12 Recipes You Should Try in Summers to Beat the Heat

All of us enjoy eating hot sizzling food in winters but as soon as summers set in, food is something that we eat to keep us going through the day. We hate to eat anything hot in summers and look for dishes that would help us beat the scorching heat in summers. If you are looking for some recipes that are perfect for summers, you have landed on the right page. Read this article to learn the recipes of some dishes that you can make in summers.

Healthy Indian Food Recipes You Should Try in Summers

Nobody likes to spend long hours in the kitchen in the hot summer months. You’d want to make something that can be made quickly and won’t require much efforts, right? And you can! Here we bring some healthy and popular summer foods and drinks that you can make in no time.

1. Masala Chaach

Masala chaach is one of the best summer drinks that you can make on a hot summer day. Masala chaach will keep you energised on a warm sunny day!

Ingredients

• 2 cups of curd
• 3 cups of cold water
• Few fresh mint leaves, chopped
• 1 tsp of roasted cumin seeds
• ½ tsp black pepper powder
• Salt to taste
• Ice, optional

Procedure

• In a blender jar, take the curd, water, salt, mint leaves, black pepper powder, and cumin powder. Add the ice if required and blend for a few seconds.
• Transfer the chaach in a tall glass. Sprinkle some cumin powder and chopped mint leaves on top.
• Serve cold.

2. Lauki Raita

We usually try many kinds of raitas in summers, but do you ever make lauki raita? If you have never tried lauki raita, try it now because it tastes delicious and it will also help you beat the summer heat.

Ingredients

• 1 small lauki
• 4 cups of curd
• 1 green chilli, chopped
• 1 tsp black pepper powder
• 1 tsp cumin powder
• 2 tbsp chopped green coriander
• 1 cup of water
• Salt to taste

Procedure 

• Peel and grate the lauki keep aside.
• Take the grated lauki in a pan containing the water. Cook the lauki for 3 to 4 minutes or until the lauki becomes tender.
• Strain the excess water and allow the lauki to cool.
• Take the curd in a bowl and blend it using a hand blender.
• Add the salt, black pepper powder, and cumin powder to the curd, and mix well.
• Add the grated lauki and green chilli to the curd and mix it well.
•  Transfer the raita into a serving bowl, sprinkle fresh coriander.
• Serve chilled as a side dish.

3. Kadhi

Kadhi is another dish you can enjoy in summers. You can enjoy kadhi with rice and chapati both.

Ingredients

• 2 cups of curd
• 1/2 cup besan
• Few curry leaves
• 1 tsp of mustard seeds
• 3 to 4 dried red chillies
• 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
• ½ red chilli powder
• A pinch of hing
• Salt to taste
• 2 tbsp of oil

Procedure

• Take the curd in a bowl and beat it nicely to make a smooth batter.
• Add the besan, salt, water, and red chilli powder to the curd and mix well.
• Heat the oil in a pan.
• Add the curry leaves, mustard seeds, and dried red chillies, and let them splutter.
• Add the besan and curd mixture to the pan and bring it to a boil.
• Switch off the flame and enjoy with rice.

4. Cucumber Raita

Cucumber raita tastes delicious and you can enjoy it as a side dish along with your regular dal, rice, and chapati.

Ingredients

• 2 small and tender cucumbers
• 3 cups of curd
• 1 tsp cumin powder
• 1 tsp of chaat masala
• Salt to taste

Procedure

• Take the curd in a bowl, add some water to it, and beat it well. Keep aside.
• Peel and grate the cucumbers. Then press the grated cucumber with a spoon to remove the water from it.
• Take the grated cucumber in a bowl and add the curd to it.
• Add the cumin powder, salt, chaat masala, and mix well.
• Store it in the refrigerator for an hour.
• Serve chilled.

5. Fish in Coconut Gravy

This fish curry dish would make an ideal option for your dinner menu. You can make it for your guests or for your family members. Check out the recipe below.

Ingredients

• 400 grams of boneless fish, cut into medium-sized pieces
• 2 onions, chopped
• 2 tomatoes, chopped
• 2 tbsp of chilli-garlic-ginger paste
• 1 tbsp mustard seeds
• 2 tbsp of grated coconut
• Few curry leaves
• 4 to 5 dried red chillies
• 1 tsp of turmeric powder
• 1 tsp of chilli powder
• 1 tsp of coriander powder
• 2 to 3 tbsp of hung curd
• 1 tbsp of fresh green coriander
• 2 cups of water
• 3 tbsp of mustard oil
• Salt to taste

Procedure

• Take the fish pieces in a bowl. Add half the amount of ginger-garlic-chilli paste to it. Also, add the salt and marinate it.
• Take the chopped onions and tomatoes in a blender and make a fine paste. Keep aside.
• Take one tablespoon of mustard oil in a non-stick pan, shallow fry fish pieces until crispy.
• Heat oil in another pan, add in the red chillies and curry leaves. Cook for a minute.
• Add the remaining garlic paste, tomato and onion puree, and cook until the oil separates.
• Add the chilli powder, coriander powder, turmeric powder, and grated coconut. Then add some water and let it cook over medium heat for 5 to 7 minutes or until the gravy thickens.
• Beat the curd and add it to the gravy. Switch to high flame, add the fish pieces, and cook for 2 to 3 minutes.
• Garnish with fresh coriander. Serve hot with rice.

6. Mango Lassi

If you need to feel refreshed after spending time in the scorching summer heat, we recommend a glass of chilled mango lassi. A sweet drink will surely make you feel energetic.

