This scorching summer heat means we're all reaching for something cool and refreshing, hello, cold drinks, lassis, and lemonades! But when it comes to dishes for dinner or lunch, we tend to rely on a few, and the rotation just goes on and on, and it feels extremely boring, right? What if we told you that you can whip up some totally new dishes, with completely different flavours, using those everyday ingredients?
Time to dive into some traditional, super delicious Indian summer recipes! What's really amazing is they're not just flavorful, but also super healthy thanks to all those gut-friendly ingredients. Ready to chill out with these ultimate summer coolants?
Here's a quick rundown of some amazing Indian dishes for summer, covering lunch, dinner, and even those perfectly chilled evening sips.
Majjige saaru rasam
Majjige Saaru Rasam, aka Majje Saaru or Buttermilk Rasam, is one of the best Indian dishes for summer. The key ingredient is the buttermilk, which not only makes it tangy and refreshing but also makes it super healthy. It can help you a lot to combat those stubborn digestive issues like acidity and bloating, which become even more common during summer. Plus, for people who are always short of time, this is one of the best instant Indian summer recipes to go for.
Key tips: Make sure you use slightly sour buttermilk/curd as the tanginess is crucial for this rasam. Moreover, don't boil the buttermilk mixture; heat it gently and remove it from the flame as soon as it starts to warm up or just begins to show signs of a gentle boil. Otherwise, the buttermilk will curdle and separate, ruining the texture.
Ghotan sansov
Thinking about Indian food for summer and not considering mango dishes is not fair at all! Our next dish is from traditional Goan Cuisine, Ghotan Sansov, it's a curry that boasts a complex flavour despite using the simplest ingredients. What makes it taste so unique? The sweetness of mangoes with a touch of tang, and the richness of coconut, along with a tempering of spices!
Key tip: Don't overcook the dish; mangoes should be tender but still hold their shape. Most importantly, the perfect balance of sweet-sour is the heart of the recipe; carefully adjust the amount of jaggery and tamarind unless you get the desired taste you want.
Khus sharbat
This intense heat comes with an ultimate urge to drink something super cool and refreshing, here is where khus sharbat comes in. It's some of the most underrated Indian summer recipes that work magic, giving instant cooling as it touches your lips. It's made from the essence of khus grass, also known as vetiver (Vetiveria zizanioides). The roots of this aromatic grass are used to extract a distinctively fragrant and cooling syrup, which forms the base of the sharbat. The best part is that it's exceptionally versatile! Whether you enjoy it as a simple syrup and water mix or adapt it into mocktails, cocktails, or lassis, you'll surely feel a profound sense of relief from the heat.
Key tip: Keep in mind to go for a reputable brand or homemade khus syrup if possible. Serving it with lots of ice is the key to preparing this quintessential drink.
Gunda nu shaak
Gunda nu shaak is the perfect dish for anyone seeking those lost Indian dishes for summer. A hallmark of Gujarati cuisine, especially popular in the Kathiyawadi region, it's made from a unique vegetable that you might have never heard of before: Gunda. It's a seasonal vegetable with a slightly sticky, almost gummy texture when cooked, which is the key reason that makes this dish distinctive. You're going to eat these Gunda berries stuffed with a typical masala. What is this masala made of? Roasted peanuts, besan papdi, raw mango, dry spices, ginger, green chillies and more.
Key tip: Always go for green, fresh gonda for the best taste and texture. If you have prepared it today, keep a little aside, because it tastes even better the next day.
Sattu paratha
Sattu Paratha is an Indian flatbread, especially from Bihar, stuffed with a flavorful filling of sattu (roasted gram flour). It offers a hearty and refreshing taste owing to the combination of earthy sattu with pungent mustard oil, spicy chillies, aromatic ginger-garlic, and tangy pickle juice. Plus, its cooling properties and high nutrient content make it one of the must-try Indian dishes for summer.
Key tip: Kneading a soft dough is crucial to get pliable parathas that won't tear easily when stuffed and rolled.
Pakhala bhata
After sailing through northern India to Goa, to Gujarati cuisine, our next stop is Odisha. Pakhala Bhata is a traditional Odia cuisine from the state of Odisha. At its core, it's cooked rice that has been soaked in water. The dish comes in various forms, like Saja Pakhala — cooked rice is immediately mixed with water and consumed fresh, the next type is Basi Pakhala— cooked rice is soaked in water, often overnight, allowing it to lightly ferment. This is the most traditional version. There is Dahi Pakhala and Jeera Pakhala too, and you can exactly guess the new ingredients added to cooked rice, of course, curd and cumin seeds respectively. If you're seeking the best healthy Indian summer recipes, Pakhala Bhata is worth adding to your list due to its refreshing and cooling effect. Also, it's great for a hydration boost and electrolyte replenishment.
Key tip: Enjoy it chilled or at room temperature to fully utilise its cooling properties. Don't skimp on the fresh seasonings like finely chopped ginger and green chillies.
Kokum sharbat
Sharbats become everyone's favourite during summer. For anyone looking for some must-try Indian summer recipes that are not only healthy but are an excellent antidote to intense summer heat, Kokum Sharbat is not a miss. It's a tangy-sweet beverage made from the fruit of the kokum tree that is typically cherished in coastal regions of western India. What makes it truly special is that, apart from being the ultimate coolant, it offers you numerous amazing health benefits. Want to know? Soothe acidity and relieve indigestion, protect the body from cellular damage caused by free radicals (owing to the presence of antioxidants). Not only this, its fruity taste and pleasant aroma may elevate your mood too.
Key tip: Always use good-quality dried kokum peels for the best flavour and colour. Look for dark peels that have a strong, pleasant aroma. If you're using fresh kokum, make sure it's ripe.
Rajasthani watermelon curry
Rajasthani watermelon curry can be the most fascinating among all the healthy Indian summer recipes you have read till now. As the name suggests, watermelon is the key ingredient of this dish. This savoury curry is made with either the red flesh of the watermelon or, more commonly, the white inner rind of the watermelon. You'll find the dish perfectly balanced as you take the first bite. The natural sweetness of the watermelon (or its subtle sweetness in the rind) is beautifully contrasted with the heat from chillies and the aromatic depth of various spices like cumin, turmeric, coriander, and sometimes ginger and garlic.
Key tip: Use Fresh watermelon for the best taste.