Sweet Downpours: What Desserts To Eat In Rainy Season In India
Written by yash lakhan | October 1, 2024
What desserts to eat in the rainy season in India is a choice that is generally geared toward softer, lighter, warmer, and freshly prepared foods. Heavily frozen desserts tend to have less appeal in humid conditions, whereas other types of desserts (including steamed and baked versions) and those made from jaggery and warm dairy products are more desirable.
Below are five different options for what desserts to eat in the rainy season in India, and would be considered appropriate for the rainy season without repeating the same monsoon classic.
What Desserts To Eat In Rainy Season India? 5 Sweets To Try
Pithe With Coconut And Jaggery Filling
Pithe is an Indian steamed rice cake popular in West Bengal and Assam. Steamed pithe are best enjoyed on a rainy evening because they stay soft and have a little chewiness due to the rice flour. The addition of coconut and jaggery provides richness without being too heavy.
Steamed pithe is lighter than fried sweets and will keep you warm and comforted, while still providing you with the same warmth and comfort of a fried sweet. Date palm jaggery flavors will also bring a smoky sweetness to steamed pithe that can pair very nicely with tea on a rainy day.
Baked Yogurt With Caramel Notes
Baked yogurt is rich and creamy, yet not heavy or as dense as standard cakes. The baking process for baked yogurt creates a dried and caramelised flavor with a soft, custard-like consistency.
During the rainy season, most people tend to gravitate towards cooler desserts, but baked yogurt served warm or at room temperature still works well. Adding saffron, nutmeg, or cinnamon will further increase the complexity of flavor.
Adding crushed Oreo cookies as a garnish will provide a contrasting texture when used sparingly.
Goan Alle Belle
Traditional Goan dessert alle belle has a sweet coconut filling wrapped inside thin pancakes. The thin outer layer of this dish is similar to soft crepes, which are created by combining flour, eggs, milk, and minimal sugar. The filling is prepared by combining freshly grated coconut with jaggery, and then cooked until both of these ingredients are very moist and aromatic.
The balance of texture and heat of alle belle is what makes the dish a great treat during the rainy season. The thin pancake retains its elasticity while the moist coconut filling continues to create a delicate and rich taste without weighing the entire dish down.
Chenna Poda
Chenna poda is a baked sweet made with fresh cheese curds, sugar, and semolina flour. The texture of the dessert will benefit from the caramelized edges of the dessert once baked, and an added hint of smokiness will be present due to the cooking method.
Compared to syrup-based desserts, chenna poda has a very balanced texture and proportion of ingredients to be introduced into the dessert. The dryness on the outer parts of the baked cake forms a contrast to the moist and soft interior of the cake.
Chocolate chips or cocoa crumbs can add to the caramel flavor of the dessert without overpowering it.
Gondhoraj Lemon Rice Kheer
Kheer is popular across India; however, a variation prepared using gondhoraj lemon makes for a refreshing way to enjoy kheer in humid conditions. The fragrant citrus scent works well with the richness of milk and rice.
One way to make kheer appear lighter is by serving it warm instead of serving it as a rabri-style dessert. Adding toasted nuts gives an added layer of texture while providing balance to the overall dish.
Conclusion
When it comes to what desserts to eat in rainy season in India, it is often hard to go wrong with sweets that aren't typically thought about, such as pithe, baked yogurt, chenna poda, and kheer, as the ingredients work together to create warmer, softer, or more textured types of desserts without adding excessive bulk (or weight) to themselves.