Tag: hydration

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No-Cook Recipes for Hot Summer Days: Refreshing and Easy Ideas

Indian summers can be brutal, with high temperatures and humidity draining all your energy. On such days, the last thing you want is to stand in a hot kitchen. That’s where no-cook recipes come to the rescue. These are not only quick and easy to prepare but also light, cooling, and packed with nutrition.

Here’s a list of refreshing no-cook Indian recipes perfect for beating the heat:

Dahi Poha (Curd Poha)

Flattened rice (poha) is soaked for a couple of minutes, drained, and mixed with curd, grated cucumber and carrot, chopped green chillies, and black salt. A simple tadka of mustard seeds, curry leaves, urad dal, and hing elevates this dish. It’s cooling, probiotic-rich, and filling—perfect for breakfast or a light meal.

Chilled Cucumber Raita

Grated cucumber mixed with chilled curd, a pinch of roasted cumin powder, black salt, and fresh coriander. Serve as a side or have it on its own—it hydrates and cools you from the inside out.

Sprouted Moong Salad

Packed with protein and fiber, sprouted moong mixed with chopped onions, tomatoes, cucumber, coriander, lemon juice, and a dash of chaat masala makes for a light and refreshing salad.

Cold Fruit Chaat

Seasonal fruits like watermelon, mangoes, papaya, apples, and bananas are diced and mixed with a hint of chaat masala and black salt. Chill before serving for that perfect summer snack.

Curd Rice (with a twist)

Instead of traditional cooking, use pre-cooked or leftover rice. Mix it with chilled curd, salt, and a simple tadka. Add grated carrots, pomegranate seeds, or even chopped raw mango for extra flavor.

Cold Oats Bowl

Soak rolled oats in milk or curd overnight. In the morning, add honey, chopped fruits, nuts, and seeds. It’s nutritious, energizing, and doesn’t need any cooking.

Raw Mango Chutney Wrap

Spread homemade raw mango chutney over a roti or wrap, layer with sliced veggies like cucumber and onion, and roll it up. A tangy, spicy, no-cook meal ready in minutes.

Chaas (Spiced Buttermilk)

Blend curd with chilled water, add black salt, roasted cumin powder, grated ginger, and chopped mint or coriander. This digestive drink is a staple for Indian summers.

Aam Panna Shots

Use pre-made or store-bought aam panna syrup. Just mix with chilled water and a touch of black salt. Serve in shot glasses for a fun, refreshing treat.

These no-cook recipes are perfect for anyone looking to stay cool without spending too much time in the kitchen. They’re quick, healthy, and most importantly, they help you beat the heat. Keep your ingredients fresh, chill your bowls and drinks, and enjoy the simplicity of no-fuss summer meals.

Stay cool and eat well this summer!

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Gut Healing Magic of Fermented Desi Drink Kanji

MM_Kaali Gajar Kanji

A healthy gut is the foundation of overall well-being. In the world of health and wellness, the focus on gut health has taken center stage, and for good reason. While kombucha and kefir often steal the spotlight, India has its own traditional gut-healing elixir – Kanji. Kanji is a fermented north Indian beverage considered to be great for the stomach and is a must-have in winters as it not only soothes our system from all the binge eating we do in this season but also heats our body.

Why is Gut Health Important?
The gut, often referred to as the “second brain,” plays a crucial role in nutrient absorption, metabolism, and immunity. Poor gut health can lead to bloating, indigestion, and more severe issues like leaky gut syndrome or autoimmune conditions. Fermented foods and drinks like kaanji introduce beneficial bacteria into the digestive system, helping to balance the gut microbiome and promote better digestion.

What is Kanji?
Kanji is a traditional North Indian fermented drink made primarily from black carrots, mustard seeds, and water, with a blend of spices that give it a tangy, pungent flavor. Often consumed during the winter and spring months, this vibrant, probiotic-rich drink is not only delicious but also incredibly beneficial for gut health. Also known as Khatairn in the Sindhi language.

