Khane mein kya loge? -2

Summer and food are interlinked. As I mentioned in part 1, food for Indians isn’t just a mode of nutrition. For us, food is respect, happiness, wisdom (a paunch) and even the symbol of a happy person. Summer is that season which provides us perhaps the widest variety of food and an enormous amount of satisfaction. Summer and food is perhaps the best season-happiness combo. So let’s bite into this yummy, full-of masala delicious and hot combo.

The first food item that would come to our minds by the mention of summer is Mango. A summer without Mango is like a sabji without salt, rasgulla without that sticky sugar syrup, Bollywood without drama and childhood without play. Fresh, juicy mangoes are a treat during summers. Keri, badam, kesar, hapoos, dusheri, langda, chaunsa, mulgoba, raspuri, himsagar and totapuri are some varieties of mangoes in India. Each variety is ek se badhkar ek. All the varieties are super yummy. Sipping a glass of aamras or aam panna in the scorching heat is like a small rendezvous with the taste of heaven. The competitions about who eats more mango pieces or who cleans the mango peel most are full of energy and enthusiasm and a spirit of healthy competition. The various mango preparations are to die for.

Another important aspect of summer food is ice cream. Ice cream of each and every flavor is experimented with in this season. Licking the creamy ice cream is an irresistible pleasure. Vanilla with chocolate sauce, mangoes and aloo bhujia (we have awkward combinations) are a treat. Barf ka gola (ice ball) with the syrup of kaala khatta, gulab, nimbu, strawberry, orange, aam, etc are a sumptuous and soothing treat.

All our cool cold drinks, mocktails, milkshakes, smoothies also become very essential for our sustenance in summer. Here comes in the concept of ice. This frozen piece of water is what provides us relief from the deadly heat. Ice has a place with coconut water, normal water, milkshakes, smoothies, cold drinks, etc.

Summer is a season that brings us happiness and food is something that brings smiles to all our faces. When taken together, they bring loads and loads of happiness. The scorching summer heat can be beaten by these sumptuous meals. So, garmi se takkar mein khana avval hai.