Autumn in Germany has its own rhythm. The mornings become cooler, the days slowly get shorter, and by evening, there is often a strong desire for something warm and homemade.
For many Indian families living in Germany, this is when familiar comfort foods naturally find their way back into the kitchen.
Comfort food does not have to be elaborate. It can simply be a warm, satisfying meal that reminds you of home. Here are five Indian dishes that fit beautifully into a cool autumn evening.
A bowl of dal is one of the simplest Indian comfort foods.
To prepare it, cook dal until soft and creamy. Add turmeric and salt, then prepare a simple tempering with cooking oil, cumin, garlic, dried chilli and other spices. Pour the hot tempering over the dal and let the flavours come together.
Serve it warm with rice or roti.
The combination of soft dal, fragrant spices and warm rice makes this a particularly comforting meal when the weather outside is cold.
Sambar brings together dal, vegetables, tamarind and aromatic spices in one warm dish.
Start by cooking dal until soft. Prepare vegetables such as carrots, pumpkin, drumstick or onions, then simmer them with sambar powder and tamarind. Finally, add the cooked dal and allow everything to cook together.
Serve it hot with idli, dosa or rice.
The variety of vegetables also makes sambar an easy way to turn simple ingredients into a complete and satisfying meal.
When the weather becomes chilly, a bowl of soft ven pongal can be especially satisfying.
Rice and moong dal are cooked together until soft. A tempering of cumin, black pepper, ginger, curry leaves and ghee is then added to bring warmth and flavour to the dish.
It is traditionally served with coconut chutney or sambar.
Because the rice and dal are cooked together until creamy and soft, pongal is an easy one-pot meal for a relaxed autumn morning or evening.
Khichdi is another comforting dish that needs very little preparation.
Combine rice and dal with vegetables such as carrots, peas or beans. Cook them together with turmeric, salt and mild spices until everything becomes soft.
A little tempering at the end can add extra flavour.
It is warm, filling and easy to digest, making it a practical choice when you want a simple homemade meal without spending too much time in the kitchen.
Sometimes comfort food does not need to be heavy.
Rasam is a good example. A simple rasam can be prepared with tomatoes, tamarind, pepper, cumin and rasam spices. Once it comes together, serve it hot over freshly cooked rice.
The warmth of pepper and spices makes rasam particularly enjoyable on a cool evening.
For many South Indian families, rasam rice is more than an everyday meal. It is one of those dishes that can instantly feel familiar.
What makes these dishes comforting is not just their warmth. It is the familiarity behind them.
A pot of dal simmering on the stove, vegetables cooking for sambar or the aroma of pepper and cumin in pongal can bring back memories of kitchens, family meals and everyday life in India.
Living in Germany may mean adapting to a different climate and lifestyle, but food traditions can continue in simple ways.
During autumn, familiar ingredients such as dal and cooking oils can help recreate these everyday Indian meals at home. Grün Gesund brings a range of Indian grocery essentials together in Germany, making it easier for families to continue the food traditions they know and enjoy.
Because sometimes, when the weather outside gets colder, a warm homemade Indian meal is all it takes to make home feel a little closer.
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