Celebrate monsoon by tasting shades of green at India's finest restaurant

The monsoon arrives with its own colour palette, and green is undoubtedly always at the centre of it. As rain breathes new life into trees, gardens, and fields, the colour finds its way into our plates too. Fresh, vibrant and naturally associated with nourishment, greens have long been a staple of seasonal cooking, but they are no longer confined to salads or simple sides. 

From leafy vegetables and fresh herbs to green chillies, peas, moringa, and other seasonal produce, chefs are finding inventive ways to make green ingredients the star of the plate. Across restaurants in India and beyond, the colour is appearing in everything from contemporary Indian creations to elaborate tasting menu courses. 

This monsoon, take your cue from the season and eat a little greener. Look beyond the usual salad bowl; here are the restaurants serving up some of the most interesting green dishes to seek out. 

Avartana ITC, Mumbai 

ITC's Avartana offers a well-chosen menu with regional ingredients and presentation that goes beyond fine dining South Indian cuisine. Avartana uses creative skill and contemporary craftsmanship to reimagine the rich tastes of the Southern Peninsula. Avartana gives seasonal food a modern South Indian makeover. The Asparagus and Coconut Stew combines the richness of coconut with the freshness of asparagus to create a meal that is both light and multi-layered. Tempered Bottle Gourd with Plum chutney, on the other hand, elevates the common vegetable above its usual connotations by combining a subtle taste with the warmth of temptation and the sweet, acidic notes of plum. Together, these recipes show how green ingredients can shift from the familiar to the unexpected while staying tied to the season. 

Masque, Mumbai 

Masque is renowned for its ingredient-led approach to modern Indian cooking, which features an ever-evolving tasting menu that combines fresh food, careful preparation methods, and surprising pairings. With each meal balancing texture, flavour, and presentation, the restaurant's evolving approach lets it explore well-known foods in fresh, creative ways. The Puran Poli with Green Pea Amti offers a novel take on a well-known Indian dish, while the Mushroom Tartlet adds an earthy depth. The bright, spicy flavours of green pea amti combine with the sweetness of Puran Poli to create a meal that is both surprising and entrenched. Taken as a whole, the meal shows Masque’s ability to take familiar ingredients and give them a modern twist. 

Comorin, Mumbai 

Comorin is a laid-back, all-day eatery and bar that combines traditional Indian cuisine with a modern twist; its Mumbai location also creates a sophisticated yet relaxed vibe by combining communal seating with earthy, subdued decor. The cuisine adopts the same concept, offering well-known Indian comfort food with a creative twist. The Summer Jowar Salad with tempered yoghurt combines fresh vegetables, nutty jowar, and creamy yoghurt, while the Nimbu Masala Avocado and Banarsi Aloo Papad offer creamy avocado, zesty lemon, and the crisp texture of Banarsi aloo papad for a fresh, contemporary take on familiar Indian flavours. Together, the meals showcase Comorin’s talent for transforming the familiar into something new and contemporary. 

Tresind, Mumbai 

Tresind takes a modernist approach to Indian cooking by fusing traditional tastes with cutting-edge methods and a touch of theatrics. The restaurant's menu follows the same concept, reimagining well-known Indian foods with new textures, preparation methods, and presentations. The Avocado Ghewar Chaat is a fun modern spin on chaat that mixes the crunchy honeycomb-like texture of ghewar with creamy avocado. While the Taro Kebab adds a subtle, earthy sweetness to the dish. Together, the dishes show Trèsind's skill at turning familiar ingredients into modern cuisine, with colour, texture, and contrast as key components. Both dishes are now available on the restaurant's vegetarian menu.

Indian Accent, Mumbai 

Indian Accent gives Indian food a modern twist by reimagining well-known produce and local tastes using surprising pairings, textures, and cooking methods. Housed in a refined, elegant setting, the restaurant is renowned for transforming well-known Indian meals into complex compositions while preserving their distinctive tastes. While the Saag Tart with tossed vegetables roast almond makhni combines seasonal vegetables with the richness of almond and makhni, the Saag Tart places leafy greens at the centre of a delicate, elegant dish. The Papdi Chaat with Crackling Spinach creates a fun juxtaposition of textures by pairing the well-known tang and spice of chaat with crisp spinach for a touch more crunch. Together, the dishes show how Indian Accent elevates common ingredients to a far more complex level. 

Green is becoming increasingly important at the table, from seasonal vegetables to creative takes on traditional Indian dishes. These recipes, which go well beyond the typical salad bowl, provide a novel way to welcome the monsoon. 

Each dish adds its own take on the season's colour, whether through the brightness of herbs and greens, the earthy sweetness of fresh vegetables, or an unexpected modern twist. There are several ways to consume greens, after all. And this monsoon, the best way might just be to taste it. 

Lead image: Pexels 

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