5 Must-Try Healthy Snacks for Monsoon

In the Pakistani monsoon season, when the heavy rains splatter the roofs and flood the streets, the people gather in the verandas and balconies, cherishing the pleasure-filled, delightful rain. The refreshing scented breeze of the soaked earth and the laughter of the kids splashing in the rainwater makes the experience gleeful and joyful. The elderly of the household step out from the rooms, adults take relieve from work and sit together watching the raindrops splitter and splatter.

In such a pleasant environment, people seem to comes closer to each other, and the bond further strengthens with the sharing of some scrumptious food treats. It is a common scenario in Pakistan where the electricity goes off during rain, and the restaurants pause their delivery services. While some might not like such a situation, it is undeniable that at these particular hours, a strange closeness between family members string up. Sitting together in the veranda, chatting, laughing at old jokes, and enjoying tasty homemade healthy snacks, people in Pakistan love the monsoon the most!

If you want to make these special hours more enjoyable, then do try out these mouth-watering and all-time favorite recipes for rainy days!

Pakoray

The shade of nimbostratus clouds decides our supper menu, even before the first drop of rain makes its way to the ground. As soon as the hush falls, and the birds make their way to their homes, the monsoon anthem begins in every Pakistani house;

Kya Mausam hai, Pakoray Bhi hoty tou maza ajata!

And so, the kitchen light’s switched on, and whisking of the gram flour batter begins. The batter comprises of sliced and diced onions and green chili along with the right amount salt, chili powder, and garam masala. Then the deep-fried, small crispy brown ball-like Pakoras are served with various chutneys.

Since the foody spirit of my fellow natives (as well as that of our ancestors!) couldn’t only do with one type of pakora, they experimented and played with the basic recipe until they blessed us with the following variants:

• Aloo Pakoray
• Palak Pakoray
• Mirchi Pakoray
• Mix Vegetable Pakoray
• Corn Pakoray
• Bread Pakoray
• Cheese Pakoray

And the list goes on. The best part about this deep-fried snack is the fact that it’s packed with energy. If you’re consuming the vegetable ones, they’ll even help you lose some weight. That’s because these are both low in calories and fulfilling!

Samosas and Vegetable Spring Rolls

The samosa and vegetable spring rolls are certainly inseparable! When the rainy season lightens up everyone’s mood, the spicy and crunchy taste of Samosas and vegetable spring rolls is the best combination on the table. Whether it be Aloo or Qeema ka samosa, the crispiness of the patty and the tangy green chutney fills the mouth with a burst of flavors. Also, the vegetable spring rolls when seasoned with extra spice and herbs augments the mouth-watering taste significantly.

Chai Paratha

I know, you know, everybody knows; Chai Paratha happens to be the soul of our food culture. We could perhaps, survive without water, but not without the crunchy Lachha Parathas and a hot cup of refreshing tea. (Of course, metaphorically, but that’s still more or less close to reality.)

In the rainy weather, the love for layered flatbread intensifies. Almost within minutes, the earthy smell after rain combines with the aroma of scrumptious Parathas and the sweet and fragrant tea. To double up the joy and pleasure, often, the layers of this unleavened flatbread get stuffed with Aloo masala as well.

Kachori

Small, rounded, crispy Kachori is yet another popular monsoon snack. This spicy snack is prepared from wheat or all-purpose flour and comes filled with split green gram  (moong daal). As the monsoon season approaches, one can find several street vendors offering spicy snacks with Aloo ki Tarkari at nominal rates. You can even buy this monsoon snack from these vendors, in other seasons, usually from 5 pm -9 pm.

But to make your monsoon snack time healthier, it is best to cook these at home. Kachori recipe is one of the easiest ones in recipes for rainy days. It involves basic pantry items and demands a cooking time of only 30 minutes with Aloo ki Tarkari.

Cheesy Potato Wedges and Chicken Nuggets

While the mature taste buds can satisfy their monsoon cravings and refresh their childhood memories with Pakoras, Samosas, Kachoris, and Chai Paratha, the children prefer a different menu. And when the beauty of monsoon unites even the distant relatives, how can we let our little ones feel aggrieved?

To amplify the joy of rain, surprise little buddies with cheesy potato wedges and chicken nuggets. Also, playing in the rain for hours can drain a lot of energy. So when the kids are back, serve them hot, crisp, and nutritious homemade cheesy potato wedges and chicken nuggets. It will only take 30-40 minutes to prepare each of these mouth-watering healthy snacks for kids when it’s raining.