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5 Healthy And Tasty Indian Summer Recipes!

India is known for its hot and humid climate, especially during the months from April- July, the temperature crosses all records. In India, many varieties of fruits and vegetables are available during summer season. These can be turned easily into yummy dishes. But, summer is the time when most of us chose to step out of the kitchen. Excessive heat and humidity makes it tough for us to cook. So, does that mean we are not going to savour yummy recipes? Hell no, in this article I am going to share with you the most amazing and yummy summer recipes filled with authentic Indian flavours. They are yummy and have many health benefits. Let’s learn how to cook different kinds of authentic Indian summer recipe!

1. Rasam :

If you have ever been to South India or tried South Indian cuisine, you know the importance of rasam. Rasam is a soup made with tamarind, tomatoes and spices. This yummy delicacy from the southern part of the nation is a treat to food lovers. In summer, when you mostly tend to suffer from digestion problem, this healthy dish can help you prevent indigestion and constipation.

Start this recipe by heating oil in apot along with mustard and cumin seeds and some dry red chillies. Next, add some garlic cloves, curry leaves and hing (asfoetida ). In another pan, tomatoes are saute along with salt and turmeric until it gets mushy. Then, add the prepared masala to it and cook for few more minutes. Pour some water along with tamarind paste and jaggery. Add salt at this stage if required.

rasam

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Bring the mixture to a boil and add chopped coriander leaves. Your delicious rasam is ready to serve. Serve this flavorful Indian summer recipe with rice and papad. You can make your rasam healthy by adding some nutritious jaggery to it. Buy our variety of authentic karupatti and enjoy the yummy flavours.

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2.Kadhi :

Kadhi is again one delicious Indian summer recipe made in nearly most part of the country. It is very easy and yummy as well. Kadhi is known for keeping the body cool during hot weather and improving digestion. Add some yogurt and besan (chickpea flour) in a bowl . Then, put some chopped green chillies, turmeric powder, ginger-garlic paste and salt into it. Whisk the mixture nicely by adding water, until there is no lump left. Put this mixture into a pan and boil it up on medium flame.

kadhi - Indian summer recipe

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Heat ghee in a small pan and add some mustard and cumin seeds to it. Next, put some dry red chillies, cinnamon sticks and cloves. Add some curry leaves and hing (asafoetida) to it. Lastly, add this seasoning to the kadhi along with some chopped coriander leaves. Simmer the mixture for 5-7 minutes and serve hot with rice or khichdi. This Indian summer recipe is a must try for all those who love curd.

3.Rice Pudding :

Rice is a very essential part of Indian cuisine. Whatever the recipe is, Indians don’t need a reason to dig into rice delicacies. This tasty Indian summer recipe tops everybody’s food list. Take some rice grains, water and a pinch of salt in a pan and boil over medium heat.

rice pudding

Cover the mixture and cook until all the water is absorbed. Add some milk and sugar into the mixture and cook for 30-45 minutes with frequent stirring. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Garnish with some pomegranate or any fruit of your choice and serve chilled. For more healthy and tasty rice pudding, use our variety of Kerala matta rice, which full of nutrition. We promise to serve the best!

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4. Vegetable Stew :

Vegetable stew is a great nutritious meal option. This Indian summer recipe is inspired from the one made in Kerala. Filled with the goodness of lots of yummy veggies, this recipe is very easy to prepare. Heat oil in a pan and add cinnamon, cardamon and cloves. Next, add some  black pepper and saute the mixture of spices for a while. Then, add ginger, garlic, sliced onions along with green chillies and curry leaves. Saute till the onions become translucent. Meanwhile, chop down carrots, potato, french beans and capsicum (optional). You can also put onions and tomatoes if you want. Put in the veggies with some green peas. Add coconut milk and cover it so that the veggies get cooked well. Add some curry leaves and serve with rice.

veggies used in vegetable stew

5.Fruit Custard :

If you are still wondering about what to cook in summer for desert, then I have got something for you. Fruit custard or Mixed fruit custard, whatever you call it, is an amazing and healthy desert cooked in nearly all households. Take custard powder in a bowl and add 1/2 cup milk to it. Dissolve it nicely to avoid any lumps. Now. take 2 cups of milk in a pan and heat on medium flames. Add sugar and mix well.

