salad with Walnuts, Goat Cheese, and Honey Balsamic Dressing
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/140806231012995/This vibrant salad is a colorful side dish filled with earthy beets, crunchy walnuts, and tangy goat cheese.
The balsamic honey dressing ties all the flavors together in just one spoonful.
The contrast between sweet and savory provides the perfect balance for any butter chicken dish.
11. Chickpea Salad
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/3870349671307487/Chickpea salads are an easy way to add some protein-packed goodness to any meal.
Simply toss chickpeas with onions, herbs, lemon juice, olive oil, and spices for a flavorful Mediterranean twist on your classic butter chicken dinner.
Plus, it’s vegan-friendly!
12. Quinoa Salad
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/20266267065636172/For something more nutritious and wholesome than traditional couscous or potato salad pairings, try making quinoa salad as a side dish instead!
Boil quinoa until fluffy then mix in diced tomatoes or cucumbers for extra flavor – not to mention extra fiber – before drizzling on some vinaigrette.
A few crumbles of feta cheese on top will give it the perfect finishing touch that pairs wonderfully with any type of creamy Indian curry.
13. Arugula Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/844493672323546/I love making this zingy salad, which features baby arugula tossed with a light lemon vinaigrette.
This makes an excellent light side dish for more flavorful dishes like butter chicken and provides a cleansing contrast to the meal that refreshes the palate.
The combination of bright citrusy flavors and peppery greens pairs perfectly with rich butter chicken.
14. Three Bean Salad
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/353603008254732983/This is such an easy yet nourishing salad that can be put together in minutes. Blended beans like chickpeas and kidney beans give it a toothsome texture, while tomatoes lend color and sweetness.
The addition of herbs, like parsley or mint leaves, add freshness to round out the flavor profile of the dish – perfect alongside hearty butter chicken!
15. Broccoli Salad
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/217439488252332578/Everyone loves this fun broccoli-based salad! It’s great as a side or even as an entree if you decide to amp up its protein content by adding grilled tofu cubes or shredded cooked chicken.
I dress mine with olive oil and white balsamic vinegar for slightly sweet undertones along with crunchy pecans for extra texture – delicious when paired with creamy Indian curries like butter chicken!
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, butter chicken is a delicious and flavorful dish that pairs well with a variety of salads.
Some of the best salads to serve with butter chicken include Greek salad, Caesar salad, coleslaw, Caprese salad, potato salad, spinach salad, Waldorf salad, tomato cucumber salad, pesto potato salad, chickpea salad, quinoa salad, arugula salad with lemon vinaigrette, and three bean salad.
These salads all have complementary flavors and textures that will bring out the best in your butter chicken dish.
With these 15 salads, you’ll have plenty of options to choose from to create a delicious and nutritious meal.
15 Best Salads To Serve With Butter Chicken
Ingredients
- Greek Salad
- Caesar Salad
- Coleslaw
- Caprese Salad
- Potato Salad
- Spinach Salad
- Waldorf Salad
- Tomato Cucumber Salad
- Pesto Potato Salad
- Roasted Beet Salad with Walnuts, Goat Cheese and Honey Balsamic Dressing
- Chickpea Salad
- Quinoa Salad
- Arugula Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette
- Three Bean Salad
- Broccoli Salad
Instructions
- Select your favorite recipe.
- Organize all the required ingredients.
- Prep a side salad in 25 minutes or less!
Jenny has always been passionate about cooking, and she uses her platform to share her joy of food with others. Her recipes are easy to follow, and she loves giving tips and tricks to help others create their own unique culinary creations.