Ingredients

• 2 ripe mangoes (as per choice)
• 2 cups thick curd
• Ice, optional
• Sugar, if required.

Procedure

• Peel and chop the mangoes and take them in a blender. Keep some aside for garnishing.
• Add the curd, ice, and sugar, and blend for a few seconds.
• Once it turns smooth transfer it into a tall glass.
• Garnish with a few pieces of mango on top and gobble.

7. Masala Lemonade

What would be more refreshing and soothing on a hot summer day than a glass of chilled masala lemonade? Lemonade can refresh you and leave you asking for more. Here is the recipe of masala lemonade.

Ingredients

• 2 -3 lemons
• 1 small piece of ginger
• Few mints leaves, chopped
• 1 tsp of black salt
• 1 tsp of cumin powder
• 3 to 4 tbsp of sugar
• 3 glasses of water
• Ice cubes, as required

Procedure

• Cut the lemons in half and squeeze the juice in a jar discarding their seeds.
• Grate the ginger and squeeze its juice in a small bowl.
• Add the sugar, black salt, ginger juice and cumin powder in the jar containing lemon juice. Mix well until the sugar dissolves.
• Add the water and chopped mint leaves, and ginger juice, and mix well.
• Add ice cubes in the jar and mix again.
• Transfer the lemonade in glasses and serve chilled.

8. Aam Panna

This raw mango juice recipe is not only great to beat the summer heat but it is also good for digestion. You can also store the concentrate in the refrigerator for up to one week.

Ingredients

• 4 to 5 raw mangoes
• ¾ cup of sugar
• 1 tsp of black salt
• 1 tsp cumin powder
• 1 tsp black pepper powder
• 4 cups of water
• Crushed ice, as required
• Mint leaves, roughly chopped

Procedure

• Boil the mangoes until tender. Peel and take out the pulp in a bowl.
• Add the sugar, black salt, black pepper, and cumin powder in the bowl containing mango pulp and mix well.
• You can cook this mixture for a few minutes if you wish to preserve the concentrate for later use.
• Take two to three spoons of the mango pulp per glass, add the water, chopped mint leaves and mix well.
• Add crushed ice and serve chilled.

9. Badam Thandai

We all love to drink thandai during Holi but you can also enjoy it during summers. Here is a recipe of badam thandai that you can try.

Ingredients

• ½ cup almonds, soaked overnight
• ½ cup melon seeds, soaked overnight
• 1 tsp green cardamom powder
• A few saffron strands, soaked in a tablespoon on milk
• 1 tsp of fennel powder
• 4 cups of milk
• ½ tsp of black pepper powder
• 5 to 6 tbsp of sugar
• 1 tbsp of almonds, thinly sliced
• Few cubes of ice

Procedure

• Peel the skin of the almonds and take them in a blender. Add the melon seeds, fennel powder, sugar, cardamom powder, pepper powder, saffron and half a cup of milk in the blender and make a smooth paste.
• Add the rest of the milk and ice, and blend again for a few seconds.
• Transfer the thandai in a glass. Garnish with sliced almonds.
• Serve chilled.

10. Kesar Phirni

This yummy rice pudding recipe would be an ideal option for your summer get together and parties.

Ingredients

• 1 cup of rice, soaked in water for half an hour
• 1.5 litres of whole milk
• ¼ teaspoon kesar, soaked in half a cup of milk
• ½ cup almonds, chopped
• ½ cup pistachio, chopped
• ¾ cup of sugar

Procedure

• Grind the rice to make a coarse paste.
• Boil the milk and add the rice to it. Stir continuously to avoid lumps.
• Let it cook over medium heat until the milk thickens.
• Add the kesar, almonds, pistachios, and sugar and mix well.
• Garnish with chopped almonds. Serve chilled.

11. Banana Shake

This milk drink is ideal for growing kids but you also can enjoy it every now and then.

Ingredients

• 3 ripe bananas, chopped
• 3 cups of chilled milk
• ½ tsp of cinnamon powder
• 3 to 4 tbsp of sugar
• Ice (optional)

Procedure

• Take all the ingredients in a blender and make a smooth paste.
• Add more milk if required.
• Transfer the banana shake in glasses and keep it in the refrigerator.
• Serve chilled.

12. Lemon Rice

This yummy rice recipe can be made in no time. It would also make an ideal tiffin option for your kids.

Ingredients

• 2 cups of boiled white rice
• 2 to 3 tbsp of freshly squeezed lemon juice
• A handful of curry leaves
• 2 teaspoons chana daal, soaked in water
• 2 tsp of arhar daal, soaked in water
• 1 tsp of mustard seeds
• ½ tsp of turmeric powder
• 3 to 4 dry red chillies
• 2 tbsp of coconut oil
• 1 tbsp of chopped coriander leaves

Procedure

• Heat the oil in a wok.
• Add the red chillies, mustard seeds, and curry leaves, and let the seeds splutter.
• Add the chana dal and arhar dal and cook for a few minutes.
• Add the turmeric powder and rice. Mix well.
• Add the lemon juice and give it a thorough mix.
• Garnish with coriander leaves. Serve hot with garlic chutney and curd.

Try some of these recipes and make your summer meals yummier and more special!

Also Read:

Kid-Friendly Drink Recipes for Summer
Yummy Oil-Free Snacks for a Healthy You
Quick and Easy Family Dinner Recipe