fruit custard - Indian summer recipe

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When it starts boiling, put in the custard mixture and stir well for 5-6 minutes. Once thickened, remove it from flames and take out in a bowl. Place it into the refrigerate and chill it for 25-30 minutes. Chop down all the fruits (mango, banana, apple, pomegranate, grapes, papaya) into similar size. Add the fruits to the chilled custard and mix. Your yummy fruit custard is ready to eat. This recipe of custard helps you stay cool and is very healthy as it contains  many fruits at a time.

So, no matter how high the temperature gets now, you have learnt all easy, tasty and healthy Indian summer recipes. Try these recipes in your kitchen and let us know in the comment section.

Stay Happy And Healthy This Summer!

External Reference :

How to make rasam

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Plan your summer food habit with taste – 7 Amazing diet ideas and much more!

Summer is right on the doorstep! What do you feel? It will be full of bright yellow mangoes dipped in fresh water and kids chirping around in balcony! Now come back to reality because nowadays, summer is all about taking extra care of your skin, digestive system, and body. We will tell you how you can plan your summer food habits without compromising with your taste.

 Why is it important to watch your food in summer?

Dieting is not just about curbing the fat content to lose weight. You can do dieting for improving your immunity, digestion, removing toxins, etc. Talking about summer food, you must clearly know about it. Many people have this false belief that we must eat well in summer because it’s too hot and hence, the body needs more energy. It’s not what you eat. It all depends on how well you drink, healthy fluid of course.

summer food

You lose more fluid than you consume. Different parts of India have different types of summer. While summer in southern part has lot of humidity, Rajasthan summer is scorching heat which can make you faint within 10 minutes. Similarly, summer in northern belt is tricky. You won’t know that it is affecting you and you will be bed ridden with heat stroke all of a sudden. Your metabolism faces a change and you must plan your summer food accordingly.

The basic rule of summer food

One simple rule is to remain hydrated! And we are not pointing out to your water bottles. There are many ways to stay hydrated apart from drinking water. You can have fruits or salads which have loads of water content in them. It could be water melon, musk melon, cucumber, lettuce, or anything.

This summer, adapt one good summer food habit by consuming lots of water. It could be in any form.

Quick summer food recipes

In order to help you with your summer food habits, here is a quick guide on how you can eat healthy as well as tasty food. Have a look and don’t forget to share your summer hacks with us.

P.S. Don’t look for exact quantities of ingredients because we believe in following our heart! You like extra lemons, you put extra lemons!

 

Organic tea Popsicle

You might have heard of different types of organic tea. Now what you can do is, boil water and add your usual tea leaves along with some mint leaves, lemon zest, and honey or jaggery for sweetening. Allow it to cool down and add some more crushed mint leaves and lemon juice. Strain it and let it freeze in the form of popsicle. Or else you can consume it as you like.

Nungu Juice

This is an extremely healthy summer food or juice, which can beat the heat like magic. In south India, it is available in every corner of street when Agni Nakshatra hits the region. It is made out of the fleshy fruit from palm shells which has cloudy appearance and tastes like tender coconut water.

south indian summer recipes

Just boil it and add some honey along with lemon juice. Allow it to cool down and one of the best south Indian summer recipes is on your table. It tastes amazing and we have heard it from every person who has tried it.

Yoghurt dip with a twist

All this while, you either had a usual buttermilk or simply yoghurt with chopped onions. And it is obvious to get bored of it after a while because we are humans. Our taste buds need a change and uniqueness. We would suggest you to chop cucumber, tomato, onion, and carrots. Add it to yoghurt and mix it well. For some taste, you can add black salt and roasted cumin powder.

summer food for kids

Avoid chilli flakes or any other spice. Mix it well and you can have it with rice, chapatti, bread or dosa. You won’t ask for any other side dish once you have tasted this. Try it out and let us know!

