Mandao salad: eat green and colorful

In Mandao, we love food in general, we think that much is clear, but above all, we really enjoy a great salad. Eating salad is a simple and quick way to hydrate the body on hot days since vegetables are made of more than 90 % water. Vegetables are an excellent source of vitamins, that regulate multiple organic processes such as the proper functioning of the nervous system, and provide great vitality.

We know that making a salad is not difficult, but making a tasty one is something else. Salads mainly combine vegetables such as lettuce, spinach or arugula, and various cut and mixed vegetables. Of course, they are always seasoned to our liking – mainly with salt, oil and vinegar – and other foods are usually added. The magic is not only eating green but adding colors since, according to nutritionists, many of the properties of vegetables lie in their pigmentation.

7 steps to make a good Mandao salad

First, it is important to define whether the salad will be a main dish or just an appetizer or a side dish in order to specify the nutrients needed and the amount to prepare.

So, for a Mandao salad, we recommend starting with a good base of vegetables, adding a source of protein (it could be meat or a vegetable protein such as almonds or whey), combined with a source of healthy fats (olive oil, avocado or if you want more texture and color you can add a seasonal fruit such as mango or pineapple).

So these are the 7 steps to make a Mandao salad:

1. Define what type of dish it will be: whether it is an appetizer, a side dish or the main dish.
2. Looking for the vegetables available in the agricultural markets. If you are from Havana, it is even easier to find them with our App, where you can buy from one of these agromarkets: Agromercados 29b y 70, Sol y Habana, 19 y B, Blanco y Trocadero.
3. Choose what type of salad you want: classic, green or vegan ( we will tell you a little about the differences below).
4. Cut the vegetables that will be added to the mix such as onions, tomatoes, and carrots, to a similar size.
5. Incorporate the ingredients in the order below. First, add the vegetables and then all the extras.
   • First, start with the most humid food, which would be the well-drained green leaves.
   • Second, the vegetables that give color, such as tomato, carrot, onion and peppers, all cut and mixed.
   • Third, the ingredients with the most weight, such as legumes (lentils or chickpeas), olives, fruits such as mango.
   • And for the final touch, add pieces of cheese or nuts such as peanuts.
6. Create your own vinaigrette. We recommend one based on avocado or mango.
7. Enjoy delicious, green and colorful, and above all very healthy food.

Do you know the difference between vegetarianism and veganism?

If you want to start a healthier lifestyle, food is step 1, and the best way is to start with our Mandao salad. If you want to go a little bit further, we will give you a small scope into these two lifestyles. Usually mixed due to their vegetable, fruits and legumes-based diet, and the non-consumption of products of animal origin; that is, they are not related to the slaughter of animals.

A vegetarian person is someone who does not add meat, fish, or chicken to their diet, and usually consumes honey, eggs, and milk. Although there are also different types of vegetarianism such as ovo-lacto-vegetarian, lacto-vegetarian, ovo-vegetarian and pescatarian.

For their part, vegans do not consume products of animal origin, nor products produced by animals, including meat, fish, eggs, dairy products, honey or gelatin. They eat grains, beans, nuts, fruits, vegetables, and seeds. Defining yourself as a vegan person goes beyond a way of eating, it is a lifestyle and philosophy that does not recognize exploitation and cruelty towards animals to obtain food, clothing or any other purpose.

In the same way, there is a new term called flexitivist, which refers to someone who chooses to include vegetarian days in their diet but eats meat at other times.

All styles include a colorful, green salad, like the ones at the restaurants in Mandao. The new version of our App includes a feature where you can choose salads, just ask Lester if they are available.

TOP 3 favorite salads in Mandao:

1. Mar Adentro is one of our restaurants where you can find several salad options such as the Huerta Salad, the Mar Adentro salad or the Caesar salad. Our favorite is the Mar Adentro Salad, a perfect combination of lettuce, arugula, tomato, nuts and grilled shrimp. There are also vegan and vegetarian options.
2. At Nero di Seppia, you will find some of the best pizzas in Havana and a selection of more than 4 different salads. Our favorite is the octopus salad, made with onion, olives, lemon, lettuce or arugula and a generous portion of octopus; also, the presentation of this salad is pure color. In this restaurant you can also find a variety of vegan and vegetarian dishes.
3. Closing our top 3 is the seasonal vegetable salad at Bar Restaurant Espacios. This salad is suitable for all people, whether vegan or vegetarian, as it does not include any food of animal origin. Its main ingredients are lettuce and arugula; cucumber, carrot, olives and capers add a very pleasant bitter touch.

It’s easier to eat healthy with the new Mandao App

With our new app, everything is easier, even finding these three restaurants whose salads we have just recommended. If you are from Havana, you will also be able to see the offers at Agromarkets and Farms without any effort, and the second step to create a Mandao salad is almost ready.

You can also write the word salad in our search engine. This will show you all the restaurants with salad options in their menu that are in your delivery area . For example, if you are in neighborhoods or municipalities in the center of the city such as Vedado, Centro Habana, 10 de Octubre or Cerro, you can find up to more than 30 restaurants with green and healthy options. You no longer have an excuse for not eating healthy and colorful.

So if you have not downloaded the new App, do it now through the link we provided here.

If you have a favorite vegetarian or vegan restaurant that you want to include in Mandao, let us know by commenting here or on our social networks.