The last diya has flickered out, and the sweetness of festivals still lingers — both on the tongue and perhaps, on the waistline. After days of indulgence, the body craves simplicity: food that’s light, hydrating, and restorative.

Post-festival detoxing isn’t about deprivation — it’s about mindful nourishment. Indian kitchens have long mastered this art through simple, home-healing recipes made from spices, herbs, and humble grains.

Here’s your delicious roadmap to balance: 10 Indian detox drinks and light meals that refresh from the inside out.

1. Moong Dal Khichdi with Jeera Ajwain Water

Ingredients for Moong Dal Khichdi:

• ½ cup yellow moong dal (split yellow lentils)
• ½ cup rice or foxtail millet
• 1 tsp ghee
• ½ tsp turmeric powder
• ¼ tsp asafoetida (hing)
• Salt to taste
• 3 cups water
• ½ tsp cumin seeds

Method for Moong Dal Khichdi:

1. Wash and soak rice and moong dal for 15 minutes.
2. In a pressure cooker, heat ghee. Add cumin seeds and let them splutter.
3. Stir in asafoetida and turmeric.
4. Add the soaked dal and rice, followed by salt and water.
5. Cook for 3 whistles, let the steam release naturally.
6. Serve Moong Dal Khichdi warm with a squeeze of lemon and fresh coriander.

Ingredients for Jeera Ajwain Water:

• 1 tsp cumin (jeera) seeds
• 1 tsp carom (ajwain) seeds
• 2 cups water

Method for Jeera Ajwain Water:

1. Boil cumin and carom seeds in 2 cups of water for 5 minutes.
2. Strain and sip warm throughout the day.

Moong Dal Khichdi with Jeera Ajwain Water gently resets digestion, reduces bloating, and restores gut calm after festive indulgence.

2. Steamed Idlis with Tulsi Ginger Tea

Ingredients for Steamed Idlis:

• 2 cups fermented idli batter
• A few drops of oil for greasing moulds
• Salt if needed

Method for Steamed Idlis:

1. Grease idli plates lightly with oil.
2. Pour batter into moulds, filling three-fourths full.
3. Steam for 10–12 minutes on medium flame.
4. Cool for a minute, then demould carefully.
5. Serve Steamed Idlis with fresh coconut chutney or coriander dip.

Ingredients for Tulsi Ginger Tea:

• 1 cup water
• 5–6 fresh tulsi leaves
• 1 tsp grated ginger
• ½ tsp fennel seeds
• 1 tsp honey

Method for Tulsi Ginger Tea:

1. Boil water with tulsi leaves, ginger, and fennel seeds for 5 minutes.
2. Strain and let cool slightly.
3. Stir in honey before sipping.

Steamed Idlis with Tulsi Ginger Tea is a morning meal that cleanses gently — soft, nourishing idlis balanced by a soothing herbal brew.

3. Vegetable Daliya with Mint Lemon Cooler

Ingredients for Vegetable Daliya:

• ½ cup broken wheat (daliya)
• 1 cup chopped vegetables (carrot, beans, peas, capsicum)
• 1 tsp ghee or olive oil
• ½ tsp cumin seeds
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 2 cups water

Method for Vegetable Daliya:

1. Dry roast daliya until lightly golden and fragrant.
2. Heat ghee in a pan, add cumin seeds.
3. Add vegetables, sauté for 2 minutes.
4. Add roasted daliya and water, season with salt and pepper.
5. Cover and cook for 10–12 minutes until soft.

Ingredients for Mint Lemon Cooler:

• 10 fresh mint leaves
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 1 tsp honey
• 1 glass of cold water

Method for Mint Lemon Cooler:

1. Blend mint leaves, lemon juice, honey, and water.
2. Strain and serve chilled.

Vegetable Daliya with Mint Lemon Cooler revives and rehydrates — the perfect brunch pairing after festive overload.

4. Palak Moong Soup with Amla Honey Shot

Ingredients for Palak Moong Soup:

• 1 cup blanched spinach
• ½ cup cooked moong dal
• 1 clove garlic, chopped
• ½ tsp cumin seeds
• 1 tsp ghee
• Salt and pepper

Method for Palak Moong Soup:

1. Blend spinach and moong dal into a smooth puree.
2. Heat the ghee, add cumin and garlic.
3. Pour in the puree, season, and simmer for 5 minutes.
4. Serve Palak Moong Soup warm with a squeeze of lemon.

Ingredients for Amla Honey Shot:

• 2 fresh amlas
• ½ cup water
• 1 tsp honey

Method for Amla Honey Shot:

1. Blend amla with water, and strain the juice.
2. Mix in honey and drink immediately.

Palak Moong Soup with Amla Honey Shot restores iron, boosts vitamin C, and brings back energy naturally.

5. Lemon Quinoa Upma with Cucumber Fennel Cooler

Ingredients for Lemon Quinoa Upma:

• ½ cup quinoa
• 1 tbsp oil
• ½ tsp mustard seeds
• 1 green chilli, chopped
• A few curry leaves
• ½ cup chopped vegetables (carrot, beans, peas)
• Juice of 1 lemon
• Salt to taste

Method for Lemon Quinoa Upma:

1. Rinse and cook quinoa until fluffy.
2. In a pan, heat oil and add mustard seeds, curry leaves, and green chilli.
3. Add vegetables and sauté till tender.
4. Mix in quinoa, salt, and lemon juice.

