The temperatures may soar one day and dip a little the next, but the heatwave that has hit North India can only be described as debilitating. With the hope that cooler days are on the horizon, here are some Indian recipes to effectively hydrate and nourish your body.
Kakdi Koshimbil
Kakdi Koshimbir is a no-brainer to make on days when temperatures exceed 40 degrees Celsius, as cucumber is the base for a quick and easy Indian summer salad. Many may think of cucumber as basic, but in this salad recipe from Ministry of Curry, the seasoning adds a delicious kick.
material: Cucumbers – 4, Ghee – 1 tbsp, Jeera – 1 tsp, Hing – 1 pinch, Chopped green chilli – 1, Roasted and ground peanuts – 2 tbsp, Finely chopped coriander leaves – 1 handful, Salt to taste
Method: Peel and dice the cucumbers and keep aside. Season with ghee, jeera, hing and chilli and pour over the cucumbers. Add remaining ingredients, mix and taste.
Watermelon Lemonade
Tired of having nimbu paani every time you’re thirsty but don’t feel like drinking water? This watermelon lemonade recipe is super tropical.
material: 6 cups cold water, 1 cup sugar, 5 cups diced watermelon (without seeds), 1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
Method: Dissolve the sugar in 1 cup of water and set aside. Blend the watermelon and strain it. Mix all the ingredients together and drink.
Moong sprout salad
When temperatures soar, your favorite (unhealthy) snacks can leave you feeling sluggish and heavy, so this moong sprout salad comes in as a healthy yet tasty alternative to your usual snacks.
material: Green moong sprouts – 1 cup, Grated carrots – 1/2 cup, Pomegranate seeds – 1/2 cup, Chopped green chillies – 2-4, Grated coconut – 2 tbsp, Chopped coriander leaves – a handful, Lemon juice – 2 tbsp, Salt to taste, Tempering – Mustard seeds – 1 tsp, Hing – a pinch, Curry leaves – 1 sprig, Oil to taste
Method: Mix all the salad ingredients together and set aside while you prepare the tempering. Once done, pour over the salad, mix and serve.
Homemade mango popsicles
You, me, we all scream for ice cream. Who doesn’t love ice cream? That said, commercial processed and preservative-filled ice cream is not a good choice on a daily basis. Instead, try this mango popsicle recipe from the blog Spices n Flavors and make your own popsicles at home.
material: Coarsely chopped mango – 3 cups, Lemon juice – 1 tbsp, Sugar – 1/3 cup, Water – as required. You will need popsicle moulds for this recipe.
Method: Mix all ingredients together until thick and sticky, adding water only if mixture is too thick to stir, pour into popsicle molds, insert popsicle sticks and freeze until set.
Cucumber curry
Did you know that cucumbers are not only delicious when eaten raw but can also be cooked into a delicious cold curry? Try this recipe for Cucumber Mol Kuzhambu from Archana’s Kitchen.
material: Peeled and chopped cucumber – 4 pieces, Fresh coconut – 1/2 cup, Chopped ginger – 1 inch, Mustard seeds – 1 tsp, Chopped green chillies – 4 pieces, Haldi – 1/4 tsp, Coriander leaves – 1-2 pieces, Hung curd – 2-3 tbsp, Salt to taste
Method: Boil the cucumbers in half a cup of water with a little salt until soft. Crush the coconut, ginger, chilli, mustard seeds, coriander and haldi into a fine paste and add it to the boiling cucumbers. Cook on low flame for 2-3 minutes. Adjust the salt, add yogurt and serve with rice.
Gond Katira Lemonade
Gond Katira is all the rage this summer. This “natural gum” is popular among those seeking the cool weather of Indian summer. Try this easy Cookpad recipe to get to know this seasonal ingredient.
material: Gondkatira – 1 piece (soaked for 3-4 hours), Chia seeds – 1 teaspoon (soaked), Juice of 1 lemon, Roasted jeera powder – 1 teaspoon, Rock salt – 1 teaspoon, Sugar – 2 tablespoons, Cold water – 2 cups.
Method: Mix all ingredients together before adding water. Adjust sweetness to taste.
Needless to say, in these extreme heat conditions, drinking at least 3 litres of water throughout the day is a must.