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Refreshing Summer Foods To Beat The Heat

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Surviving the Indian summers with temperatures soaring as high as 46 degree centigrade is no joke. From dry heat in the northern parts of India to humid conditions in the coastal regions, even a simple act of stepping out of your home feels like a test of endurance. We can’t help but think of having something light, hydrating and refreshing to cool down ourselves from the harsh sweltering summers.

The beauty of the Indian kitchen is that it has spices and flavours curated according to the season that suit your health and body. The humble spices, simple cooking methods and ingredients are all harmonized with our seasons. During summer, the emphasis shifts to cooling elements and ingredients that help in lowering the temperature of the body including items like curd, raw mangoes, mint, cucumber and lemon, and seasonal fruits like watermelon and musk melon. These are not just flavourful but also incredibly effective in controlling the body heat and giving respite from summer heat.

Well, Ram Bandhu is here to add that zingy, spicy, delicious twist to your monotonous summer routine. Here, we bring you a selection of time-tested traditional summer coolers and snacks, made even more convenient and flavourful with Ram Bandhu’s signature products. From zesty fruit chaats to instant and cooling aam panna, our collection of recipes and ready mixes are created to keep your taste buds happy and your body cool this summer.

1. Fruit Chaat with Ram Bandhu Chaat Masala:

During summers we tend to eat less and forget that our body needs much more hydration in the summers compared to regular days. Fruit chaat is lighter, helps in easy digestion and also keeps the body hydrated especially in sweltering summers.

Ingredients:

  • 1 apple, diced
  • 1 banana, sliced
  • 1 cup papaya cubes
  • 1/2 cup pomegranate pearls
  • 1 orange, segmented
  • 1 kiwi, chopped
  • Juice of 1 lemon
  • 1 teaspoon Ram Bandhu Chaat Masala (adjust to taste)

Instructions:

  1. Take a large bowl, and add to it all the chopped and diced fruits.
  2. Now squeeze a fresh lemon’sjuice on it.
  3. Sprinkle Ram Bandhu Chaat Masala generously over the fruit chaat prepared.
  4. Mix everything gently and refrigerate it for 15-20 minutes.
  5. Serve chilled for a zesty and refreshing treat.

2. Nimbu Pani:

Nimbu Pani has been used for decades by our ancestors as a cooling and refreshing drink, especially in the summer. It is loaded with Vitamin C and electrolytes and is perfect for replenishing lost salts and cooling down the body. We bring to you two recipes of Nimbu Pani – the traditional way and an instant version by using Ram Bandhu Nimbu Pani Mix

Traditional Nimbu Pani Recipe:

Ingredients:

  • Juice of 2 lemons
  • 2 tablespoons sugar (adjust to taste)
  • ½ teaspoon black salt
  • ¼ teaspoon roasted Ram Bandhu Cumin Powder
  • A pinch of regular salt
  • 2 cups chilled water
  • Few mint leaves (optional)
  • Ice cubes (optional)

Instructions:

  1. In a jug, mix lemon juice, sugar, black salt, roasted cumin and regular salt.
  2. Add chilled water and stir until sugar dissolves.
  3. Add ice cubes and mint leaves.
  4. Serve chilled immediately.

Instant Version Using Ram Bandhu Nimbu Pani Mix:

Instructions:

  1. Take 1 sachet of Ram Bandhu Nimbu Pani Mix .
  2. Add it to a glass of chilled water (approximately 180 ml).
  3. Stir well, add ice and serve chilled.

Tip: Add soda instead of water for a fizzy version!

3. Aam Panna:

Aam Panna also known as Raw Mango Cooler is a great drink to cool your body in the summer. Made by using raw mangoes, it is tangy, slightly sweet and helps prevent the body from over heating. We bring to you two recipes of Nimbu Pani – the traditional way and an instant version by using Ram Bandhu Pudina Aam Panna Mix.

Traditional Aam Panna Recipe:

Ingredients:

  • 2 large raw mangoes
  • 4 tablespoons sugar or jaggery
  • ½ teaspoon black salt
  • ¼ teaspoon Ram Bandhu Cumin Powder
  • ½ teaspoon cardamom powder (optional)
  • Mint leaves
  • Chilled water
  • Ice cubes (optional)

Instructions:

  1. Boil or roast the raw mangoes until soft. Let them cool.
  2. Peel and extract the pulp.
  3. Blend the pulp with sugar or jaggery, black salt, cumin, cardamom and mint.
  4. Add chilled water to achieve desired consistency.
  5. Serve with ice.

Instant Version Using Ram Bandhu Pudina Aam Panna Mix:

Instructions:

  1. Mix 1 sachet of Ram Bandhu Pudina Aam Panna Mix with 180 ml chilled water.
  2. Stir thoroughly.
  3. Garnish with mint and ice cubes.

Enjoy a hassle-free, instantly refreshing drink to cool your body.

4. Traditional Dahi Vada with a chatpata twist:

Anything in the form of chaat is usually very light to eat and also refreshing at the same time. So are the cold, spongy vada’s dunked in yogurt and chutneys and chaat masala. Dahi Vada is the ultimate summer food we fondly remember having in our homes during the summer holidays.

Ingredients:

Instructions:

1. Wash the udad dal 2-3 times with water properly, and let it soak for about 5-6 hours. After soaking it drain the excess water and grind it into a thick and smooth batter using very little water. Add salt and beat the batter vigorously to incorporate air, this will help to make the vadas soft and fluffy.

2. Take a deep-frying pan and heat some oil in it to fry the vadas. Drop spoonfuls of the batter into the hot oil and fry on medium heat until golden brown and crisp on all sides. Keep the vadas on kitchen paper to soak the excess oil.

3. Now soak the hot vadas in a bowl of warm water for approximately 10 minutes. This procedure helps to soften the vadas. After soaking them for 10 minutes, gently press each of the vada’s between your palms to squeeze out the water.

4. Next, in a separate bowl whisk the curd with sugar until smooth and creamy. You can add a little water or milk to get the desired consistency.

5. Place 2 vadas in a serving dish and pour the curd generously over the top, making sure they are well coated and dipped in curd.

6. Drizzle some Temptin’ Imli Sauce and GreenHot Chutney on top of it.

7. Sprinkle Ram Bandhu Chaat Masala evenly over the vadas.

8. Garnish with freshly chopped coriander leaves and pomegranate seeds for a burst of colour and added freshness.

9. Refrigerate for 30 minutes before serving to allow the flavours to seep into the dish and chill thoroughly.

Summer Health Tips To Complement Your Diet:

  • Hydrate Well: : It is very essential to hydrate your body not just with water but juicy fruits, electrolytes, coconut water, sugarcane juice, buttermilk etc. to help maintain the body’s hydration level.
  • Eat Fresh Seasonal Fruits: Summer special fruits like watermelon, muskmelon, lychee and sugarcane are full of water that helps maintain your water intake and provide sustained energy.
  • Avoid Deep-Fried Foods: Stick to steamed, boiled or grilled preparations.
  • Dress Light, Eat Light: Opt for cotton clothing and small, frequent meals.
  • Rest Well: Try to get enough sleep and avoid excessive exposure to the sun between noon and 4 pm.

Indian summers have always been a bit harsh compared to other seasons, however, our rich and diverse cuisines have evolved embracing the seasonal fluctuations, and have come up with various delicious and healthy recipes to complement our body’s requirements.

Follow us for more such tasty and homemade recipes. Get a varied range of spices, pickles, papads, etc. on our official website, www.rambandhu.com, and order our top quality products today!

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