Ingredients for Cucumber Fennel Cooler:

• ½ cucumber, peeled
• 1 tsp fennel seeds
• 1 cup chilled water
• 1 tsp honey

Method for Cucumber Fennel Cooler:

Blend cucumber, fennel, and water. Strain and sweeten with honey.

Pair Lemon Quinoa Upma with Cucumber Fennel Cooler for a hydrating and zesty refresh.

6. Sauteed Paneer with Cinnamon Cardamom Tea

Ingredients for Sauteed Paneer with Greens:

• 100g paneer, cubed
• 1 cup spinach and methi leaves
• 1 tsp olive oil
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• Salt, pepper, and a squeeze of lemon

Method for Sauteed Paneer with Greens:

1. Heat oil in a pan, add garlic and sauté until fragrant.
2. Add greens, cook till wilted.
3. Add paneer, toss for 2 minutes, season, and drizzle with lemon juice.

Ingredients for Cinnamon Cardamom Tea:

• 1 cup water
• 1 small cinnamon stick
• 2 cardamom pods
• 1 tsp honey

Method for Cinnamon Cardamom Tea:

Boil water with cinnamon and cardamom for 5 minutes, strain, and add honey.

Together, Sauteed Paneer with Cinnamon Cardamom Tea is warming, detoxifying, and beautifully spiced.

7. Sweet Potato Chaat with Tulsi Detox Water

Ingredients for Sweet Potato Chaat:

• 1 large sweet potato, boiled and cubed
• ½ tsp chaat masala
• ½ tsp roasted cumin powder
• Juice of ½ lemon
• Fresh coriander and mint

Method for Sweet Potato Chaat:

1. Boil sweet potato until tender, peel and cube.
2. Toss with lemon juice, spices, and herbs.

Ingredients for Tulsi Detox Water:

• 8–10 tulsi leaves
• 1 litre water
• ½ tsp honey (optional)

Method for Tulsi Detox Water:

Soak tulsi leaves in water overnight and sip throughout the day.

Enjoy Sweet Potato Chaat with Tulsi Detox Water for a refreshing, antioxidant-rich snack.

8. Cucumber Poha with Green Apple Juice

Ingredients for Cucumber Poha:

• 1 cup poha (flattened rice), rinsed
• ½ cucumber, grated
• ½ tsp mustard seeds
• 1 green chilli
• Juice of ½ lemon
• Salt and coriander

Method for Cucumber Poha:

1. Heat oil, splutter mustard seeds and chilli.
2. Add grated cucumber, then the soaked poha.
3. Mix gently, add lemon juice and coriander.

Ingredients for Green Apple Juice:

• 1 green apple, chopped
• 1 tsp ginger juice
• Juice of ½ lemon
• ½ cup water

Method for Green Apple Juice:

Blend all ingredients and strain. Serve immediately.

Cucumber Poha with Green Apple Juice makes for a crisp, cleansing breakfast combo.

9. Lauki Moong Dal with Masala Chaas

Ingredients for Lauki Moong Dal:

• 1 cup chopped bottle gourd (lauki)
• ½ cup split moong dal
• ½ tsp turmeric
• ½ tsp cumin seeds
• 1 tsp ghee
• Salt to taste

Method for Lauki Moong Dal:

1. Pressure cook dal and lauki with turmeric and salt for 2 whistles.
2. Temper with cumin seeds in ghee.

Ingredients for Masala Chaas:

• ½ cup curd
• 1 cup cold water
• ½ tsp roasted cumin powder
• A pinch of black salt
• Coriander and mint

Method for Masala Chaas:

Whisk all ingredients and serve chilled.

Lauki Moong Dal with Masala Chaas soothes digestion and keeps the body hydrated.

10. Vegetable Clear Soup with Kesar Haldi Milk

Ingredients for Vegetable Clear Soup:

• 1 cup chopped vegetables (carrot, beans, cabbage)
• 1 tsp grated ginger
• Salt and pepper
• 3 cups water

Method for Vegetable Clear Soup:

1. Boil the vegetables and ginger in water for 10 minutes.
2. Strain, season lightly, and serve hot.

Ingredients for Kesar Haldi Milk:

• 1 cup milk (or almond milk)
• ½ tsp turmeric
• 3–4 saffron strands
• 1 tsp jaggery or honey

Method for Kesar Haldi Milk:

1. Heat milk gently, add turmeric and saffron.
2. Simmer for 3 minutes, sweeten and serve warm.

End your day with Vegetable Clear Soup and Kesar Haldi Milk — comforting, cleansing, and deeply restorative.

Balance isn’t a destination — it’s a rhythm. Let these recipes bring you back to it. Reclaim your energy, your glow, and your calm — one clean, delicious plate at a time. Download Foodism and share your version of calmness.