Indian summers aren’t kind. The sun’s out like it owns the place and even the thought of turning on the stove makes you want to lie down. But, summer isn’t all bad… not when you’ve got these beauties.

These are the drinks and dishes we all grew up with—or wish we had. They're cooling, nostalgic, and honestly, they just hit different when the mercury’s rising.

If you're someone who cooks, creates recipes, or just loves feeding people—consider this your summer inspiration board.

What people want in this heat: No-fuss. No-cook, Feels nostalgic. Gut-friendly. Instagram-worthy. And, maybe most importantly… cold & Cool-down foods.

1. Fuljar Soda – The Viral Coastal Fizz

Ever had a drink explode in your mouth? That’s fuljar for you. It’s fizzy, spicy and all about that ‘whoa’ moment. Originally from coastal India, this little shot glass of fun is going viral for a reason.

Jamun Fuljar Soda 📌 Recipe by Udbhav Rai
Great recipe for Jamun Fuljar Soda 📌.
CookpadUdbhav Rai

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2. Curd Rice

Curd rice isn’t just food. It’s comfort. Especially on those days when even chewing feels like effort. Cold rice, creamy curd, and a little tadka—it’s the food version of shade under a neem tree.

Thayir Sadam Curd Rice Recipe by Jasmin Motta _ #BeingMotta
#goldenapron2 #TamilNadu #week5
CookpadJasmin Motta _ #BeingMotta

Little twist: Add chopped mango or pomegranate. Feels fancy but still simple.

More curd rice recipes

3. Solkadhi

A Konkan classic made with kokum and coconut milk. Tangy, cooling, and honestly underrated. Plus, it’s so Instagrammable.

KOKUM Solkadhi Recipe by Lakshmi Sridharan Ph D
Kokum is a powerhouse of essential vitamins and minerals , It contains antioxidants that protect the body from oxidative stress and cellular damage caused by free radicals. Additionally, it contains essential vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, calcium, iron, and potassium. Another benefit o…
CookpadLakshmi Sridharan Ph D

Hack: Can’t find fresh kokum? Use dried ones or syrup.
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4. Jaljeera – Chatpata in a Glass

Hot outside? One sip of jaljeera and boom—instant wake-up. It’s spicy, sour, salty, and super refreshing. Plus, it helps with digestion after all that summer snacking.

Pudina Jaljeera Recipe by Daxa Parmar
#spiceweek2 #cumin_seeds #cookpadIndia Pudina Jaljeera drink is healthy and refreshing drink straight from ayurvedic labs. this medicinal drink not only helps with your digestion problems, it also improves your appetite. in hindi jal means water and jeera or jira means cumin, and mixture of these wi…
CookpadDaxa Parmar

More tasty Jaljeera recipes

Fun idea: Try freezing it into popsicles.

Jaljeera Popsicles Recipe by ZMA
#cookpadindia #innovative Aptly described as ‘Indian Flavoured Lemonade’ , these Popsicles present an altogether different picture to you all. I made them more appealing to the younger lot by giving them a facelift in the form of Popsies or better still in our own way of describing, ’Jal Jeera Ice G…
CookpadZMA

5. Panakam

Panakam is the OG electrolyte drink. Naturally sweet, super hydrating.

Panakam Recipe by Shradha Nema (foodgazin’)
#Navratri21 Panakam is a traditional beverage made with jaggery, cardamom and water. It is a custom to make panakam for Lord Sriram on the auspicious occasion of Sri Ramnavami. It is generally offered in temples. Every RamaNavami we use to visit the Ayyapa temple where we used to get this Panakam as…
CookpadShradha Nema (foodgazin’)

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6. Shikanji – Lemonade, But With Swag

North India’s classic. It’s lemon juice, but with jeera, kala namak, and sometimes soda. It doesn’t just quench thirst—it slaps the heat away.

Lemon and mint sikanji Recipe by Tanushri Paul
Great recipe for Lemon and mint sikanji.
CookpadTanushri Paul

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7. Mohabbat Ka Sharbat

Milk + rose syrup + watermelon = Delhi’s most romantic drink. It’s pretty, sweet, and super cooling.

Mohabbat ka sarbat watermelon cold drink Recipe by Rekha Bapodra
#mycookbook 12
CookpadRekha Bapodra

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Try this: Add soaked sabja seeds or chia for extra cooling and texture. Looks dreamy.

8. Aamras

Thick, golden mango pulp that you slurp with puris or just straight from a bowl. It doesn’t get better than this.

Aam Ras Recipe by Vaishali Suhas
#mania #cookpadindia #mango When we talk about mangoes, how can we forget the good old recipe of Aam Ras? It’s a classic recipe and makes any occasion so royal and special.
CookpadVaishali Suhas
Aam ras with puri and potato bhaji Recipe by DrPushpa Dixit
#SD4 #Week4
CookpadDrPushpa Dixit

Small tip: Add cardamom or a pinch of ginger powder to keep it from turning brown.

