- By Iram Hussain
- Thu, 01 May 2025 02:20 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Summer-Friendly Rice Dishes: As the summer months arrive, our culinary preferences naturally shift towards lighter, cooler and more refreshing meals. With the scorching sun beating down, we crave dishes that are not only soothing but also gentle on the stomach. Amidst this seasonal shift, one staple food that stands out for its comforting and rejuvenating properties is rice. A bowl of fluffy flavorful rice is the ultimate summer comfort food, providing a much-needed respite from the heat.
Rice and dal, being the most famous combination, there are other ways to enjoy this cooling food. Here are some easy rice dishes that you can easily prepare and enjoy during the hot summer days.
Comforting Rice Dishes
Curd Rice
Curd rice or Thayir Sadam, a South Indian summer staple is a creamy and comforting dish made by mixing cooked rice with fresh yoghurt and tempered with mustard seeds, curry leaves and green chillies. This refreshing and tangy dish provides relief from the scorching summer and supports digestion and gut health.
Lemon Rice
Lemon rice or Chitranna is a popular summer dish, perfect for summer lunches. Made by mixing cooked rice with lemon juice, mustard seeds, green chillies and turmeric, this zesty preparation offers a comforting and detoxifying meal, ideal for the summer season due to the citrusy flavour of lemon.
Vegetable Pulao
Vegetable pulao is a summer-friendly dish which is easy on the stomach. To prepare, sauté onions, ginger and garlic, then add mixed vegetables, rice and some spices. This light and flavourful one-pot meal is perfect for hot summer days which will provide essential nutrients and hydration without feeling heavy.
Moong Dal Khichdi
Moong dal khichdi is a soothing summer dish. To prepare, cook split green gram and rice together with minimal spices. This easy-to-digest comforting meal takes no time to get ready and is perfect for good gut health.
Rice recipes that are perfect for summer (Image Credits: Canva)
Cumin Rice
Cumin rice is a refreshing summer dish apt for the season. To prepare, heat oil in a pan, sauté cumin seeds until fragrant, then add finely chopped onions and ginger. Cook until the onions are translucent, then mix the mixture with cooked rice while adding salt to taste. This light and flavourful meal can be savoured alone or enjoyed with any sabzi or dal.
Panta Bhaat
Panta bhaat is a traditional Bengali dish made from fermented rice. To prepare, leftover rice is soaked in water overnight and then served with mustard oil, onions and chillies. This sour and tangy dish is a summer staple as the fermentation process cools the body and aids digestion.
