Monsoon has already departed and no trace of winter is marked yet in Ahmedabad (the city I live). Ahmedabad does have winter, but it starts around mid-November and lasts till January-February. The vibrant city Ahmedabad observes about 8 to 9 months of tropical climatic conditions. People prefer to stay indoors in the afternoon, take cold showers, refreshing drinks to reduce their body temperature. Besides, experts also recommend drinking plenty of water, fruit juice, and take light meals and snacks to survive the heatwave. So in this post, we bring you some refreshing cooling recipes to try when the weather is too hot.

6  Cooling Recipes to try when it’s too Hot

1. Karela – Bitter Gourd curry

Have you ever thought of Karela or bitter gourd in the list of cool recipes? Generally, people don’t like bitter gourd/bitter melon/karela because of its bitter taste. But people residing in hot climates should eat bitter gourd as it balances your body from the heat. Moreover, it also keeps your body healthy. Bitter gourd contains about 96 percent of water which can protect you from heatstroke. Bitter Gourd is also very good for a diabetic. It contains a hypoglycemic compound that reduces sugar levels in the blood. It’s loaded with nutrients and high potassium that makes it a wholesome vegetable. Therefore, bitter gourd curry can be one of the best easy cooling recipes. To reduce the bitterness of bitter gourd slice it into small chips and remove its seeds. Add salt and mix it. After 30 minutes, press the vegetable and extract its juice out.

Image via source

Ingredients

• 4 large bitter gourd chopped round in a ring shape
• 1 medium-size onion
• 1 tablespoon ginger-garlic paste
• 2-3 tablespoon of organic jaggery
• 1 red chili powder teaspoon
• 1/2 cup grated coconut
• 1/4 teaspoon of turmeric powder
• 1 teaspoon kitchen king masala
• 1/2 teaspoon garam masala
• curry leaves
• 1-2 tablespoons of groundnut powder
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
• a pinch of asafoetida
• water as required
• salt
• 2 – 3 tablespoons of Oil

Preparation Time – 15 minutes
Cooking Time – 30 minutes
Servings – 2

Instructions

• Wash and dry the bitter gourd and cut them into a round shape like chips. Don’t forget to remove all the seeds.
• Add salt to bitter gourd chips and mix well and keep it aside for 30 minutes.
• After 30 minutes press and squeeze out the liquid from Bitter Gourd and discard the liquid. Add clean water and clean the bitter gourd chips with your hand.
• In a round-bottom pan heat some oil, and saute bitter gourd chips for 4 to 5 minutes. take them out on a plate.
• Now in the same pan heat oil, add cumin seeds, asafoetida, curry leaves, and turmeric powder. Add chopped onions and cook for 2 minutes. Add ginger-garlic paste and again cook for 2 minutes. If you want to use tomatoes you can add tomato paste or tomato puree at this stage.
• Add jaggery, grated coconut, and groundnut powder and mix well. If needed you can add some water to avoid burning of spices. Let it cook for 3 to 4 minutes.
• Add roasted bitter gourd chips and cook for 2 minutes. Next, add salt and all dry spices except garam masala. Add water and mix well, let this cook on a medium flame till the gravy starts simmering.
• Once the gravy thickens, reduce the flame and season with garam masala and curry leaves. Cook for 2-3 minutes and then turn the gas off.
• Bitter gourd curry is ready to serve with paratha, roti or plain rice.

2. Cucumber Salad Recipe

The best way to lessen body heat is by eating hydrating foods and light and refreshing cucumbers are the best options. Cucumber is a superfood rich in potassium, fiber, vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin K, and magnesium. Cucumbers have many health and beauty benefits. They help in lowering body temperature, weight loss, lower blood sugar levels, maintains the water level in the body, and aids in digestion. The simplest way to consume cucumber is cucumber salad, cucumber juice, and cucumber raita and the best time to consume cucumbers is afternoon.

Ingredients

• 3 medium-size thin cucumbers
• 1 medium-size onion
• 1/2 tablespoon organic honey
• 1/3 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper

Servings – 4

Instructions

• Cut the cucumber and onion in thin slices and mix them in a large bowl.
• Sprinkle fresh chopped basil, salt, and pepper and mix well. You can also add 1 teaspoon of fresh lemon juice.
• Delicious and healthy cucumber salad is ready to serve.