Health Benefits of Kaanji:

  1. Rich in Probiotics:
    The fermentation process of kanji creates natural probiotics, which help replenish good bacteria in the gut. This improves digestion and helps in the absorption of essential nutrients.
  2. Boosts Immunity:
    A healthy gut contributes to a robust immune system. By consuming kaanji regularly, you are arming your body with the necessary defenses to fight off common illnesses.
  3. Detoxifies the Body:
    Kanji acts as a natural detoxifier. Its antioxidant properties help flush out toxins from the body, promoting clearer skin and better organ function.
  4. Aids Digestion and Reduces Bloating:
    The natural enzymes in kanji support digestion, prevent constipation, and reduce bloating. It also helps in balancing stomach acid, which can alleviate acid reflux.
  5. Anti-Inflammatory Properties:
    The mustard seeds and spices used in kanji have anti-inflammatory properties, helping to reduce inflammation in the gut and the body.

How to Make Kaanji at Home:
Making kanji is simple, and the best part is you can customize it to your liking. Here’s a quick recipe:

Ingredients:
• 4-5 black carrots (or regular carrots if unavailable)
• 1-2 beets (optional for extra color)
• 1 tbsp mustard seeds (coarsely ground)
• 1 tbsp black salt
• 1 tsp red chili powder
• 5 cups of water

Method:

  1. Wash and peel the carrots and beets. Cut them into long sticks.
  2. In a large glass jar, add the carrots, beets, mustard seeds, black salt, and chili powder.
  3. Pour in the water and stir well.
  4. Cover the jar with a muslin cloth and let it ferment for 4-5 days in sunlight. Stir daily.
  5. Once fermented, strain the drink and refrigerate. Enjoy chilled!

And if you don’t want go through the hassle of making kanji at home try this Kaali Gajar Kanji – 100% Natural and Homemade from Masala Monk

Kanji is more than just a refreshing drink; it’s a time-honored tradition that nurtures our gut and overall health. As we embrace global trends of kombucha and fermented teas, let’s not forget the power of our own desi drinks. By incorporating kanji into your diet, you’re not just drinking for taste – you’re drinking for health.

Raise a glass to good health with kanji – your gut will thank you!

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Is Ice-Cream Helping You Beat the Summer Heat?

Yes, summers are here, and the scorching heat is unbearable. Our natural instinct is to grab something cold and what better way to beat the heat than an ice-cream. It’s cool, creamy, delicious and triggers dopamine rush. It gives a cooling sensation on the tongue; the flavour and overall sweetness contributes to the positive experience of enjoying this treat. It is hard to pass that feeling of instant pleasure. But before you grab that ice-cream, know the science behind what an ice-cream does to your body heat, so that next time when you require something to cool yourself, you’ll make a better choice.

How our body heat works?

To understand what ice-cream does to our body, we first need to know a bit about how our body controls temperature in different environments. The process of maintaining optimal body temperature by our body is called thermoregulation. Humans are warm blooded which means we can control our body temperature. Our body can constantly produce heat as a byproduct of internal chemical processes which is done by our metabolism. Our metabolism is responsible for correct functioning of our body. From breaking down food to absorbing nutrients to transporting them to different cells and then converting it into energy, metabolism makes it all possible. The heat this process generates is useful when outside temperature is cold but in summers, we need to avoid overheating.

How will Ice-Cream work once it gets digested?

It may seem logical to have something cold like an ice-cream in summers to cool yourself, however, once the components of the ice cream start to break down, the cooling effect is diminished. Its initial cooling effect is rapidly replaced by heat which is generated when the digestion process of ice cream starts. When the body needs to digest calorie rich foods, it produces a lot of heat to digest it which leads to increase in body temperature. Milk, sugar and all the cream added in an ice-cream are rich in calories. This will generate more heat in the body when outside temperature is already high. So, instead of having a cooling effect, it will have the opposite effect. The same goes for high calorie soft drinks- aerated drinks, packed juices. All of this will provide only a momentary respite from the heat but will not cool your body in the truest sense.

