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The numerous songs that have been dedicated to monsoon in Bollywood are reason enough for why there are special dishes associated with this season. While the season usually falls between the months of July and August, it may slightly vary in different regions of the country. Fried snacks like pakoras are quintessential monsoon dish which are deep-fried fritters, enjoyed with a side of chutney and hot tea. However, you needn’t wait for evenings to start the monsoon fare.
Bright, rainy mornings can also be celebrated with delicious breakfast treats. Anything fried and crispy complements this weather and there are a range of dishes that can be prepared for the morning meals too. Be it the deep-fried bread pakora or the flaky kachori, you cannot miss out on these tempting recipes in monsoon.
Here are some recipes that you can try at home.
1. Onion Kachori
For the unversed, Kachori is a puffed, round fried dish that is made with all-purpose flour dough. The Kachori can be stuffed with a variety of ingredients, ranging from onions to potatoes, moong dal and more. Finely chopped onions, tossed in a spicy masala are filled into the Kachori dough and then deep-fried in hot oil. Interestingly, Kachori can be either paired with a mint and tamarind chutney or made even more filling, by serving with a delicious aloo ki subzi (potato curry).
2. Bhature Chole
Ask anyone in Delhi if they know about Bhaturas and you’ll get yes as an answer. The deep-fried fluffy bread is made from a maida dough that has been fermented. The Bhaturas are usually larger than a roti or poori and have a thick layer. Moreover, the dough is flavoured with red chilli powder and jeera in a few cases. This deep-fried golden-brown bread is then dipped into a bowl of spicy chickpea curry called chole and served with sliced onions and green chillies.
3. Bread Pakora
A hefty cousin of regular pakoras, the Bread Pakora holds its distinction in the sense that it has the element of bread in it. While regular pakoras are made with sliced vegetables dipped in a chickpea flour batter (besan), bread pakora takes a slightly different course. Bread slices are halved and then a mashed potato stuffing is sandwiched between two halves. This sandwich is then dipped in the batter and deep-fried making for a heavy monsoon breakfast. At times, paneer is also stuffed in place of potatoes in the bread.
4. Medu Vada
Medu Vada is a popular breakfast treat from South India. A South-Indian style fritter, medu vada is generally made from urad dal batter, flavoured with a few spices like black peppercorns, curry leaves and cumin seeds. The word medu means soft in the region and this vada is a round fritter. The vada is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Deep-fried until golden-brown, the vada is served with coconut chutney and sambhar. Not just monsoon, medu vadas can be eaten any time for breakfast.
5. Vada Pav
A Maharashtrian cousin of the South Indian vada, this fritter is different from the medu vada. The vada is usually like a patty that is stuffed with potatoes. The deep-fried ball is then sandwiched in a pav, a kind of bun. Spicy chutneys are slathered on both sides of the bun and the vada pav is served with a green chilli on the side. It is a common breakfast dish as well as street snack in Maharashtra and the fried vada makes it apt for monsoon too.
