Snapshots
With the temperatures and the sun casting its golden glow across the various fields and the gardens in the country, summer is the season when nature offers to you the most vibrant array of vegetables. With the various summer seasonal vegetables available in abundance to not only quench our thirst but also fortify our bodies against the scorching summer heat, it is during this season that we can indulge in some of the best summer veggies and that too in bounty. From crisp cucumbers to juicy tomatoes, tender okras and leafy greens that are flourishing under the warm skies, the best summer vegetables to eat offer you with both flavour and nourishment. Seasonal gems that are more than just ingredients for your kitchen, the best hot weather vegetables are nature’s very own answer to hydration, energy and wellness during these sweltering months. Rich in water content, vitamins and antioxidants, the best vegetables for summer heat play an extremely crucial role in keeping our bodies cool and revitalised. With their light and nutrient packed profiles, the various summer seasonal vegetables are perfect to make salads, stir fries, smoothies and refreshing curries. Here’s for you to bring colour, texture and health to every plate with some of the best summer vegetables to eat this season.
Packed with nutritional benefits, here’s for you to discover some of the staple summer veggies to beat the heat during the scorching months
1. Bottle Gourd
Among the best summer veggies available throughout India that popularly goes by the name Lauki, the bottle gourd is an essential superfood to include in your diet during the hot months. With high water content and a cooling effect, bottle gourd is a gentle green marvel that also helps in keeping your digestive system healthy during the summer months, as well as keeps your body calm and refreshed. Use it as a part of your regular curries, make it into a soup or simply make a lauki halwa to extract the best out of this summer vegetable.
2. Cucumber
An essential summer seasonal vegetable that is delightfully crisp, mild and super hydrating, cucumbers are the ultimate antidote for the scorching summer days. Packed with 95% water content, this vegetable to include in your diet during summers is not only a great way to keep your body hydrated but it also helps in soothing conditions related to inflammation and detoxifies the body as well. Enjoy it raw, spiralize it into salads or blend it in a raita.
3. Beans
Among the best vegetables for summer heat, beans largely go by names such as French beans or green beans in India. A largely cultivated summer vegetable that is rich in protein, fibre and other essential minerals, beans help in promoting good heart health as well aids the overall digestion process of the body. A cultural staple in every Indian household, stir fry them, or include them into flavourful curries to get the best out of this essential summer veggie.
4. Bitter Gourd
A summer superfood, locally known as karela in India, bitter gourd is among the top summer seasonal vegetables that thrives in warm and humid climates. With a distinct bitter taste that adds depth to your regular dishes, bitter gourd forms an essential part of every Indian cuisine. Packed with nutrients, fibre and vitamins C and A, bitter gourd has numerous health benefits. Among the best hot weather vegetables that helps in regulating blood sugar levels, improves digestion and supports overall immunity, bitter gourd should absolutely be a part of your daily diet.
5. Amaranth Leaves
A powerhouse of iron, calcium and antioxidants, amaranth leaves are also known as chaulai in India. A mildly bitter greens that offers you an array of nutritional benefits during the summer months, amaranth leaves are among the best summer vegetables to eat. Sautee them lightly with lentils to help keep your body nourished without weighing you down during these hot months.
6. Drumsticks
Popularly known as sahjan or murungakkai in the local languages of India, drumsticks are an absolute essential summer seasonal vegetable that flourishes under the tropical sun. A great source of vitamins C, A and B, along with iron and calcium, including drumsticks as a part of your regular meals during the summer days helps towards improving the immunity of the body, as well as improves bone health and digestion. The perfect way to incorporate drumsticks as a part of your meals is to include them in your daily soups and curries.
7. Okra
Commonly known as ladyfinger, okra is locally called bhindi in India. An extensively cultivated summer vegetable that is rich in fibre, antioxidants along with vitamins C and K, okra helps towards improving digestion and boosts overall immunity of the body. Slice and saute them with onions and tomatoes for a flavour and nutrient packed dish.