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With the new weather, you get new varied options for vegetables. India is the hub of agriculture, so you can leverage the diversity and add some variety to your everyday lunch with different vegetables. The summer options are really vast, ranging from the famous baingan ka bharta to karela.
So, to keep your body temperature low, survive the sunny days, and also have a plethora of flavours for your palette, here are some traditional Indian recipes. No matter if you’re a beginner or a pro at cooking, with these easy-to-make options, you can fill up your kitchen with the aroma of Indian spices. What are you waiting for? Get cooking and fill up your tummy with both delicious and nutritious food.
Baingan Ka Bharta
Baingan, or eggplant, is one of the most easily accessible vegetables in summer. And baingan ka bharta is widely popular for its rich smoky flavour. To make it at home, roast an eggplant on a flame. Next, peel the roasted vegetable’s skin and mash it. Prepare the basic masala with chopped onions, garlic, ginger, and chillies, along with a mix of spices and mash in the roasted eggplant. Cook it till all the contents are soft and well-mixed. You can garnish it with ghee and chopped cilantro and enjoy it with freshly made roti.
Lauki Ke Kofte
Lauki, ghiya, or bottle gourd is another summer vegetable that helps to keep you cool and refreshed. You can make lauki ke kofte and a tangy twist to your lunch by grating a medium-sized bottle gourd and making a batter with besan and spices like red chilli powder, turmeric powder, coriander powder, and salt. After they are into crispy balls, you can prepare a sumptuous gravy with chopped tomatoes, onions, some water, and the usual spices. Finally, mix the kofte into the gravy and let them absorb the flavours. You can then eat with either rice or roti.
Bharwa Karela
Bharwa karela, or stuffed bitter gourd, is a traditional Indian dish that is enjoyed in almost all parts of India. You can make bharwa karela by slitting a karela lengthwise and removing its seeds. Then, prepare the mixture to be stuffed inside it with mashed potatoes, tomatoes, besan, a little water, and the usual species like turmeric powder, chilli powder, coriander powder, amchur, and salt. Next, stuff the karela and shallow fry it till the insides are also thoroughly cooked. Now, all that’s left is to savour with a roti.
Bhindi Fry
Bhindi, or okra, is a summer-special vegetable that can be made in various. However, the easiest and the tastiest option is bhindi fry. To make it by yourself, cut the okra into small pieces and set them aside for some time. Then, heat up some oil and add jeera, onion, and spices like turmeric powder, red chilli powder, cumin powder, and salt. Cook till the onion turns golden brown, and then add the chopped pieces of lady finger. Let it cook till the vegetable is soft, and then you’ll be ready to serve it with a hot roti.
Jeera Petha
Petha, or pumpkin, is used in several summer dishes and even desserts. To make this simple yet flavourful dish, you need to take a pumpkin, peel it and slice it into small pieces. Then, you can prepare the basic masala with oil, jeera, and your go-to spices like red chilli powder, turmeric powder, and salt. After making the masala, add the pumpkin pieces and let them cook for some time till they are soft. For a wholesome lunch, eat with either hot rice or roti.
Aloo Baingan
Aloo baingan, made with the goodness of potatoes and eggplant, is a delicious and kid-friendly dish. If your kids are picky eaters, you can make this by dicing both eggplant and potatoes into cubes. Then, make the masala with oil, jeera, and the usual spices like turmeric powder, red chilli powder, and salt. Then, add chopped onions, ginger, and garlic and cook till they are golden brown. Finally, add aloo and baingan and wait till they are thoroughly cooked. Enjoy with freshly prepared roti.