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9. Aam Panna – Sweet, Sour, and Soothing

Made from raw mangoes, this drink is practically summer medicine. It's tangy, sweet, and saves you from heat exhaustion.

Raw Aam Panna - Green Mango Panna - Kachi Kairi Panna Recipe by Manisha Sampat
#AamPanna #GreenRawMango #RawMangoPanna #GreenAamPanna #SummerSpecialDrink #RefreshingDrink #Tangy #Chatpata #SweetAndSour #Cookpad #Cookpadindia #Cookpadenglish ##Cooksnap #Manisha_PureVeg_Treasure #LoveToCook_ServeWithLove Raw mango panna is one of the popular and delicious summer drinks. It’s ver…
CookpadManisha Sampat

Fun spin: Freeze it into cubes and drop in soda or water or create popsicles

Aam Panna popsicles Recipe by Sabina Tabassum
Great recipe for Aam Panna popsicles.
CookpadSabina Tabassum

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10. Wood Apple Sharbat (Bael)

Not the prettiest fruit, but wow—it works wonders in the heat. Bael is gut-friendly and crazy hydrating. You scoop it out, mix it with jaggery, and chill.

Bael Sharbat Recipe by Naheed Alam
#ga24 #westbengal #woodapple(bael) Wood apple is a rich source of vitamin C and fiber. It soothes stomach in summer .
CookpadNaheed Alam

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11. Falooda – The Dessert You Can Sip

It’s sweet, messy, and perfect for a heatwave day.

Kashmiri Falooda ❤️❤️😋 Recipe by Jyoti Prakash Assudani
#KD #kashmirdesserts Kashmiri Falooda 😋 ❤️ very delicious and yummy beverage dessert that is flavored with Rose syrup. Key ingredients are sabja seeds(aka basil seeds), vermicelli aka falooda sev, sweetened milk, rose syrup and ice cream. ..❤️❤️
CookpadJyoti Prakash Assudani

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12. Neer Mor – Buttermilk with a South Indian Twist

This isn’t plain chaas. It’s spiced with curry leaves, mustard, green chilli. It’s refreshing and somehow wakes up your brain too.

Neer Mor (Spiced Buttermilk - South Indian style) Recipe by Bethica Das
#fc - NEER MOR is a South Indian style spiced and salty buttermilk perfect during summer to beat the scorching heat. As the name indicates Neer means water and Mor is yoghurt. So this is a watery drink where finely chopped green chilies, coriander leaves, curry leaves and ginger are added. It is the…
CookpadBethica Das

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13. Kakdi Koshimbir – Cucumber salad from Maharashtra

Cucumber, coconut, peanut, and a tiny tempering. This is a crunchy, cold side dish that quietly saves you from the heat. It’s no-cook, quick, and a great meal-prep option.

Kakdi Koshimbir|cucumber salad Recipe by Rutuja Patil |Ek_KolhaPuri
#Mar #W4 Koshimbir is nothing but salad in Marathi. This is an authentic, traditional Maharashtrian recipe. There are different ways of making koshimbir.A Maharashtrian style salad, Kakdichi Koshimbir, is great for summers. It goes well with masala bhat or khichadi. Do try this simple recipe and dro…
CookpadRutuja Patil |Ek_KolhaPuri

Recipes from koshimbir

14. Sabja Lemon Cooler – Desi Detox in a Glass

Sabja (basil) seeds are like tiny jelly balls that cool you from the inside. Mix them with lemon juice, rose syrup, or even thandai.

Sabja Lemonade Recipe by Prachi Phadke Puranik
#ga24
CookpadPrachi Phadke Puranik

Make it pop: Pre-soak them and store in the fridge. Ready anytime.

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15. Raita – The One That Goes with Everything

Cucumber, boondi, mint, or pineapple—raita doesn’t get enough love. It cools your stomach, pairs with parathas or pulao, and makes spicy food less angry.

Beetroot Raita Recipe by Ruchita Chauhan
#GA4#week5#beetroot
CookpadRuchita Chauhan
Mango Mint Raita Recipe by Madhumita Bishnu
#summerdelights #cooksnap I would like to thank Ms.Sneha Kasat for this recipe which I recreated and tweaked with Mango as Mango is in season.
CookpadMadhumita Bishnu

More delicious raita recipes

These summer recipes have been loved for generations—but there’s still so much room to play.

So the next time the heat makes you want to hide under a fan all day, remember—your kitchen has the answer. A chilled drink, a comforting bowl, or something tangy and nostalgic... it doesn’t take much to feel better. 😉