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The rainy season changes everything. The smell in the air, the way we eat, and even how the stomach feels. In India, the monsoon is beautiful, but it also brings infections, sore throats, coughs and digestion troubles. Streets fill with water and the air feels damp. Your hunger shifts, and heavy, oily food no longer feels good.
That is why families turn to old recipes. Not fancy meals, but food that feels soft and warm. These are dishes you can eat from a bowl, sitting in bed, while watching the rain. Some recipes help clear the throat, some make digestion easy and some just calm the body.
Every region in India has something for this weather. Some cook hot kadhas in the morning. Others prepare a steaming plate of khichdi with ghee. Many make stews with garlic, pepper, and seasonal vegetables. The food is not loud in taste, but it works gently inside. These are the meals we remember from childhood when someone had a cold or came home soaked in rain.
Here are five such dishes. They are not made to impress guests, they are made to comfort and heal.
1. Tulsi And Ginger Kadha For Early Mornings
This kadha is not too strong. It is not bitter like some others. It is made with tulsi leaves, crushed ginger, black pepper and a piece of jaggery. The water is boiled for a while till it turns brown. Then it is strained and sipped slowly. People in many Indian homes drink this early in the day. It helps clear the throat and warm the chest. Tulsi gives a calming smell. Ginger cuts through the dampness in the air. Jaggery adds warmth without the sharpness of sugar. If taken daily, this kadha helps build resistance to cough and cold. It also helps when the stomach feels heavy after eating raw food. Some people add a pinch of cinnamon or a clove whereas others choose to keep it simple. You can make it in ten minutes and drink it before breakfast.
2. Moong Dal Khichdi With Ghee And Jeera Tadka
Khichdi is the most trusted food during illness, but it is also a comfort during cold rains. This version uses yellow moong dal and rice, cooked till soft and thick. The tadka is simple, it has ghee, cumin seeds, a bit of hing, and sometimes grated ginger. This dish is light on the stomach. Moong dal digests quickly and gives strength without making you feel full. The warmth of ghee and the smell of jeera make it more soothing. This is not the kind of khichdi you eat with pickle and papad, it is plain and served warm in a bowl. You can eat it as dinner when the rains won’t stop and there is dampness in the air. It is also good after a long trip in the wet season. You do not need much else with it. Some people add a spoonful of curd, but plain ghee on top is enough.
3. Pepper Rasam With Garlic And Curry Leaves
Rasam is common in South Indian homes. It is usually served with rice, but during monsoon, many drink it as soup. This version uses black pepper, garlic, tamarind, curry leaves and a few spices. The rasam is boiled till all the flavours mix well. It smells sharp because of garlic and pepper. It helps when the nose is blocked or when the throat feels sore. Some people sip it after coming home in wet clothes. Others use it as a light lunch with a small bowl of rice. You can keep it ready in a flask and drink it warm throughout the day. It clears the sinuses and also helps when you feel sleepy or dull in the rain. It is also a good way to get some warmth without drinking tea too many times.
4. Vegetable Stew With Coconut Milk And Ginger
This stew is light and slightly sweet, and not at all spicy. It uses chopped vegetables like carrot, beans and potato, boiled in water and then cooked with coconut milk. Crushed ginger and green chilli add taste. This is often made in Kerala-style kitchens. The stew is eaten with appam or rice, but you can also eat it alone. The coconut milk gives it a smooth texture. It feels soothing during long rainy days. This stew is useful when the appetite is low. The body wants something mild. The vegetables are cooked well, so they are easy to digest. Ginger gives it a fresh kick. It is warm without being hot and you can make it in one pot. That helps when you do not want to cook many things.
5. Bajra And Garlic Soup For Damp Evenings
This soup uses bajra flour, garlic, water and a bit of buttermilk. It is stirred slowly on low heat till it becomes thick and smooth. The garlic is fried first in ghee, then mixed in. This dish comes from Gujarat and Rajasthan. It is made more in winters, but it works well in monsoon too. Bajra gives strength and garlic helps keep away cold. The soup is simple but gives warmth that lasts for a long time. You can drink it with a spoon or pour it into a steel glass and sip slowly. It is best taken when the body feels cold after getting wet. It is also good when you do not want rice or wheat. Bajra suits the season. The soup feels earthy and smells like old kitchens in villages.