Aam Panna/Rose lassi

Anyone who has been to northern part of India in summer season, will know how important is lassi and raw mango slush! All you have to do is pressure cook raw mango and add roasted cumin powder as per your taste. You can add mint leaves too, if you like the flavor. Also, we would suggest you to add jaggery instead of sugar because too much of carbs intake is heavy for your live during summer season. Mix it well and don’t worry if some pulps are floating. You don’t have to be perfect everytime!

summer food

And rose lassi is all about churning curd well with water and adding rooh afza syrup or gulkand into it! We bet, this will turn into your staple summer drink when heat is sucking all of your energy.

Fruit Popsicle

You of course know what we mean, don’t you? Cut fruits rich in water content and add some honey to them. Place it in ice cream mould and freeze! Be it water melon, banana, kiwi, or tender coconut. Mix all of them together and get started with your adventure.

Minty cutlet

This sounds interesting! A cutlet in summer without upsetting your stomach is not less than a dream. Take a bowl of left over simple cooked rice and add finely chopped mint leaves, grated carrot, and mash one boiled potato into it. Now make small cutlet cakes out of them and bake it without oil. This is one of the yummiest cutlets and you can trust us on that.

South Indian Snacks

The snacks from south India have least amount of spices and are loaded with nutrition. You can restock them before summer and munch a handful of them every evening. The best part about South Indian snacks is that your hunger will be eased without giving a sense of fullness. Isn’t that amazing? Buy south Indian snacks online and start and early bird preparation for summer.

Bonus summer food hacks that you need to remember!

  • Make a combination of coolants. Whenever you consume something, make sure it does not generate heat in your stomach.
  • Add curd to everything and anything. You want to eat spicy Kerala mixture, add some curd to it. You are craving for pickles, then mix it with curd and have it. Basically, curd can neutralize anything and make it healthy for summer. But, don’t add curd to everything! Watch your combination well before consuming.
  • Don’t eat acidic fruits in empty stomach. Banana is the safest diet for summer. Have one banana before and after food, and your digestion is 80% sorted.
  • Drink glucose water, sugarcane juice, or musk melon juice instead of normal water. These are way more effective than usual chilled water.
  • Reduce your diet because the digestion time is prolonged during summer. The best thing is to plan your summer food habits well before, so that you don’t have to make last minute arrangements. Execute your diet plan gradually as the temperature rises in your city or town.
  • Reduce the use of garlic, ginger, oils, chilli powder, and pepper to minimum.

 

We understand your excitement for summer, but you can’t avoid your health. Eat wisely and you will be able to enjoy every element of summer. Just keep in mind the theory of balance. Whatever you eat, it should be in a balanced quantity. Fruits, vegetables, drink, and beverages should be consumed nominally. Don’t let your cravings ruin your health in summer. Take care of your body because it comes first.

Share your idea of summer food habits with us and other readers! And, let us know if you would like to read something in particular from our blog. We will try to deliver our best!

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Green Tea : The Ultimate Summer Drink – Benefits And Recipe!

With temperature breaking records, enjoying the season has become more of a battle between heat and us. The sun refuses to lower its ray while we suffer the most. Going out during day times or even simply sitting peacefully at home has become a dream. Where ever you go, sweat and heat come along with you. But there is something, which may not reduce the heat but it can surely help you survive it. Green tea it is, the benefits of which you will be exploring in this blog. Let’s explore!

green tea leaves

Green tea, unlike regular tea is made from Camellia sinensis  without any sort of withering or oxidation process. Though it has found a place in nearly most Asian cuisines, it originated in China several years back. Apart from taste and flavours, it is also used for its medicinal properties in Indian medicine. Every country serves its own version of green tea. Consumption of green tea in India has increased by 50% as of a survey conducted in 2013. The major tea producing states are : Assam, West Bengal, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Due to its nutritional values, it has become the most preferred drink in today’s world. Let us now learn the various benefits of consuming green tea in summer!

