India, July 14 -- As the monsoon kicks in, kitchens across India come alive with the fragrance of piping hot pakoras and cups of chai. But these classics don't quite capture the range of rainy-day snacks savoured across India.

Combining comfort with childhood nostalgia, chef Manish Mehrotra, who grew up in Bihar, says monsoon is synonymous with piping hot pakoras, spicy green chutney, chai, and smoky corn on the cob. "On some rainy nights, hot tomato soup with a hint of black pepper and sweet and sour flavours was perfect for monsoon," he reminisces. His list of rainy season savouries is long, but there's one regional mithai that he cannot do without: anarsa, a sort of biscuit made with rice and grated jaggery. As he puts it: "Sawan mein...