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    You are here: Home / Monsoon Special Recipes / Monsoon Food, 4 Ways to Enjoy

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    Monsoon Food, 4 Ways to Enjoy

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    The first rains bring in a petrichor and you dash out to get wet.

    Monsoon evokes pictures of rains, pakoda and ginger-infused tea!

    Tea and Kanda Bhaji
    Monsoon Special – Kanda Bhajji and Ginger Tea

    Monsoon also means festivals, think Ganesh, Raksha Bandhan, Nag Panchmi, Rath Yatra, Teej.

    Festival follows food where we gorge on good food. We forget that we have to eat light food and end up with a bloating or worse tummy upset.

    The diverse country that we are, even our rains are different in different parts of the country! Like, Central India it pours then it becomes all cool and pleasant. My hometown is Dharwad, a hill station, it drizzles continuously and it gets cold. But in Goa, we get 100 cms of rain! We do not see the sun for 4-5 days and the humidity is extremely high. Because it is humid you do not feel cold at all.

    Monsoon a view from our flat

    All around the country, there are jobs to be done before the monsoon. The farmer tilling his fields is common but there are other jobs too.

    In Goa the work for the monsoon begins well in advance right from unclogging the drains, cutting trees, maintenance works.

    The common man in Goa too has an agenda, he is after what is locally called “Ghar shivu Jai” the house is to be stitched. The age-old houses with tiled roofs that are typical of Goa need to be relaid. Of course like the rest of the country the fields are tilled for sowing paddy.

    The Goan homemaker is worried she needs to do “Purmet” or storage. Purumet che feast is an old and important fair. In the past villages used to barter goods for the coming rains, people will even now prefer to buy at Purmet. You have the vendors selling small onions braided together, kokum, coconut oil, salt, chillies, dried fish, alsande. Dried fish too is stored as Goan cannot do without fish and there is a ban of fishing activity from June, every year.

    Schools reopen and so the scramble for new uniforms, rainy sandals (we were open-toed sandals till September), bags, books and book covers rule the roost. If that is not enough the school bus or rickshaw arrangement!

    But from this year onwards I will be missing the noise, as Akanksha is moving to Bangalore. The place will seem more empty now!

    This is me and my rant about Monsoon! What about you? Do you also love it and hate it!

    Most of my concerns, as usual, are food and what to eat to be in good health.

    Most Indians consciously or unconsciously follow Ayurveda. Food habits follow Ritucharya or seasonal guidelines. That means that following the seasonal guideline we can maintain good health and enjoy the season!

    So how do you meet the Rainy Season headon?

    Maruti Temple, miramar
    Monsoons

    1. Build up immunity

    • The dampness of monsoon means colds and stomach upsets. It is important to take care of personal hygiene. Also, keep your skin dry to prevent skin infections.
    •  Avoid street food, cut fruits and vegetables, especially now post the lockdown period.  Eat warm but light food that is steamed or boiled and low in spices. Drink a lot of water as your body needs it.
    • To build immunity think soups, khichdi, pez or Kanjee made from the local boiled rice is a staple in Goa.
    • Teezan or Ragi Porridge keeps you full and healthy too.
    • Drinking Kasai or Kashaya helps keep cold and sore throat away. It is made by boiling coriander seeds, pepper, tulsi, ginger, haldi, jaggery. The other ingredients like black raisins etc differ from household to household and the age of the person to whom it is to be administered.
    • Fresh Haldi leaves are used to steam food too. They impart a delicious aroma and flavour to the food and also help in building up your immunity.
    Alle Limbu
    When you have to deal with tummy issues every monsoon, here is one no cook home remedy that made from ginger and lemon.
    Check out this recipe
    A beautifully pink gass of ginger lemon concentrate
    Jeera Water Home Remedy for Upset Stomach
    Jeera water,also Cumin Water flushes out all your system!
    Check out this recipe
    Cumin Water for Tummy Upsets
    Kashmiri Kahwa, Kashmiri Tea recipe
    Qejwa, khewa is an aromatic tea with spices, a classic warming drink.
    Check out this recipe
    Kashmiri Kahwa, Kashmiri Tea Recipe

    2. Stick to traditional food

    What you look for in monsoons is comfort food!

