Summer Snacks in India can be intense, with the heat beating down, mango stains on everything, and the incessant hum of the coolers. But if there is anything familiar and comforting, it is seasonal snacking.
As summer gets into full swing, the world's cravings change. We search for something light, yet tasty. Something we can eat while lazily lounging in the afternoon, or something we can snack on during summer road trips. The summer snacks of India awaken, and light Indian namkeen is usually the first to come to mind.
Namkeen is usually associated with winter indulgence, but let's remember it has its own summer ready representation. Moong Dal, light as a feather crunch and salty, Moong Dal is perfect on its own or accompanying cold drinks during mid-day boredom. Or reach for what I think is quintessential light Indian namkeen Aloo sev, airy but filling, these are a guilt free nibble we can eat while on a work from home break.
At Hadvani's, we have a selection that will become part of your summer flow:
- Ratlami Sev offers you a delightfully spicy kick without the heaviness.
- Bhavnagri Gathiya, the classic option when you feel the heat but still want something light and pleasurable.
- Farali chevda - because, sometimes, less is more.
These snacks are not just snacks; they are part of a rhythm, how each family has that bowl of namkeen permanently placed on the dining table. Or how cousins fight over the last bits of snacks during summer sleepovers.
What makes light Indian namkeen so amenable to the summer, is precisely that, they are light. They do not require reheating, they don't melt, and they don't lose their crunchy form. They are easy to travel with, off on a weekend trip or just around the house to your balcony for a break.
In a world where meals and ways of eating can be extremely complicated, there are times when you just want a handful of something you are familiar with, a light handful of what you know you love. This summer, let that handful tell a story of taste, of time, of tradition.