Coming to Indian dishes that are best for the summer time it is not an easy to list only the top 5 Indian healthy summer foods, for there is such a vast choice! One strict no-no during the hot months is spicy, fatty food. Spices have a tendency to increase blood flow and acid secretion in stomach and also cause acidity – a combination of which can make a person very uncomfortable and restless. Fatty foods, as we all know, are not only unhealthy, they are difficult to digest too. We should look at a diet that is more palatable with lighter cooler recipes included in your meals. And since the base line is to keep yourself cool, we suggest having a lot of cold salads that make use of the seasonal vegetables and fruits. Moong Moth ka Anokha Salad is enjoyable, so is curd rice, as also a light Dal Soup with Tomato, Lauki ka Juice, Sago and Melon Kheer.

A quick review of curd rice: Boil 1½ cups kolam rice in four and a half cups of water and slightly overcook it. Drain well and set aside to cool. When it reaches room temperature, add ½ cup milk and salt to taste. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a small pan; add 1 teaspoon mustard seeds, ¼ teaspoon asafoetida, 1 dried red chilli and 8-10 curry leaves. When the seeds begin to splutter, add the 1 inch chopped ginger and 4 chopped green chillies and sauté for half a minute. Add to the rice. Stir in 1 cup yogurt and ¼ cup cream and chill in a refrigerator. Squeeze out the excess water from 1 medium grated cucumber. Garnish the rice with the cucumber and some grated carrot and serve. If you are preparing curd rice much in advance of serving, reduce the quantity of yogurt and increase the quantity of milk. This will prevent the rice from becoming too sour.