    • In my family, it happens to be soup! Between the rains and wet raincoats and umbrellas, we all need a warm soup! Since we keep drinking 2-3 bowls it becomes a meal. I have not documented many of my soups because I forget to take pictures. This year hopefully will be different.
    • Then who does not like hot bhajiya! 
    • Khichidi and papad? I generally pair khichidi with a sweet and sour rasam we call Good saar!
    • Rasam hot steaming bowls of rasam is wonderful.
    • Since there is a ban on fishing, fresh fish is scarce. The stored dried fish is used to make many curries, kissmore etc in Goan homes. You can also make vegetarian kissmore like papad kissmore, Vidyacho Kissmore, karati kissmore.
    • Then we have magad, a jam made from mangoes, pineapple halwo again a jam. I prefer the pineapple one as it is laced with a little chilli powder so it is sweet and pungent too.
    Kanda Bhajji Recipe
    Crispy deep-fried onion bhajiya and ginger tea is something you really enjoy when it is raining.
    Check out this recipe
    Monsoon Special - Kanda Bhajji
    650. Potato Stuffed Chilli Bhajias – Mayuri’s Jikoni
    What is Scoville Heat Unit or Index? Time is flying! It’s already nearly the end of the month.End of the month usually means a recipe for the Shhh Cooking Secretly group.This group was started by Priya of Priya’s Versatile Recipes. I, along with Amrita of The Food Samaritan help Priya to run it. …
    Check out this recipe

    3. Stick to Regional Foods 

    During rains, regional food takes a lot of importance.

    • Since we need to eat light food include the local cucumbers, gourds, pumpkins.
    • My maid, when she visits her village during the rains, comes with something she calls “karchikai” it is a small pod which she fries with garlic and red chilli powder. Tastes good!
    • We get and store tubers like yam or suran, Madi these stay good for an extended period and use them.
    • Arbi or Colocasia leaves grow mainly in this season. make Alu Vadi or Patra, Muddi Palya, a traditional Karnataka style vegetable, fresh green vegetables are used to make patal bhaji, tastes great.
    • In Goa, a vegetable called Taikulo grows wild and is relished with jackfruit seeds and Amado or hog plums.
    • Jackfruit seeds are sun-dried and stored to be eaten in the rainy season. 
    • Another way of eating these jackfruit seeds is in dal or sambar. 
    • You can also pressure cook the jackfruit seeds and then eat them with a mixture of oil, salt and chilli powder.
    • We also get tender hog plums the pickle made with them is mouthwatering.
    • Wild mushrooms are highly prized and are available for a very short period. They are generally made into tonak. I have tried making biryani and stir fry too with them. The taste is delicious and different from any others we know of.

    4. Enjoy The Festivals 

    The season of Hindu festivals starts here in the rain. Am I correct that we start with Ganesh, the Remover of Obstacles, after all, he the first Deity we always worship!

    • Steamed food is offered to the Lord!
      • Who can forget modak, steamed Dind, in Karnataka Kuch Kadbu are also served! 
      • To make up for the lack of vegetables you have usali, one of the best usli I have eaten is the Goan usali not too pungent or too much masala. They make quite a departure from what I make at home.
    • In Maharashtra, we have Rishi chi bhaji on the second day of Ganesh.
      • In Goa, Khatkhate, a stew of veggies is popular the main spice is “Triphala” or schezwan pepper. The one spice that is either loved or hated.
    • Fresh turmeric leaves are used to make patoli, to flavour mangane, a here.
      • Patoli is made by the Hindus for Nag Panchmi and by the Catholics for the Feast of the Virgin Mary on the 15th August.
    • Who can forget the Rath Yatra, the annual fair of Lord Jagannath celebrated with pomp and festivity?
    • Then in Tamil Nadu, water bodies are ritualistically worshipped. so you have a variety of dishes made from rice right from coconut rice to sweet Pongal.
    • Janmashtami and Gopalkala are also celebrated during this season. Krishana favourite food Poha is made to celebrate the festival.
    • But I suppose the most awaited festival is Onam with its Sadhya!! An amazing spread!

