As the rain pours down and the earth turns lush green during the monsoons, it’s the perfect time to relish a variety of fresh organic vegetables that thrive in this season. Not only do these vegetables add vibrant colours and flavours to our meals, but they also provide essential nutrients to keep us healthy and boost our immunity. In this blog post, we’ll explore eight must-eat vegetables during the monsoons that will tantalise your taste buds and keep you in the pink of health.
Spinach: Packed with iron, vitamins, and minerals, spinach is a leafy green vegetable that flourishes during the rainy season. It helps in boosting immunity, promoting digestion, and maintaining healthy skin. Whether you sauté it with garlic or add it to your soups and salads, spinach makes for a nutritious and delicious addition to your monsoon diet.
Bottle Gourd / Lauki / Sorekai: Known for its high water content, bottle gourd is an excellent vegetable to keep you hydrated during the humid monsoons. It is low in calories and rich in vitamins and minerals, making it a great choice for weight watchers. Prepare a simple and comforting bottle gourd soup or add it to your curries for a nutritious twist. It is also rich in antioxidants, making it great for immunity boosting.
Bitter Gourd / Karela / Hagalkai: Bitter gourd is a vegetable that thrives in the monsoons. Despite its bitter taste, it offers numerous health benefits. Bitter gourd is known for its blood-purifying properties and aiding digestion.. Try adding it to stir-fries or prepare crispy bitter gourd chips for a healthy and flavorful snack. It is also rich in antioxidants, making it great for immunity boosting.
Ridge Gourd / Hirekai: Ridge gourd, with its high fibre content, helps in maintaining a healthy digestive system. It is also a good source of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Incorporate ridge gourd into your curries, stews, or soups to enhance the nutritional value of your monsoon meals. Another great recipe to try out with ridge gourd is ridge gourd chutney. The best part about ridge gourd? It is a zero-waste vegetables – every part can be used!
: Fenugreek leaves, commonly known as methi, are packed with essential nutrients such as iron, calcium, and vitamins A and C. They offer numerous health benefits, including improving digestion and boosting immunity. Add fenugreek leaves to your curries, dals, or make a flavorful methi paratha for a nutritious monsoon meal.
Pumpkin: During the monsoons, pumpkin is readily available and offers a range of health benefits. It is rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that help in boosting immunity and maintaining good eye health. Prepare a hearty pumpkin soup or add it to your curries and stews for a comforting and nutritious meal.
Lady Finger /Okra/ Bhindi /Bendekai: Okra, also known as ladyfinger, is a versatile vegetable that thrives during the monsoons. It is a good source of dietary fibre, vitamins, and minerals. Okra aids in digestion and is rich in Vitamin C, making it great for immunity boosting. Stir-fry it with spices, add it to curries, or enjoy it in a crispy bhindi fry.
Colocasia: Colocasia, commonly known as arbi or taro root, is a starchy vegetable that is popular during the monsoons. It provides a good amount of dietary fibre, potassium, and vitamins. Colocasia is great for your digestive health. Prepare delicious colocasia curry or roast them for a crunchy snack.
During the monsoons, nature blesses us with an abundance of fresh vegetables that are not only delicious but also highly nutritious. After all, isn’t this what our grandmothers have been telling us – eat seasonal! Incorporating these eight must-eat vegetables into your monsoon diet will not only add variety and make your meals even more delicious, they will also provide you with the much-needed nutrients necessary to stay fit during the rainy season!