Hydrating summer recipes that are as delicious as they are cooling

There’s something about summer that calls for food that feels as good as it looks—light, vibrant, and utterly effortless. Whether you're craving a bowl that balances wellness with flavour or a drink that cools you from the inside out, these seasonal recipes deliver just that. From a nourishing mango-avocado salad to a passion fruit fizz that tastes like vacation in a glass, consider this your warm-weather refresh—one delicious bite (and sip) at a time.

Mango avocado salad

When I moved to Mumbai, I had a small kitchen and a big craving — I missed the flavours of home. Everything ‘healthy’ around me felt soulless or synthetic. I didn’t want to pick between taste and wellness — I wanted both. Living with PCOS, I knew my food had to support my hormones too. So, I started experimenting, reading, and searching for recipes, until I created meals that felt like comfort and care. This mango and avocado salad is one of those bowls. It’s refreshing, easy to throw together, and every ingredient plays a part in keeping me balanced, cool, and nourished—even on the busiest days. With the heat and hustle of summer coming in, I’m always on the hunt for meals that are light, nutritious, and refreshing. This salad is exactly that and more. Creamy, juicy, nutrient-dense, and the perfect light meal for those “I’m not cooking” summer days.

Ingredients

For the base:

1 cup kale, de-stemmed

1 tsp olive oil (for massaging)

For the salad:

A handful of arugula, or swap it with basil, if preferred

1 ripe mango, chopped

1 avocado, sliced

1⁄2 cup boiled quinoa

1⁄4 cup pomegranate seeds

A handful of lightly spiced cashews (roasted with paprika and sea salt)

For the dressing:

Juice of 1 lemon

1 tbsp olive oil

Salt & freshly cracked pepper to taste

How to make it

Prep the kale/basil leaves

Put the kale/basil leaves in a bowl and add some olive oil, then massage the leaves with your hands for about one minute. This will soften the leaves, improve their texture, and add a slightly sweeter flavour.

Assemble the salad

Add arugula to the kale base. Then top with chopped mangoes, avocado slices, boiled quinoa, pomegranate seeds, and spiced cashews.

Mix the dressing

Whisk the lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper together. Drizzle it over the salad just before serving.

Toss and enjoy

Toss your entire salad lightly. Serve immediately while the ingredients are fresh.

For that extra burst of flavour 

Enjoy your salad with a cool glass of mint water or refreshing coconut water—this is exactly the kind of combination your body (and skin!) will thank you for. If you prep the base of the salad ahead of time, you can just add the dressing when you are ready to eat.

Quick, nourishing and built for slower summer living!

Passion fruit fizz 

While we to devour scoops of our favourite ice creams in summer, let’s be real—the calories also matter! But ice pops are also not the best option in sight. Enter: A summer cooler with real fruits. There’s something about sipping on an ice-cold drink on a summer afternoon. You can really count on this healthy and refreshing beverage to help you chill out when the heat goes haywire. This drink uses summer produce like mango and passion fruit bring some fruity freshness to your day.

Try this refreshing tropical cooler with the vibrant tang of passion fruit and the mellow sweetness of mango to make yourself (and your friends, of course) that perfect drink for the laid back summer days. This one is sure to hit the spot.

Ingredients

Passion fruit syrup – 30ml(or 30 g)

Ripe mango – 60g (peeled and chopped)

Chilled water – 40ml

Soda–60ml

Ice cubes – as required

Garnish – mint sprig or mango slice (optional)

How to make it

In a blender, combine the passion fruit syrup, ripe mango, and chilled water. Blend until smooth. Pour the mixture into a tumbler. Gently top up with soda water and stir to mix. (Do not blend after adding soda, as this will reduce the fizz.) Strain the drink into a glass filled with ice cubes. Garnish with a mint sprig or mango slice. Serve immediately.

Pro tip: This drink works best with fully ripe mangoes and fresh passion fruit syrup for the most vibrant flavour.

Lead image:

This article originally appeared in Cosmopolitan India's May-June 2025 print issue.

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