    Western India Festive Food

    Mooga Kann, Vegan Dessert from Goa
    Kann or Conn as it is also called Muga Conn is healthy pudding vegan and gluten-free.
    Check out this recipe
    Moong Kann
    Chocolate Khoya Modak
    Offer these delicious homemade modaks to Lord Ganesh.
    Check out this recipe
    Chocolate Khoya Modak
    Mooga Gathi alias Sprouted Mung The Goan Way
    A delicious no onion, no garlic mild gravy made from the sprouted green gram.
    Check out this recipe
    Moonga Gathi, a bowl of the mild curry
    Sweet Coconut Rice / Narali Bhat / Raksha Bandhan – Narali Poornima Special / Festive Cooking / Traditional Maharashtrian Cuisine
    Raksha Bandhan festival is a day dedicated to express the immaculate love and affection shared between a brother and a sister. In Indi…
    Check out this recipe
    Puranache Dind – Steamed Sweet Bengal Gram Parcels From Maharashtrian Cuisine
    Puranache Dind is an authentic Maharashtrian sweet delicacy specially made for the Nagpanchami festival. It is a steamed dish made fro…
    Check out this recipe

    Some recipes from Onam Sadhya

    Vegetable Stew in Coconut Milk
    A coconut milk-based vegan and gluten-free Isthu from Kerala that aromatic and delicious.
    Check out this recipe
    A bowl of vegan and gluten-free Isthu
    Pineapple Pulissery| Kerala-Style Pineapple In Yogurt Gravy
    Learn how to make this delicious accompaniment to an Onam sadya.
    Check out this recipe

    Tamil Nadu Specialities

    Milagu Jeeraga Sadam
    Need a simple rice dish that is easy to make and yet delicious? Try Pepper Jeera Rice. 
    Check out this recipe
    Milagu Jeeraga Sadam
    Sweet Pongal /Rice Pudding – Preethi’s Cuisine
    Pongal is a popular rice dish in Tamil Cuisine. In Tamil, the word pong or pongu means to ” boil over” or “spill over”. There are two varieties of pongal, Sakkarai Pongal which is a sweet, and Ven Pongal which is savoury. The rice boiled with milk and jaggery during the Pongal festival is also ca…
    Check out this recipe
    sweet-pongal-temple-style-sweet-pongal.htm
    Sweet Pongal temple style
    Check out this recipe
    Coconut Rice || thengai Sadam || kobbari annam || thengenakayi rice
    Coconut Rice || thengai Sadam || kobbari annam || thengenakayi rice
    Check out this recipe

    This Monsoon is what I love about Monsoons! Of course, I have painted a rosy picture of it. There are floods, landslides, famines and droughts. Lives are lost as well as livelihoods! I firmly believe that look at positives and that builds up. That is what I am focusing on.

    Archana

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. what a lovely idea to compile the different facets of Monsoon vis a single post.. I am drawn particulary to the Kanda Bhajia & the moong curry 🙂 lovely post, ARch !

      Reply

      • Thanks, Kalyani.

        Reply

    2. Nice little tips there on ways to enjoy and definitely one needs to boost up the immunity. Monsoon and pakoda goes hand in hand. Love Indian monsoons. I think the temple is Mangeshkar temple right?

      Reply

      • Renu, yes pakoda and Rains are synonyms. The temple is Maruti Temple, Miramar. We are about 21 kms away.

        Reply

    3. As we dont have a monsoon season here, it is totally a foreign concept to me. So interesting to learn of the foods and customs of another part of the world

      Reply

      • True Mir, for us being an agrarian society Monsoon does play an important role. Good Monsoons means a better economy.

