If you haven’t had food cravings these last few days as you watched the rain pound outside your window this June in Bengaluru, you’re not human!
Whether you’re one of the lucky ones sitting at home curled up with a book, or whether you are slugging away at work, there is something spicy and hot on your mind for sure as you look up at the grey skies and trees swaying in the breeze.
There is scientific proof too that we all universally crave such rich, “dense” foods that produce heat in the body as it metabolises it, or foods like chilli that contain capsaicin, and therefore we crave them.
Here’s a quick roundup of what you might be drooling over, or polishing off your plates this monsoon…
Bajjis, pakodas and their relatives
You get the drift. You probably are sniffing its aromas drifting out of your canteen, the nearest Darshini or roadside stall, or neighbour’s kitchen. Onion comes up tops as the favourite ingredient – sliced and deified as hot bajji, finely chopped in Maddur vada, or shredded and plonked with batter as a pakoda, or as playful onion rings. Aloo, big green chillies, and paneer, fish fry are not behind. For those who still love to keep it healthy, ridge-gourd, raw banana, betel leaf, or ajwain leaf are favourites, especially when made at home. And homemade is sure to have on the list the evergreen bread pakoda served with ketchup or mint chutney. Spicy green chilly-laced aloo bonda or bonda soup or sambar-vada maybe comfort food for many others. Or the famous goli bajje dripping oil and a revealing a piping hot fluffy inside beyond the golden orb… We don’t have the heart to leave out French fries, potato wedges, and barbecued chicken wings. With the Ramadan season coinciding, there are plenty of kebabs and kheema available in time for the evening bite.
A hot cuppa
You must be drinking a few more cups of it – tea peppered with masala, invigorating and earthy ginger, cinnamon, or lemon tea for those who stay away from milk, creamy lattes, hot cappuccinos, or brandy-infused hot coffees, or just one tall glass of filter coffee. If you’re thinking bajji or pakoda, tea/ coffee can’t be far behind. And hot chocolate…don’t forget that eternal hot favourite, loaded with childhood memories.
Chaat
Hot masala puri, spicy bhel puri, sizzling hot aloo tikki chaat or ragada patties, and pav bhaji were honestly made for the season. Who can resist the draw of buttery pav browning on the tava before bhaji is scooped off and slathered in lime? May we also remind you of vada pav, to be diligently bitten into with two green fried chillies for an extra kick. Hot samosas, stuffed with onion, potatoes, or meat, are the simpler on-the-go choice.
Soups, noodles, and momos
Healthier alternatives and these fulfil the cravings too. Steamed or fried, chicken or vegetarian, momos are Bengaluru’s hot favourite found at most street corners. What do we say about noodles? Sigh! Whether you’re making it out of a packet at home or coveting it off the huge wok by the roadside, spiced with chillies, dunked with veggies or chicken, and laced with soy sauce. If vegetarians crave hot and sour Chinese soup, for non vegetarians the paya soup is the toast of the season.
Cheese and corn
Melting cheese sure has some biochemistry with this weather. Whether as topping on warm toast, or fried in batter, its gooey comfort is much sought after. Corn on the cob, roasted, and spiced with green chilli chutney, or with a puckering pack of lime and salt is good for the soul. Boiled corn is far more easily available though, and laced with black pepper or masala, does a world of good to soothe your cravings.