3. Mixed Bean Salad Recipe

You should eat Mixed bean salad in summers because it is light, nutritious, rich in fiber, protein, iron, Vitamin C, and antioxidants. Beans are also good for bone health and digestion.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup boiled kidney beans
• 1 chopped cucumber
• 1/2 cup boiled  sweet corn
• 1/2 cup boiled chickpeas
• 1 chopped onion
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon crushed garlic
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin powder
• 1/2 tablespoon black pepper powder

Servings – 2

Instructions

• In a bowl, mix cooked beans, sweet corn, boiled chickpeas, and onions.
• Next add lemon juice, salt, garlic paste, and mix well. Sprinkle cilantro, cumin powder, and black pepper powder.
• Serve it immediately.

4. Fruit Custard Recipe

This recipe is for those kids who don’t like to eat salad and fruits. Drinking plenty of water is not just enough when its hot you should be eating fruits too. We all know the benefits of eating fruits. Eating fruits prevents dehydration and other vitamin deficiencies. To make fruit custard, you can use fruits and dry fruits of your choice. Generally, this recipe is made with custard powder but, the recipe I am sharing is made without custard powder.

Ingredients

• 3 cups of milk
• 2 tablespoon of eggless custard powder
• 2 tablespoon honey
• 1/4 cup of dry fruits of your choice (raisins, cashew nuts, almonds, walnuts, etc.)
• 2 cups of chopped fruits (pomegranate, banana, grapes, and apple)

Preparation Time – 10 minutes
Cooking Time – 20 minutes
Servings – 4

Also, Read: 10 Healthy Fruits to eat for good

Instructions

• Chopped all the fruits in a bowl and keep it in the refrigerator. In a saucepan pour the milk and let it boil on a low flame.
• In another small bowl take 2 tablespoons of milk and add custard powder and mix it uniformly to avoid lumps. Add custard mixture in the boiling milk and cook for 5 minutes.
• Add all the dry fruits and boil it stirring it continuously. Once the milk thickens switch off the gas, add honey and let it cool down.
• Next, add the fruits into the milk and refrigerate it for 2 hours and serve chill.

5. Mango Lassi Recipe

If you are one of those who store mango pulp to enjoy mango all year then, you can’t miss mango lassi on a hot day. The richness of mangoes and cool and refreshing yogurt make mango lassi the best refreshing drink.

Ingredients

• 1 cup plain yogurt
• 1 cup frozen mango pulp or chopped ripe mango (Alphonso)
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 tablespoon of honey
• 1 teaspoon cardamom powder

Preparation Time – 10 minutes
Cooking Time – 10 minutes
Servings – 2

Instructions

• Blend all ingredients in a blender for 2 minutes or until you get milkshake consistency.
• Pour in a serving glass and add ice cubes over the top.

6. Lemon Shikanji Recipe

Besides the lemonade, lemon shikanji has always been my favorite among all cooling recipes and refreshing drinks. Lemon shikanji has the goodness of vitamin c of lemon along with spices. It is great for digestion.

Ingredients

• 4 tablespoons lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1/2 inch grated ginger
• 2 cups of water
• 1/2 teaspoon roasted cumin powder
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper powder
• jaljeera powder as per your taste ( approx 1 teaspoon )
• salt
• ice cubes
• mint leaves

Preparation Time – 5 minutes
Cooking Time – 5 minutes
Servings – 2

Instructions

• First, grate ginger and extract its juice. Then, dissolve the sugar in water.
• Now add lemon juice, ginger juice, salt, cumin powder, pepper powder, jaljeera powder, and mix well.
• Serve it in a glass and add chopped mint leaves and ice cubes on top.
• You can also use plain soda instead of water. If you like it tangy and spicy then skip the sugar.

The reason you feel warm in a hot climate is that your body absorbs more heat from the surrounding environment and causes extra heat in the body. The best way to keep yourself cool in hot weather is by eating cooling food such as melon, cucumbers, curd, leafy veggies, buttermilk, coconut water, pear juice, lemon juice, mint juice, celery, beans, broccoli, bitter gourd, berries, pineapple, plumps, grapes, etc. Try to keep your body cool by drinking cold juices and cold snacks including fruits and salad, without sugar. To lower body temperature wear light shades and loose-fitting clothes made from natural fibers. Try to stay indoors and if you must go outside, wear a scarf or a hat and apply sunscreen.

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