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Gujiyas, puran polis, thandai and all other manner of sweet treats and crispy munchies feature on the roster of Holi delicacies. But after munching on this indulgent regional, traditional fare, dinner dishes can be chosen from some slightly comforting options. These are perfect reset ideas that are soothing enough to take away some of the heavy feeling experienced following a dense feast. Instead of overindulging in leftovers or skipping dinner altogether, choose these fresh and comforting foods that balance out heavy festive day eating.
Veg Clear Soup With Toast
Prepare a simple vegetable broth and turn it into a refreshing soup with just a simple seasoning of salt, pepper and a bit of vinegar. Add carrots, cabbages, lettuce and some aromatic spices like whole peppers and cinnamon to the clear broth for imbuing it with warm, soothing flavours. Let the broth rest for a while and then introduce some boiled beans and bok choy leaves or baby spinach as you boil it again for the soup. Serve alongside a plain whole wheat toast smeared with just a little bit of butter. The warm soup is sheer comfort at dinnertime, and coupled with a crunchy toast the reset meal acquires a pleasing crunch too.
Lauki Dal And Phulka
Lauki or bottle gourd is very light and hydrating. Boil it slightly and cook with moong or tur dal to prepare a lauki-dal sabzi. The sweet notes of lauki tend to pair really well with protein-rich dal, making this a classic combination in Indian kitchens. Lightly spiced with hing, turmeric, red chilli powder and mustard leaves, the lauki dal has a very subtle sweet and savoury flavour. Pair this soothing sabzi with warm phulkas as a light and less dense meal after a day of festive feasting. A side of lemon or mango pickle will bring a bright acidity into the simple, nourishing reset meal.
Curd Rice With A Pomegranate Garnish
Across the southern parts of the Indian subcontinent, curd rice is almost an everyday presence on the meal platter. But different versions of the curd rice exist out there and one which is quite comforting, fresh and texturally pleasing is the curd rice prepared with a tempering of curry leaves, hing, mustard seeds and stuffed dried chillies. The chillies introduce a slightly spicy touch into the cooling rice. Garnished with pomegranates, this curd rice becomes a masterclass in layered flavours as the sweet and acidic notes of the fruit pods introduce more flavour variety into the otherwise simple recipe. Adorn the curd rice thus to mark the end of a festive fare and have it as a cooling, satisfying one-dish meal after the foodie indulgence of the day.
Stir-Fried Veggies With Paneer
This option never gets old. Complete with the savoury, veggie essence of carrots, beans, onions, peppers, capsicum and zucchini, this is a less carb-heavy option for those festive evenings when you want something tasty but light. Toss the veggies lightly in a wok in some oil and season them with a light soy drizzle, some lime juice, salt and pepper. Add paneer cubes at the very end for the protein element. The veggie and paneer stir fry garnished with toasted sesame can be relished by itself as a soothing meal to close the feast day.
Plain Moong Dal Khichadi And Curd
Instead of preparing the usual veggie khichadi, turn to the more comforting moong dal khichadi which is simply a mixture of rice and moong dal steamed together. Seasoned with homemade masala, red chilli powder, turmeric, hing, cumin and coriander powders, the khichadi becomes a lightly spiced yet very warm and comforting dish to have after eating heavy all day. Have it with a dollop of ghee which enhances the khichadi’s flavours and a side of curd that introduces a cooling effect into the reset dinner.
