Summer Comfort Food for Muggy, Rainy days

It's monsoon season where I live, and I'm on the hunt for comforting - but still summery! - dishes. I'd love any recommendations for breakfast, lunch, and/or dinner - thank you!

(P.S. Ratatouille is already a reliable, much-loved and repeated staple in my kitchen).

Jr0717
  • Posted by: Jr0717
  • August 17, 2023
  • 4719 views
  • 7 Comments

7 Comments

HalfPint August 24, 2023
Vietnamese food is my comfort food (for obvious reasons)and it was made for muggy warm monsoon weather. Here are some ideas:

-Viet chicken salad
-Gỏi Cuốn (Việt spring rolls)
-Bánh Xèo (savory crispy crepes)

We consume a lot of fresh herbs and vegetables, with these and many of our meals.
 
Lori T. August 18, 2023
Shakshuka! Alongside some nice bread- it's a breakfast, lunch or dinner. A frittata, or Spanish tortilla? Omelets of all sorts. Japanese style cream stew, or curry. Fruit dumplings with custard sauce- maybe breakfast, or even a nice treat for supper. Summer veggies Alfredo, or au gratin, with ham or chicken? Chicken and dumplings with summer veggies. Mac and cheese with veggies added in. A nice stack of whole grain pancakes with sausage links or bacon? Or maybe stewed berries or stone fruit to top it?
 
Jr0717 August 18, 2023
Wow, so many ideas! Thank you!
 
Lori T. August 18, 2023
You're welcome. My family and I lived in S. Korea for many years and spent time with that minor summer monsoon season. Still, weeks of rain in the middle of summer gets tiresome after a while. Those were some of our go-to meals. And put some of that ratatouille over polenta cakes, for a change of pace. Make polenta for breakfast, serve with fruit stew. Make extra to cool in loaf pan. Slice and fry in butter, ghee or whatever, until crispy on the outside and creamy inside.
 
Nancy August 18, 2023
Cool or iced soups.
Savoury, like the well known red gazpacho. Also there are white and green versions. Another savoury one is borscht - the best ones to serve cold (with optional sour cream or yogurt garnish) are meatless. (The meat ones are better served hot.)
Sweet ones from the Hungarian cuisine. Lots of fruit flavours. I remember cherry and plum versions as very nice. Many have a glug if dry white wine added, and/or are served with cold white wine.
These soups are often served as an appetizer. Or could be serve in larger portions as part of a light lunch.
Many recipes out there.
 
Nancy August 18, 2023
PS
There are also many recipes for cold fruit soup in Scandinavian countries.
 
Jr0717 August 18, 2023
Thank for the suggestion!
 
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