Monsoon Season Food

: From Vada Pav To Onion Pakora, 7 Street Food Dishes For The Rainy Season

Hot chocolate during the cold winter evenings, and soothing kokum sharbat when the sun comes blazing — food and seasons have always belonged together. It’s why, when the air starts smelling of petrichor, the earthy smell of rain, and windows carry tiny droplets on them, the soul – it’s never just the stomach – starts craving comfort food. The kind that’s hot, spicy, sometimes fried, but always delicious. It’s the monsoon season food. Here are street food dishes that perfectly sum up this season. 

Dubbed the OG Indian burger, vada pao is comforted inside two buns. Everyone who’s had an authentic vada pao knows it’s the crumbly, spicy, red coloured garlic chutney that elevates this from a simple snack to a little bite of heaven. The vada pao recipe includes a fried potato ball, placed between a lightly buttered and toasted bun, smeared with a dry garlic chutney and a wet mint chutney. That’s it. No sliced onions, tomatoes, or cabbage – this isn’t a burger, no matter what the tourists might dub it. It’s the ultimate fried goodness. It’s vada pao! 

There may be discussions and debates on what food belongs on the list of monsoon season food, but onion pakora is most likely to come out as the winner in every case. Now, there are several ways in which onions can be fried, but the kind that best serves the rainy season is “kanda bhajiya” (kanda stands for onions, bhajiya for fritters). These tend to be crunchier than the usual doughy pakoras, thanks to the addition of rice flour to the mix. Fried in rough, small clusters, they are exactly what the rainy season demands.

It’s still onions, rain, and a little of the fried magic. But the result could not be more different from pakoras. A popular street food from Rajasthan (specifically Jodhpur and Jaipur, though found across the state), pyaaz kachori is a deep-fried, savoury pastry with a spiced onion filling. Served with sweet and spicy chutneys on the side, this one’s hearty and worth the calories, because every bite promises a crunchy delight with a spicy afterkick. 

Who can forget bhutta, aka roasted corn on the cob, during the rains? The two fit like pieces of a puzzle, almost as if they were invented solely to be monsoon season food. Bhutta is usually spiced with a combination of lime, chilli, and salt, but you can just as easily roast these at home and customize the seasoning. Roasting gives the bhutta that mix of smoky sweetness, while the seasoning elevates the overall flavour. This one’s low-effort, high-reward!

Slurpy, hot, and ready in minutes – is there even a question as to why Sunfeast Yippe Noodles made it to the list of monsoon season food? Instant noodles are manufactured for goodness and with multiple flavours and noodle variants–including millet and atta noodles—you can pick and choose the type you want. But if you can handle spice, nothing speaks rainy like the slurpy, spicy flavour of masala noodles!

If Mumbai has its vada pao, Delhi has the Ram Ladoo. Yes, these are crispy, fried fritters too, made from a batter of soaked lentils (primarily moong dal and chana dal). However, they’re not packed between a bun but served as chaat, topped with spicy and tangy green chutney, a sweet mint chutney, and freshly shredded radish that offers that unmistakable crunch. It’s meant for sharing and savouring!

An all-season classic that becomes especially savoury during the rains, samosas are all about that crunch. Filled with a spiced potato (and sometimes pea) mix, samosas can literally be found on every second street in India. Pair them with a cup of aromatic, masala chai, and you might just find yourself transported to foodie paradise. When cravings strike, and you can’t pick a dish, go with samosas. They rarely, if ever, disappoint! 

Despite all the weather predictions and patterns, the rainy season can be unpredictable. But you can always rely on the joy of good food, the kind that comes from the streets and takes up a place in your memories. This list of monsoon season food is just the start because there are far more fritters, chaat, fried, and steamed delights to savour. What’s your go-to dish during the rains? Share in the comments below!