        Reply

    4. Truly, rains and food go hand in hand. Apart from getting wet, what I love to cherish more during monsoons is having delicious recipes. You have put a great series of recipes worth cherishing.

      Reply

      • Thank you.

        Reply

    5. Love mansoon season and delcious chai along with fried snacks! You have lovely recipe roundups for monsoon season!

      Reply

      • Thanks,Uma.

        Reply

    6. That is such an exhaustive and detailed post! For us, monsoon means vacation, when all we love to do is sleep inside the blanket, eat, drink chai and stare out of the sit out to the rains… hehe… Delicious list of recipes to try while it is pouring…

      Reply

      • 😀 Love the idea Monsoon means vacation! Thanks Rafeeda.

        Reply

    7. Monsoon is my favorite season and other than family, I miss it the most in Dubai. Loved your recipes. Can’t wait to try them all. Lovely post and video clip. I am missing India even more now.

      Reply

      • Sorry, it was not my intention for you to miss home.

        Reply

    8. Love love monsoons but it’s equally tough situation to take care of your overall health. Thank you for the detailed post about monsoons and the lovely food recipes to try.

      Reply

      • Thanks.

        Reply

    9. Hi Archana,
      I enjoyed reading your post and visiting Goa virtually! I did not know about purmet. That is so interesting. I do bring my stock of kokum, kaju and alsande from Goa too. the pickles I ate there were amazing. Do you know the recipe for the pickle masala they use there?

      Reply

      • Thanks, Sandhya. Purmet is these days low key but in Margao a huge fair is held. This year I don’t think it was held but.
        Anyway, what pickle are you referring to the vinegar ones or the usual ones?

        Reply

    10. Lovely collection of monsoon delights dear and I loved going through your post on monsoons, the different foods, health tips etc.! I love the monsoons too but because it make the air cooler and I love the pitter patter of rain on my rooftop!

      Every recipe in this post is droolworthy and a must try for any monsoon!

      Reply

      • Thanks, Vanitha.

        Reply

    11. I have always dreamed of being in the perfect place during the monsoon season to enjoy some of the delicious recipes that you have mentioned while enjoying the rain. I love your comfort food recipes to make as they are very close to my heart.

      Reply

      • Thanks, Sandhya.

        Reply

    12. Your post took me back to my Goa days memories…I can truly relate the post…How beautifully you have explained to enjoy monsoon and of course you have also mentioned how we can save ourselves and enjoy festivities…

      Reply

      • Thanks, Amrita. If you come to Goa get in touch.

        Reply

    13. Wow!! i am a fan of monsoons and yes food remains the main thought. As you described, building immunity and forming a nutritious pattern of eating is key to keeping healthy during this time. loved the collection of recipes here as well.

      Reply

      • Thanks, Seema.

        Reply

    14. Archana very informative and factual post about the monsoon and what we should eat during this season and why. You are now slowly convincing me that monsoon is a romantic and wonderful season. A wonderful collection of monsoon recipes.

      Reply

      • Come to Goa Mayuri you can see the fury and the beauty of Monsoon. Thanks a lot. Some comments mean a lot this is one of them.

        Reply

    15. Awesime share. Your post is making me want to wait for the rain here to enjoy as you have mentioned. I love to have hot chai with pakoda in the rain.

      Reply

      • 😀 Thanks.

        Reply

    16. Thank you for such a detailed post about monsoons and all the lovely monsoon delights to try. I love monsoon season…almost got transported to that feel! It was a lovely video clip too!

      Reply

      • Thanks,Padma.

        Reply

    17. Wow. You take us through monsoon season and different food associated with it. Such a detailed and very informative write up. I always love your writing

      Reply

      • Thanks, Narmadha.

        Reply

    18. Such a lovely compilation of monsoon food. I always end up making pakodas whenever it raisns, thanks for all the lovely ideas.

      Reply

      • Thanks, Sapana.

        Reply

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