1.Stimulation Of Body :

It contains caffeine which helps in stimulating the body. Unlike other soft drinks, it contains caffeine naturally. This won’t harm you until you drink a ton of it. So keep your worry aside and consume this healthy option over your regular soft drink favourites.

green tea

 

2. Hydration :

Summer is the time when you need to keep your body hydrated on a regular basis. So, what better than some green tea. As per research conducted by some Australian scientist, it can be very helpful to keep the body hydrated. It contains little amount of natural caffeine, which as believed previously doesn’t cause dehydration.

3. Immunity Booster :

When it gets hot, you tend to drink more and more cool items, which sometimes disturbs the balance within the systems of our body. This leads to a series of health issues including cold and flu. This can be prevented by drinking green tea. It creates an anti-bacterial state within the body leaving you much less prone to infections. When everyone around you might be getting sick, you can sit back and relax due to your secret partner – green tea.

“Consuming green tea a day, keeps cold and flu away”

green tea

4. Increases Stamina :

It contains catechins, a type of anti-oxidant which are also known for boosting up metabolism. This amazing substances helps in burning of fats and increases your capacity to perform regular exercises. It also leads to loss of weight, helping you to fit in your favourite dress in much less time. When all your friends and family members will be exhausted and tired due to heat, you can step up and show them this awesome drink.

5. Protection Against Sun :

What is the next thing that worries you apart from heat and sweat in summer season?  Yes, I am talking about tanning and rashes due to exposure to sun rays. You spend so much of money to buy the best sunscreens, lotion and what not, just so you can protect yourself from sun damage. Let me introduce you to a much cheap and healthy option.

Green tea contains anti-oxidants which mitigates the damage that is done to the skin due to sun rays. It doesn’t necessarily block the rays but it does neutralise the free radicals of UV rays, which cause damage.

green tea

 

Apart from these amazing benefits, it also helps in preventing wrinkles, reducing risk of high blood pressure and provides protection against cancer causing cells. Now that you are aware of these awesome benefits of green tea, how about consuming some?  Buy our variety of fresh green tea and improve your health this summer.

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Consuming green tea regularly just as a drink can be quiet boring. Especially for foodies who like to try new delicacies, the same old tea recipe won’t be exciting at all. Below here, I am going to provide you different food items, where you can use green tea and prepare something new everyday. Let’s learn!

1.Green Tea Smoothie :

This one is for the days when you don’t feel like spending much time in the kitchen. This smoothie is one such tasty and easy option. Put some green tea, avocado, honey and spinach leaves in a mixture and blend until it smooth. Add a cup of cold milk and blend again. Check the consistency and serve with some ice cubes. Your yummy version of regular green tea is here!

green tea smoothie

2. Green Tea Cookies :

Everyone loves cookie, no matter what the flavour is. This green tea cookie recipe is a must try for those who like to blend health with flavour. Put powdered sugar, matcha powder and butter in a bowl. Add some spinach puree and beat until smooth. Add some egg yolks and beat until a nice non- sticky paste is prepared. Next, take some flour and a pinch of salt in another bowl. Add this to the spinach mixture, little at a time and beat to combine.

green tea cookies

Mix with your hands to pull the mixture into a ball. Wrap this ball into a plastic sheath and give it the shape of a flattened disk. Seal it up and refrigerate it for about 35-50 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat the oven at 350°F. When you’re ready to bake, roll out the mixture into a 1/2 inch thick disk. Cut out the cookies using a round-shape cookie cutter. You can use any shape of your choice. Drop these cookies into sugar and coat both the sides. set them up on a parchment-paper cookie sheet and bake for about 12-15 minutes. Take them out when done and cool down at room temperature. Your tasty cookies are ready to be savoured.

3. Tulsi Green Tea Drink :

This one’s the healthiest of all. Green tea mixed with the goodness of tulsi/basil leaves is my favourite drink. Wash and chop off tulsi leaves. Take some warm water in a bowl and add some green tea leaves to it. Add sugar as per taste along with tulsi leaves. Stir for a while and strain in a cup. Your healthy tea recipe is ready to serve. This nutritious drink  is also effective in protecting the body from cough and cold.

Now that I have provided you with everything related to green tea, try it out this summer and let us know your experiences. We will be more than happy to hear from you. Stay healthy this season!

External Reference :

Benefits of green tea