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With its rich use of spices, lentils, and vegetables, these vegetarian dishes are perfect for cosy lunches on rainy days.
South Indian cuisine is always been considered comforting and delicious. (AI-Generated)
The monsoon season calls for meals that are warm, comforting, and bursting with flavour. Want everything in one meal? South Indian cuisine delivers just that. With its rich use of spices, lentils, and vegetables, these vegetarian dishes are perfect for cosy lunches on rainy days. Here are five South Indian vegetarian recipes that will bring warmth to your monsoon table, each one a cooking adventure waiting for you.
Vegetable Sambar with Rice
There’s nothing quite like a steaming bowl of vegetable sambar paired with hot rice on a drizzly afternoon. This South Indian staple is a flavorful, lentil-based stew that’s both nourishing and comforting. Loaded with toor dal and a vibrant mix of vegetables like carrots, drumsticks, beans, and pumpkin, sambar gets its distinctive tanginess from tamarind and a rich depth from sambar powder—a blend of expertly roasted spices.
A fragrant tempering of mustard seeds, dried red chillies, and curry leaves in hot oil adds an aromatic boost, while the soft, mashed dal melds perfectly with the vegetables to create a thick gravy. As the monsoon season arrives, sambar’s spicy and tangy flavours make it a perfect dish, offering not just comfort but also an immunity-boosting respite from seasonal colds.
Coconut Milk Vegetable Pulao
Yes! It’s a Monsoon Delight. This one-pot wonder is a perfect blend of light, flavorful, and comforting, making it an ideal choice for a cosy monsoon lunch. Fragrant basmati rice is cooked to perfection with colourful vegetables like peas, carrots, and beans, all simmered in a rich and creamy coconut milk broth.
The subtle sweetness of coconut milk is beautifully balanced by warm spices like cinnamon, cloves, and cumin seeds, while a hint of ginger-garlic paste and green chillies adds a gentle warmth. Caramelised onions add a depth of flavour, making each bite a delightful harmony of textures and tastes.
Avial
Avial is a vibrant and comforting mixed vegetable curry from Kerala, perfect for monsoon days. This dish is filled with vegetables like yam, raw banana, beans, carrots, and drumsticks, cooked to retain their crunch. The magic lies in the coarse paste of grated coconut, green chillies, and cumin seeds, which forms a luscious gravy with a touch of yoghurt. A drizzle of coconut oil and a sprinkle of curry leaves add a signature aroma, making avial a wholesome and soothing meal that feels like a warm hug. What’s more, serve with rice or soft paratha for a delightful experience.
Tomato Rasam with Papad
On a rainy day, a steaming bowl of tomato rasam is the ultimate comfort food. This South Indian soup is a spicy, tangy blend of pureed tomatoes, tamarind, black pepper, and rasam powder. The tempering of mustard seeds, cumin seeds, dried red chillies, and curry leaves in ghee creates an irresistible aroma. The peppery warmth is perfect for the monsoon season, keeping seasonal ailments at bay while delighting your taste buds.
Bisibelebath
Bisibelebath is a Karnataka dish that shines as the perfect one-pot meal for a rainy day lunch. This nourishing blend of rice, toor dal, and vegetables like carrots, beans, and peas is infused with the bold flavours of a special spice mix. A hint of tamarind adds a delightful tanginess, while a rich tempering of ghee, mustard seeds, cashews, and curry leaves brings a satisfying crunch and depth. Cooked to a comforting, porridge-like consistency, bisibelebath is both filling and flavorful.
About the Author
Nishad Thaivalappil is a Lifestyle and Entertainment Journalist with almost a decade-long odyssey in the realms of movies, music, culture, food, and travel. He leads the Lifestyle desk at News18.com. Besides ha…Read More
Nishad Thaivalappil is a Lifestyle and Entertainment Journalist with almost a decade-long odyssey in the realms of movies, music, culture, food, and travel. He leads the Lifestyle desk at News18.com. Besides ha… Read More
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