What can you actually do to keep your body cool in summers?

While it’s is ok to enjoy an ice-cream once in a while but as the mercury rises opt for a more balanced approach to beat the heat. Some of the best summer coolers are: 

Apart from this, warm beverages surprisingly are a good way to keep yourself cool. Drinking hot beverages cause your body to sweat which allows your body to cool down. Sweating is the most effective natural way for our body to lose heat. 

Eating spicy foods such as ginger, cayenne pepper and red chili peppers can cause you to perspire. When you eat spicy food, you might initially feel hot, but it triggers sweat response causing you to perspire and when the perspiration evaporates, it cools your body temperature. 

Lastly and most importantly, keep yourself hydrated. Drinking enough water is essential to maintain overall well-being and is one of the best ways to keep yourself cool.

Ayurvedic Perspective: 

According to Ayurveda, ice-cream has dampening qualities. It is cold, heavy, too sweet and lacks fire element. Fire or Agni in Ayurveda is referred to as digestive fire- energy that we all need for smooth digestion. Now imagine, pouring something cold and heavy on a blazing fire. Yes, exactly! The fire will diminish. Having too much of cold, sweet and heavy foods creates an imbalance in our body triggering conditions like excess mucus, lethargy, weight gain, allergies, indigestion, bloating and constipation. 

But if you really have a strong urge to grab that ice-cream cup, Ayurveda has some ways in which you can make this food little friendly for your body.

  • Consume your ice-cream around noon time, from 12:00 to 2:00 pm. This is the time when digestive fire is at its strongest. You will have plenty of time throughout the day to digest it. 
  • Go for ice-cream that has a bit of spice like cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger or even cayenne pepper. This gives your body some digestive support. 
  • Cardamom flavoured icecream is considered to be one of best antidotes to icecream. When cardamom is added to dairy products, it aids digestion and helps to reduce excess mucus production caused by dairy. 

Bottomline

Cold treats can be satisfying when the temperature is soaring however, it does have an opposite effect on your body. Instead of cooling your body, it will generate more heat. You can enjoy cold summer treats but remember moderation and maintaining a balance is the key to good health. Fix on better and natural summer coolants and remember to stay hydrated.

I hope this post helped you and next time when you get the craving, do remember this post. It will help you make informed choices. Stay happy and stay healthy! 🙂

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Everything you need to know about drinking from Earthen Pot- Back to Basics

Water consumption is crucial for maintaining good health, particularly in summertime, when temperatures are soaring. This is the time when we crave for a glass of chilled water. We step inside our homes after being under the scorching sun and the first thing we do is drink a glass of chilled water straight from the refrigerator. Drinking cold water gives an instant relief and helps beat the heat.

According to experts, drinking 8-10 glasses of water is necessary to stay hydrated. However, drinking water at a proper temperature is also important. Drinking cold water straight from the refrigerator has been linked with many health issues. Various researchers and even Ayurveda has claimed that refrigerated chilled water weakens our immune system and leads to various health problems.

Here are a few reasons why one should avoid cold water from the refrigerator:

  1. In Ayurveda, it is believed that consuming cold water can weaken your digestive fire, known as Agni, and impacts digestion. Normal body temperature is 37 degree C, and when you consume something very cold, your body compensates by spending energy to regulate this temperature. This energy should originally be used in the process of digestion and absorbing nutrients.
  2. Consuming cold water from the refrigerator can lead to mucus formation. Due to this, problems like sore throat, cold, excess mucus and throat swelling can occur quite frequently. A study conducted in 1978 in a journal CHEST published by American College of Chest Physicians found that nasal mucus thickened after drinking cold refrigerated water and persisted for more than half an hour.
  3. Cold water consumption can also have an effect on the heart rate. It can reduce the heart rate of your body. Research at the National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine in Taiwan found that drinking 250 ml of ice water significantly lowered the heart rate as compared to room temperature water.
  4. It can lead to sudden headaches. Cold water can cool down your nerves in your spine, which affects the brain and nervous system. This situation can increase problems for people who are already suffering from sinus or migraine.

