This Monsoon : Try Out These 5 Delightful Recipes



Finally, the monsoon season is upon us once again, but this time the rain comes with a side of delicious health benefits. Feels like the perfect season to eat the food you have been craving all summer, right? So why not welcome this monsoon season with a promise of adopting healthy foods and practices for a healthier version of yourself. 

We all love rain, it turns everything green and refreshing every time it arrives. But there are times when we are stuck at home or having a great time on a rainy day. The first thing that we Indians think about is having a cup of chai with our favourite snacks. And this is what makes us feel energised and fresh on a gloomy rainy day. Cooking that scrumptious homemade snack is so satisfying and you get to make your own healthy food choices. 

With all that said, let’s make the most out of this monsoon by enjoying 5 such healthy recipes.

Choosing Natural Products As A Healthier Alternative 

It seems so simple and addictive to adapt to a nutritional diet and reap its long-term benefits. Of course, eating fried and spicy food every now and then is not advised but what if we use healthier and natural products? Do you think it would work or make any difference? To answer that question, it is a big yes.

To indulge in healthy food products, be aware of what your body needs on a daily basis. Most importantly, always go for products that are naturally processed and have no external additives. Look out for authentic Desi A2 Cow Ghee and maybe replace it with your regular ghee, for healthier fats and more energy. Similarly, you can try several healthier options for products like honey, jaggery, oils and seeds.

Pumpkin Halwa With Jaggery

Try this yummy recipe, with the goodness of pumpkin, jaggery, seeds and nuts. Sounds healthy right?

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of yellow pumpkin gratings
• 3/4 cup jaggery powder
• 3/4 cup milk
• 3 to 4 teaspoons of desi ghee
• Few cashew nuts
• Few pumpkin seeds
• A handful of golden raisins
• 1/4 teaspoon cardamom powder

Recipe:

• Skin a yellow pumpkin, grate it & take two cups of it
• Put 1 tbsp ghee in a pan, fry cashew nuts and raisins separately
• In the same pan, add one more tbsp ghee and add the grated pumpkin
• On low flame stir-fry for 5 to 10 minutes
• Add milk and stir well
• Cover it to let the milk absorb and the pumpkin cook
• Later, add the jaggery powder and mix well. Keep the stove on a medium flame and stir it
• Cook for 10-15 minutes or till the jaggery is mixed well and the halwa is thick
• Add the rest of the A2 ghee, cardamom powder, and fried cashew and raisins.
• Mix everything well, garnish with cashew nuts and raisins.
• Serve it hot.

Fluffy Buckwheat Pancakes

You will surely love this delicious gluten-free pancakes recipe, which is high in fibre.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup buckwheat flour
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 1/4 cups milk
• 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice/ white vinegar
• 4 tbsp melted butter, keep aside more for oiling pan
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon table salt
• Multifloral Raw honey to pour
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Recipe:

For the batter:

• Mix milk and lemon juice for five minutes. (for fluffy pancakes)
• Whisk the flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl
• Blend the honey and vanilla into the thickened milk
• Create some space in the centre of the dough
• Pour the milk mixture and melted butter into the space
• Keep stir until there are no or few lumps

Cooking Pancakes:

• Heat a large pan over medium heat
• Brush the pan with butter
• Spoon batter in the pan carefully
• Now gently spread the batter into a 4-inch circle
• Turn over when the edges look dry, and bubbles start to pop & appear
• Do it for 2 minutes. Flip, cook for another 1 to 2 minutes
• Serve immediately with raw honey, butter, syrup etc

Potato Carrot Pakoras

Try these potato & carrot pakoras fried in virgin oil, which are healthy and lightweight. Pair it with sauce or chutney of your choice.

Ingredients:

• 1 large carrot
• 1 small potato
• 1-inch cube of ginger
• 1/2 tsp pink himalayan salt
• 1 tsp onion powder
• ¼ tsp black pepper powder
• 1/2 tsp cumin seeds
• 1 heaped tsp curry powder or garam masala
• 1 handful chopped parsley or coriander leaves
• 75 gm besan - 3/4 of a cup approx

Recipe:

• Grate the carrot and potatoes (recommended with skin)
• Grate the ginger
• Add all ingredients into a mixing bowl (not besan yet)
• Press and drain excess water
• Sift the besan (to avoid lumps) on top of the ingredients in the bowl
• Mix all ingredients thoroughly
• Take a baking tray with parchment paper
• Now with a spoon put dollops of batter onto the baking tray
• Bake in a preheated oven at 250 degrees for about 25 minutes.
• If you wish to fry and not bake, heat virgin coconut oil in a frying container and put the dollops once the oil is hot enough
• Enjoy with chutney right away as a starter 

Refreshing Honey Coffee

Next up, sip on & enjoy the weather with this hot coffee & honey on a rainy morning or evening.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups hot strong brewed coffee
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/4 cup multifloral raw honey
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• Dash ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Recipe:

• In a small pan, mix well the coffee, milk, honey, cinnamon and nutmeg. 
• Cook and stir until only heated, no boiling
• Stop heating, stir in vanilla 
• Pour and serve

Crispy Parmesan Chips

It’s a promise you won’t stop munching these while watching a movie or having evening chai with family, perfect for on a rainy day. It has chia and flax seeds for weight loss

Ingredients:

• ¾ cup shredded Parmesan cheese
• 1 tbsp chia seeds
• 2 tbsp flaxseed
• 2½ tbsp pumpkin seeds

Recipe:

• Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper
• Mix the cheese and seeds in a bowl
• Spoon small balls of the mixture on the sheet
• Do not totally flatten the mounds
• Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, keep checking
• The chips should be light brown
• Serve with your choice of chutney or sauce

Summary: Not only does the weather make it harder to stick to a diet, but there are also so many delicious and healthy recipes that you can make without feeling guilty. So do not let your diet fall apart! Try these five healthy recipes that are low in calories and packed with nutrients that will help keep you energised throughout the day while helping to promote weight loss. Even if you are feeling sluggish or deprived, give one of these healthy recipes a try this monsoon. Choose your natural products carefully, start from here Himalayan Natives.

If you're looking for a nutritious meal plan that will guide you thoroughly check out this Eat Right For A Healthy Life.

Also, if this blog helped you satisfy your taste buds and hunger, binge-watch our Instagram for more delicious healthy recipes.