The monsoons bring joy to our hearts. Most of us are automatically in a good mood, and as if a switch has been flipped in your brain, we develop an appetite for certain kinds of foods. With every drop of rain that touches the ground we start craving typical monsoon delicacies. We have picked perfectly hot and heavenly monsoon special foods from around the world and have listed their easy recipes that you can whip up under 30 minutes. As the monsoon starts, our appetite increases, so use our quick recipes to quieten the growling tummy.

1. A Classic: Reuben Sandwich, USA

One cannot say no to hot and steaming sandwiches in cold and windy weather. The Reuben sandwich is a classic American grilled sandwich and very filling. It’s believed to have been originally created in the 1900s. Its ingredients include rye bread, salted beef, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, black pepper, and dill pickles, and it is a quick recipe to whip up. Russian dressing (a mix of ketchup, mayonnaise and sundry seasonings) is an important part of the sandwich. Butter slices of rye bread, put one slice of the beef and top it with cheese. Take the other buttered slice and place the Russian dressing and sauerkraut on it. Heat a skillet over medium heat and place the sandwich and cook till the bread turns golden and the cheese is melted. Ideally, this should take around 3 mins on each side. And your monsoon recipe is ready to serve.

2. Traditional And Tasty: Ramen, Japan

And when we say ramen we don’t mean store-bought, instant noodles. Instead, we are talking about its healthy variety, made using fewer preservatives. Its key ingredients like chicken broth can do wonders on a rainy day. This is not as easy as a two-minute recipe but this monsoon recipe with its blend of fresh vegetables, sauces, and spices presents a flavoursome dish. You can find a quick recipe here.

3. King Of Comfort Food: Macaroni And Cheese, Italy

This dish is royalty when it comes to comfort food. The Italian recipe has traveled all around the world and is a favourite with kids and adults alike. It is an easy and quick recipe that makes it the perfect monsoon food. This recipe needs 250 gms macaroni, 40 gms butter, 40 gms plain flour, 600 ml milk, 250 gms cheddar, and 50 gms parmesan cheese. Start the easy recipe by cooking the macaroni in boiling salted water for around 10 minutes. Drain and set aside. Heat a saucepan over medium heat, add the butter and then the flour and stir. Cook for a few minutes and add milk. Whisk it gently to thicken the sauce. Remove the heat and add 175 gms cheese and stir till melted. Add macaroni and mix well. Finally, add the remaining cheese and serve the hot dish that melts your monsoons too.

4. Sweeten Your Day With Stovetop Butterscotch Custard, England

Even if you don’t have a sweet tooth, you cannot resist this custard on a rainy day. The warm, silky, and rich custard can be eaten as you watch the raindrops at your windows, snuggling in your PJs with a blanket. Butterscotch originated from the United Kingdom, invented in 1817 and served to the royal family. It was originally a candy, but can also be made into a sauce, ice cream or cake. This easy recipe can be made using leftover rice as well, to avoid wastage of food. This quick recipe can be found here.

5. Drown In The Flavours Of Thom Kha Hed, Thailand

A bowl of soup has the power to warm your soul. One easy recipe for a bowl of creamy and delicious Thom Kha Hed soup comes all the way from Thailand. It is a soup with coconut milk and mushrooms as the showstoppers. The word ‘tom’ means soup and ‘hed’ means mushroom. With a prep time of just five minutes, the soup can be cooked in 20 minutes. This quick recipe needs ingredients like a half a can coconut milk, two cups vegetable stock, 2 pieces of the root end of lemongrass (bashed), 3 ounces white button mushrooms, sliced, ½ cup chopped cilantro, and one tablespoon lime juice. Start this monsoon recipe by putting a pot on the burner, and when hot add in the coconut milk, vegetable stock, and bashed lemongrass. Mix them and simmer over medium to low heat for 15 minutes. Pick out the pieces of lemongrass and put in the mushrooms. Simmer for five minutes but not for long, because we want the mushrooms to be soft and not mushy. After this remove from heat and add the lemon juice and cilantro. A warm and quick recipe for grey days.

6. Warm And Healthy: Ginger Butternut Squash Soup, United States of America

This monsoon recipe is very healthy and healing. It is warm and just filling enough, so it doesn’t seem too heavy. Made with ingredients like ginger and turmeric, it’s also a burst of health. The coconut milk adds a  creamy flavour but doesn’t overpower. The squash might be on the sweeter side, but the ginger and turmeric balance it with the spice. It is one of the quick and easy recipes that you can make to keep yourself warm and even maybe avoid a cold or cough. Find this easy recipe here.

7. Potatoes All The Way: Kartoffelpuffer, Germany

Do not get scared by the name—these are just harmless and tasty potato pancakes. This German delicacy is a favourite to make at home, and equally famous as street food. Steaming hot kartoffelpuffers are common treats that German grandmothers make for their grandchildren. This monsoon recipe is usually served with applesauce with powdered sugar sprinkled over it. Across many other parts in Germany, it is also called reiberdatschi and grumbeerpannekuche among other names. All you need for this quick recipe is grated potatoes, onions, eggs, flour, salt, and oil to fry. Take the finely grated potatoes and mix it with the other ingredients using your hands so you get a thick mixture. Heat the oil in a non-stick pan over medium to high heat and add the mixture based on your size preference. Flatten it with a spoon and fry it on both sides until golden brown. Usually, this takes three to five minutes. Place the pancakes on a tissue to absorb the excess oil, and serve with applesauce. Or make it savoury and serve with yogurt flavoured with herbs. Nothing says comfort food like a potato.

Food For You From All Over The World

As the land is drenched with the monsoon downpours, your heart might be filled with desire for a warm dish. Whether it’s savoury or sweet, the list of easy recipes above gives you many options. The rains fill you with happiness, in the meantime, fill your stomach with these easy recipes. Try your hand at some of these new dishes that have satisfied the souls of people all around the world, and see if it helps with your pangs of hunger too.