10 hydrating Indian breakfast dishes made with cucumber

With the sudden change in season, it has become imperative to stay hydrated and the best way to do so is to start your day with something totally hydrating. And what's better than cucumber, which is about 95% water, making it extremely hydrating. It also contains dietary fiber, vitamin K, potassium, and antioxidants that support digestion and gut health, making you feel light all-day long. So, take a look at these 10 desi ways of starting the day with cucumber-based dishes that can help regulate appetite, improve hydration, and support weight management as well.

This is a hydrating version of upma, where small cucumber cubes are added toward the end while cooking upma made with semolina, mustard seeds, curry leaves, and vegetables. It not only adds freshness but also extra fiber to the popular South Indian breakfast dish.

This is a comforting dish with subtle sweetness, where you add finely chopped or grated cucumber to freshly made poha along with flattened rice onions, peanuts, and curry leaves. According to experts, adding cucumber gives it a refreshing crunch and boosts the fiber content. This variation works especially well in summer and makes the dish lighter.

To make this filling breakfast, grate cucumber and mix it with whole wheat flour, green chillies, ajwain, and coriander to knead a soft and flavorful dough. These parathas cook quickly and remain moist due to the water content of cucumber and are best served with curd or pickle. One can also, first saute the grated cucumber in a tempering of cumin and chilli and then add it to the dough to make an interesting paratha.

It refers to a simple cucumber raita made with grated cucumber, curd, roasted cumin powder, and black salt that pairs perfectly with breakfast parathas. It aids digestion and balances heavier foods. For parathas, one can use aloo, pyaz or even paneer as a stuffing for added protein.

To make this, you have to mix grated cucumber into idli batter along with grated carrot and a little ginger. It makes the idlis softer, moist, and slightly sweeter in taste while improving the nutritional profile and it goes well with sambar and coconut chutney.

To make this chilla, simply add grated cucumber, chopped onions, coriander, and green chillies to a besan batter. Cook like pancakes on a tawa and enjoy with mint chutney. It is said that cucumber keeps the chilla soft and increases the fiber and hydration levels of the dish.

This one is inspired by Gujarati cuisine, where you add grated cucumber to whole wheat flour, turmeric, sesame seeds, and spices to make soft theplas. These are great for breakfast or travel and can be enjoyed with chai too.

To make this dish, add chopped cucumber to cooked vegetable daliya along with tomatoes, peas, and carrots. It is said that cucumber provides crunch and increases the fiber content of this wholesome breakfast.

This is a very famous dish, where you mix cucumber cubes with moong sprouts, tomatoes, lemon juice, black salt, and roasted peanuts. It’s a no-cook, protein-rich breakfast bowl that is light but filling.

Take whole wheat bread and layer it with cucumber slices, mint chutney, and paneer or boiled potatoes to make a quick high-fiber breakfast.

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