10 Indian foods you can have this winter for a good health
It’s wintertime. The season of dry skin, cracked heels, and chapped lips are here. The season to wear warm clothes, knitted caps, and gloves. A time when people feel extra hungry. The best time to indulge in mouth-watering warm foods. And, what better than the Indian delicacies to satiate hunger during winter, right?
Indian cuisine is everything one needs to curb their hungry tummies during this cold weather. Our Indian food is not only full of flavors but also packed with the goodness of various nutrients that not only help satiate hunger but also provide immunity to the body to stay warm and healthy inside out.
Let’s Dive In, And Learn About 10 Indian Foods You Can Have This Winter For A Good Health
10 Winter Foods In India For A Good Health
1. Rasam
This popular south Indian dish doesn’t need any introduction. Packed with the goodness of various spices, the rasam dish is the right balance between sour and spice. Made with various ingredients like tomatoes, cumin seeds, ginger, curry leaves, peppercorns, and ginger, Rasam is a good remedy for cold and sore throat. You can consume warm rasam like soup or mix it with rice, achaar, and pappadam, and rasam rice makes a finger-licking combo.
2. Gajar Ka Halwa (Carrot Halwa)
Who doesn’t like a warm bowl of gajar ka halwa during the winter? Made with carrots, ghee, milk, cardamom, and sugar and garnished with our favorite nuts, this delicacy will leave you asking for more. Gajar ka halwa is a must during winters, especially in north Indian households. The major reason why gajar ka halwa is made a lot in winter is due to the availability of the best carrots.
3. Undhiyu
Most commonly made in Gujarat, Undhiyu is a dish containing mixed vegetables. Everyone is aware of the health benefits of vegetables. From providing immunity, essential nutrients, and energy, vegetables have it all. This Gujarati delicacy is made in earthen pots, where a mix of vegetables is cooked together. Undhiyu is a must-eat dish in this cold weather.
4. Beetroot Thoran
Loaded with the nutrients of beetroot, this dish is extremely popular with its origin in Kerala. You can eat it alone or as a side dish with your meals. This dish is the best way to consume beetroots if you normally don’t like how beetroot tastes.
5. Gond Ke Ladoo
Made from edible gum (gond), ghee, whole wheat, and dry fruits, these ladoos are packed with the goodness of nutrients and love with which our grandmother/mother makes them. Gond ke ladoo not only helps curb the sweet craving but also helps combat cold in the winter season. Also, it is supremely filling, so there is no need to snack on unhealthy foods.
6. Bajra (Pearl Millet)
A highly healthy millet, bajra is a rich source of nutrients like proteins, fiber, omega-3, iron, and potassium. A millet that is a must during winter has to be Bajra. This is because it helps keep us warm and provides various health benefits like diabetes management and good cardiac (heart), bone and gut health. Another benefit of this millet is weight loss, which is a cherry on top for people trying to shed some pounds, plus it is gluten-free. You can add bajra to your winter diet by making porridge (khichdi), dosa, uttapam, or Rotis.
7. Ghee
Ghee is the most common item in almost all our kitchens, super food for winter. A rich source of nutrients like vitamins A, D, and K, healthy fats, and antioxidants, ghee serves various health benefits, like providing strength to the bones, improving immunity, aiding the digestive system, and giving skin the perfect glow and radiance. Ghee is a winter staple food that can be added to almost all the dishes. Ghee can also be consumed by people who are allergic to dairy or are lactose intolerant.
8. Sarson (Mustard Green)
Winters are incomplete without sarson. Sarson ka saag is a mouth-watering dish eaten in north India. This dish has abundant nutrients and is made with mustard green and various spices. It can be enjoyed with Makki ki roti or any other bread to soothe your taste buds in the winter.
9. Jaggery
Another winter staple, jaggery, is loaded with nutrients that improve health in winter. Jaggery can be added to various dishes and is a great substitute for sugar. The various health benefits of jaggery include liver and blood detoxification, improved digestion and energy, and relief from constipation.
10. Carrot Poriyal
A South Indian dish that is used as a side dish and is usually paired with dal or sambar rice and rasam rice, carrot poriyal is a delicious dish. The best carrots are available in winter, and hence this is the best time to eat this poriyal. This dish with a combination of carrots, coconut, spices, and curry leaves provides various health benefits and a beautiful blast of flavors.
Take Away
We all eagerly wait for winter. As it is during this season, we experience chill air, pleasant weather, and delicious foods. Indian cuisine is everything we need to enjoy delicious meals that leave us craving more. From vegetables, fruits, cereals, and pulses to highly aromatic spices, Indian foods are packed with flavors and health benefits. So, this winter season, indulge in the goodness of Indian foods, as these foods are not only rich in nutrients but also flavors. These 10 foods are just some of the best foods to eat in winter in India.