New Delhi: The scorching heat during summer makes us feel irritated and disturbed, even making us skip meals during the day due to the hot sun on our heads. But what if you can cool down the meals and make them summer-friendly with only a few simple steps to enjoy your lunch meals peacefully and with joy. Not only are these dishes easy to prepare and lightweight, but filled with nutrients and minerals required by the body to keep it active throughout the day.

Indian cuisine offers a treasure trove of summer-friendly dishes that combine taste with seasonal benefits. Here are three simple and satisfying Indian recipes perfect for a wholesome summer lunch.

Easy summer lunch recipes

1. Curd Rice

One of the most popular and go-to recipes for summer, curd rice is a light, hydrating and easily digested recipe that can be prepared in under 10 minutes.

Ingredients:

• Cooked rice – 1 cup
• Fresh curd – 1 cup
• Salt to taste
• Tempering: Mustard seeds, curry leaves, chopped green chilli, ginger, asafoetida, and a pinch of urad dal
• Garnish: Coriander and pomegranate (optional)

How to prepare:

1. Mash the cooked rice slightly.
2. Mix with curd and salt.
3. Prepare tempering in a little oil.
4. Pour it over the rice and mix well.
5. Garnish and serve chilled.

2. Cucumber Raita with Jeera Rice

This refreshing, hydrating, and full-of-nutrition meal is a perfect pairing for summer days when you feel like eating nothing and prepare yourself a comforting bowl of rice with raita.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup  dahi
• 1 grated cucumber
• Salt, roasted cumin powder, chopped coriander
• 1 cup cooked jeera rice

How to prepare:

1. Mix cucumber, yoghurt, salt, and cumin powder to make raita.
2. Cook rice in a cooker with a tadka of ghee and cumin seeds.
3. Serve raita chilled with warm jeera rice for a cooling combo.

3. Lauki curry with Phulka

Bottle gourd cools the body and is light to digest; paired with a light phulka, it can be a great meal option for lunchtime.

Ingredients:

• 1 medium bottle gourd, peeled and cubed
• 1 chopped tomato
• Green chilli
• 1 ginger
• cumin,
• Other whole spices
• 1 tbsp oil, coriander for garnish

How to prepare:

1. Add tomato and spices to sauté cumin, ginger, and chilli in oil.
2. Add bottle gourd, cook until soft. Add water for curry consistency.
3. Garnish with coriander and serve with phulka.

These recipes are light, hydrating, refreshing, and nutritious meals to enjoy during sunny days when you feel like eating nothing or want something light yet satisfying. Try these recipes today, and you will fall in love with your lunchtime meals. Serve with love and a side of salad or chutneys for perfect pairings.