Mumbai’s coolest summer bites to beat the heat this season across the city

Watermelon Blossom KakigoriThis includes shaved ice watermelon vanilla ice cream gulkand and honeycomb on a plate when you order the Kakigori Itrsquos cold floral and exactly the kind of indulgence that makes sense in this heatAt Mizu Izakaya Pali Hill KharCall 19372023641Cost Rs 695Dumplings in soupPIC COURTESYCafe COmo XOThis works if yoursquore looking for a warm light option Soft crystal dumplings sit in a fragrant Thai chilli brothAt Cafe Como XO Techno Heritage building 76 Nagindas Master Road Kala GhodaCall 7400193144Cost Rs 490SummertimePIC COURTESYMEZZO MEZZOThis salad tastes just like itrsquos named Baby gem couscous avocado mango mdash this mix has all the fixings for a fresh citrusy bite thatrsquos held together with a passion fruittruffle emulsionAT Mezzo Mezzo JW Marriott Mumbai Juhu Juhu Tara RoadCALL 9004616506COST Rs 1150Miang KhamPIC COURTESYFirebackA small bite with a big personality Miang Kham is a dish thatrsquos sort of like the fruit of dealing with hot summers Pomelo coconut and peanuts are wrapped in betel leaves Itrsquos fresh citrusy slightly sweet slightly nutty and gone in two bites which is annoying but also the pointAt Fireback Nilaya Anthology Lower ParelCall 2235387627Cost Rs 595Madras CalamariPIC COURTESYScarlett houseItrsquos fried Yes But heavy No Light batter curry leaves coastal chilli make this calamari a breeze to eat And itrsquos the right companion with a chilled beer You get the crunch the flavour and none of that greasy regretAt Scarlett House Pali Hill Bandra WestCall 7400099933Cost Rs 690Jackfruit Papad with Singdana HummusPIC COURTESYKari AplaThe jackfruit papad brings the crunch and heat the Solapurstyle singdana chutney hummus cools it down and that curry leaf furikake sneaks in more flavour Itrsquos snacky but this hummus doesnrsquot pretend to be boringAt Kari Apla Khar Pali Road KharCall 8433706258Cost Rs 490Gazpacho AndaluzPIC COURTESYDriftCold soup can be a gamble but this one is not Tomato cucumber olive oil blended and chilled mdash itrsquos a gazpacho you could eat all season If the heat is making you too lazy to chew this is exactly what you wantAt Drift Lower Parel delivery onlyCall 9930031982Cost Rs 400Burrata ChaatPIC COURTESYNkshaThis chaat tastes like dahi puri went on an Italian vacation Creamy burrata combined with those chatpata chaat flavours mdash chutneys tomatoes spice crunch somehow worksAt Nksha ChurchgateCall 9820475555Cost Rs 950Home kitchen hacksChef Smriti Iyer recommends you survive the heat with ingredients that work for youGourds Lauki cucumber and ridge gourd mdash their high water content makes them easy to digestGreen Chilli Heats the palate to induce sweating which helps keep the body cool when used in the correct quantityCardamom Aids in cooling the bodyBlack Pepper Contains piperine which has a similar cooling effect to green chilliRaw Mango A seasonal fruit that is low in sugar Unlike ripe mangoes this doesnrsquot cause inflammation making it ideal for summerLauki Almond SoupINGREDIENTSGroundnut oil 2 tbspCinnamon 2rdquo sticksCardamom 2 crushedGreen chilli 2 nosIndian bay leaf 3Garlic 6 cloves slicedOnion 150gLauki bottle gourd 500gPotato 70gBlack Pepper 1 tspSalt 15 tspWater 1L add more to adjustAlmonds 50g soakedBroccoli Cauliflower 1 Head Baked with a bit of oil salt pepper to top the soupMETHODIn a castiron pan heat oil on medium add all the whole spices onion and garlic Let them soften Add lauki potatoes salt and pepper Sauteacute them Roast in the oven at 190degC Convection 200degC OTG for 3040 minutes till golden Stir once at halftime Take out cinnamon and bay leaves Add water and grind 34 of this Add the paste of soaked almondsIt tastes great cold or at room temperature Serve on top with ovenroasted broccoli or cauliflower at 180degC or with croutons or dry old rotiRecipe courtesy Chef Smriti Iyer