So, what is the solution? For someone like me, I need cold water in summers to quench my thirst. But fret not!! The answer to your concern is- EARTHEN OR CLAY WATER POTS. Drinking water from clay pot or matka, as we call it, is nothing new to us Indians. Our ancestors have been storing water in clay pots for centuries. Earth is a natural coolant and also naturally contains many minerals that are healing for human body.

Benefits of Clay Pot water

  • NATURAL COOLER: Clay is porous in nature which helps in cooling the water. Now this naturally cold water unlike refrigerated water will not give you sore throat or cold.  Infact, you’ll be surprised to know that this earthen water is soothing for sore throat because of many minerals that seep into water through clay. 
  • ALKALINE: Clay water is more alkaline than normal water. Clay naturally increases the pH level of water. Alkaline clay reacts with water, in turn increasing its pH level. Hence, we don’t have to run after those expensive water filters which claim to increase pH level of water when we can naturally do it and it is inexpensive. 
  • BOOST DIGESTION: Since clay water is naturally alkaline, it boosts digestion and metabolism. Human body is known to be acidic in nature. Keeping your body alkaline will help you and your child get rid of acidity and indigestion related problems. 
  • PREVENTS SUN-STROKE: Its summer time and temperatures are soaring everywhere. There’s nothing better than drinking water from these earthen pots. This nutrient dense water, will cool your digestive system and will prevent you and your child from other heat related ailments.
  • NATURAL PURIFIER: Clay pots are not just useful to cool the water, but it also helps to purify it naturally. The porous micro-texture blocks contaminants in the water and makes it safe to drink.
  • ENHANCED TASTE AND FRESHNESS: Water stored in earthen pots acquire a distinct taste due to minerals present in clay. This earthiness enhances the taste of the water and makes it refreshing. Also, the porous surface of clay pot allows for air circulation preventing the water from stagnation and helps to maintain its freshness overtime.

How to first time use Clay Pot

When you buy the pot, rinse it well with fresh water 3 to 4 times. Then fill it with water. Keep the water filled pot overnight or for 10 to 12 hours, then empty it. Do this twice. This is called seasoning of clay pots before use. Now, keep the empty pot in the sun for 4 to 5 hours. The sun rays will naturally disinfect the pot. After keeping it in sun, fill it again with water. Empty it after 2 to 3 hours. Now the pot is ready for consumption.

How to clean a Clay Pot

It is recommended to clean the pot at least once a week. To clean all you have to do is keep the empty pot facing upside down in the sun for 4 to 5 hours. The sun will do its job. Afterwards, rinse it with fresh water 2 or 3 times and refill again for consumption. Do not use any dish washing liquids or soap to clean it. Never use a metal scrubber to clean. And never put your hand inside clay pot. This might contaminate it.

Since clay pots are porous in nature, it allows the natural salt and minerals from water to seep through the outside causing a white powdery build up on the outsides of the pot. This residue is not harmful, and it can easily be cleaned with a dry clean cloth.

Some Do’s and Don’ts of Clay Water Pot

  1. Store it in cool, dry place to prevent mold growth.
  2. Don’t store acidic or citrus – based liquids in the clay pot.
  3. Don’t store hot water in it.
  4. Do not keep it in the refrigerator.
  5. Since clay is fragile, handle it with care.

Bottomline

Clay is healing for human body. It is time we go back to our roots. Ancient India extensively used clay wares which is nothing but earth. It is one of the healthiest substances to store water. Water stored in these matkas makes one of the most refreshing drinks on a hot summer day. Introduce your children and family to this goodness. It will help you connect with mother earth and nature.

