Indian cuisine offers a variety of food with rich and incomparable flavours. It offers a lot of refreshing food items, which are in high demand, especially during the summer. These are specially consumed to rehydrate and refresh oneself in the heat. These cuisines are often paired with heavy meals for refreshment and the digestion of food. The key ingredients used in Indian cuisine are yoghurt, ginger, lemon, fennel, cumin, coriander, cloves and black pepper, which promote overall digestive health. This blog aims to take everyone to the Indian flavours that are refreshing and also bring satisfaction.
The Refreshing Flavours Of India
Traditional Indian cuisines use various spices and herbs that have natural cooling properties. Some herbs, like mint and fennel, are cooling in nature. According to Ayurveda, these cooling agents are essential for maintaining proper body temperature and keeping the digestive system healthy.
Chaas and Lassi: These ultimate cooling drinks are extremely refreshing. Lassi is available in various variants – sweet, sour and spicy like masala lassi. Chaas is a refreshing and spicy drink with added spices like black pepper ( kaali mirch ), cumin seeds powder ( Jeera powder ), and black salt ( Kaala namak ) that brings the amazing flavour to it. These drinks are mainly associated with the Punjab state.
Raita and Salads: Forget about those oily, heavy meals. Raita is a refreshing Indian dish that is majorly yoghurt-based with added crunch of cucumber, tomato and onion. Its creamy texture and refreshing taste feel like a complement to the tongue. Raita is paired with many of the spicy Indian cuisines like biryani, Spicy chicken, etc. to balance out the heat from them. Salad is based on dried, sliced vegetables that do not include any yoghurt base, and it is preferably tossed with the dressing.
Tangy And Citrusy Main Dishes: This includes main dishes like fish, chicken and pork, where ingredients like lemon, lime and orange bring out the rich flavour of the whole meal. Indian dishes like Greek Lemon Chicken, Lemon rice, tangy tamarind rice, or a fish curry can offer a savoury lift.
Thandai: It is a milk-based drink including nuts, seeds and spices with added sugar. The name thandai is derived from the Hindi word “thand”, which means “cold”. It has cooling properties which are mainly served in Northern India during the festivals like Mahashivratri and Holi. Its base is a paste of seeds, spices, nuts and flavourings like saffron ( Kesar ) that is mixed with milk.
Key Benefits Of The Ingredients Present In The Refreshing Indian Dishes
Gut Health: Foods like yoghurt and pickles act as probiotics that help to aid digestion and promote gut health. The probiotics of yoghurt help to kill harmful bacteria and increase good bacteria in the gut.
Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant power: Spices like turmeric and ingredients like lemon, lime and tamarind have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It reduces swelling and prevents fever.
Improved Digestion: The major ingredients of lassi and chaas have ingredients like cumin, fennel and coriander that aid digestion and promote good health. The ingredients from Thandai, like fennel, soothe the gut and prevent gas issues, and nuts like almonds, pista and cashew provide warmth to the body, providing all the necessary fibres.
Promotes Heart and Brain Health: Black pepper, coriander and cardamom help to reduce bad cholesterol in the body, promoting heart health. Ingredients like turmeric, ginger and cardamom enhance brain function and prevent diseases like Alzheimer’s and have been linked to improved cognitive systems.
Conclusion
In conclusion, when looking for something refreshing, light, vibrant and flavourful, don’t miss Indian cuisine. Along with the amazing taste, its health benefits provide a cuisine for wellness. Indian cuisine is a world of delightful food experiences from which these refreshing food items can’t be overlooked. It completes the daily heavy meal, for instance, chole bhature without lassi and mutton naan without chaas feels incomplete. Visit Crown Indian Cuisine and know how refreshing Indian food can be, along with the mastery of our expert Mr. Sandeep, and realise Indian cuisine is more than just spice; it has coolness, crunch and tanginess also.
FAQs
- What’s the best refreshing Indian drink?
Lassi and Chaas are considered the best refreshing Indian drinks because of their cooling properties, and they remove the heat from the body.
2. Are all Indian dishes spicy?
Absolutely not, India has a wide spectrum of dishes ranging from spicy to mild, softer dishes like dahi korma or raita.