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Homemade Almond and Rose Sharbat Concentrate- Healthy Summer Delight

Summer is here and so is the need for delicious healthy summer coolers to quench our thirst. Drinking homemade sharbats is one of the natural ways to beat the heat and stay hydrated. Sharbat is usually a syrup made from fruit, flower extracts, and/or herbs. The syrup is then diluted with sugar, water and ice.
I have been a sucker for Badam (Almond) Sharbat all my growing years. I remember my mother used to make badam concentrate in summers. I would open the refrigerator and make myself a glass one after the other and before my siblings could lay a hand on it, the bottle of concentrate would have halved. That’s how much I loved it then and I still do.

It’s fairly simple to make a drink with concentrate. Just add few tablespoons of concentrate in a glass, add water and ice cubes. Mix well and enjoy. No need to add any sugar and stir endlessly. Every child can make it.

Before I share the recipe, here’s an interesting insight on sharbat. Did you know that, in India, sharbat was introduced by the Mughals in the 16th century, which was popularized by Babur in the Indian subcontinent who had sent for frequent loads of ice from the Himalayas to make this chilling beverage.

Almond sharbat also known as sherbet originated from Persia, which was flavoured with cardamom and kewra water. Since then, there have been many different versions of it. We will make one flavored with rose petals and musk melon seeds. Badam Sharbat is valued for its exceptional health benefits.

  • Almonds are enriched with vitamin E, fibre, magnesium and omega 3 fatty acids. It is a natural brain tonic for memory enhancement. It’s also cools and calms your body.
  • Rose petals on the other hand, are linked with stress reduction and relaxation. They are loaded with antioxidants. It’s a natural summer cooler. It improves digestion by calming your system. 
  • Muskmelon seeds are not only rich in vitamins and minerals like vitamin A, K, E, niacin, zinc & magnesium but did you know that musk melon seeds are excellent to prevent seasonal flu. Keep the summer cold at bay by eating muskmelon seeds. They get rid of extra mucus in the body and help clear up congestion.

How to make this Concentrate?

Ingredients

  • Raw Almonds- 1 cup (250 ml measuring cup)
  • Filtered Water- 2 cups
  • Raw unprocessed Sugar- 1 1/4 cup (depends how sweet you prefer. I don’t like it overly sweet)
  • Black pepper peppercorn- 9-10
  • Cardamom- 4 to 5 pods, slightly crushed 
  • Musk Melon seeds- 3 tbsps
  • Rose Petals- 1/2 cup
  • Fennel seeds- 1 tsp

Instructions

  • Rinse almonds and soak overnight or for 6-8 hours. 
  • In another bowl soak melon seeds, rose petals, peppercorns & fennel seeds for 2-3 hours
  • Drain the water. Peel the almonds. Now, grind almonds, melon seeds, rose petals, fennel seeds & peppercorns into a fine paste. Use water to get a smooth thick paste. 
  • In a pan add water and sugar. Bring it to boil. Add crushed cardamom and simmer the syrup for 4-5 minutes. 
  • Now add the prepared almond paste and cook for 15 minutes on low flame or till the syrup thickens and reduces to almost half. 
  • Please remember that the syrup will also thicken on cooling. 
  • Once cooled, sieve the syrup with a soup strainer to get a smooth concentrate. 
  • Once it cools down, pour it into clean sterilized glass bottles.

How to prepare the Sharbat?

  • To prepare a glass of sharbat, pour 2 tablespoons of concentrate in a glass and top it with cold water. Stir well. Check for taste. If you want you can add more concentrate. Once ok, add ice cubes if you like. Cheers to good health!
  • You can also add this concentrate to cold milk and give it to your kids in summers.

Notes:

  1. Use indigenous variety of pink rose petals and not the ones used by florists. Damask roses are a powerfully fragrant variety and has a distinct flavor. You can use garden rose as well.
  2. I have used unprocessed raw cane sugar here.
  3. Store the Badam Rose Sharbat concentrate in the refrigerator for upto a month. Shake well before use.
  4. If you like to have more of rose flavor in the concentrate then, you can add couple of drops of rose essence or a tbsp of rose water.