Filled with remorse from gorging on one too many treats? Has festive over-indulgence left you feeling a little guilty? Thanks to Mela, the authentic, country-style Indian restaurants, foodies need suffer no more with their ‘Curry of Conscience’ detox menu, courtesy of executive chef, Kuldeep Singh. Available throughout January, the menu is full on flavour, but has NO added fats or oils so is low in calories with many ingredients featured for their zingy health benefits.

Detoxing diners may choose light bites ranging from chiken tikka salad with seasonal vegetables tossed in a chaat masala dressing; lentil sprout leaf salad with a dried mango and pomegranate dressing; or roasted barley (stress busting) shorba soup simmered with green apples, fresh mint and coriander, tempered with ginger and garlic.

Maintaining a healthy balance are mains of whole sea bass, steamed in a banana leaf in a light marinade of coriander and mint; saunfiyan chicken tikka flavoured with fennel seeds (good for digestion) and served with whole wheat bread; or makai satvik, baby corn, snow peas, baby spinach and carrots with tomatoes and burnt garlic served with a small portion of steamed rice. To complete this virtuous menu, a fresh fruit salad awaits in a sweet lemon and honey dressing.

Many of the detox ingredients chosen by Singh provide natural ways of boosting the digestive and immune system and include ginger, garlic, cucumber and spinach. So pop on your holier-than-thou hat and treat yourself to a meal at Mela this January. With starters from just £3.95 and mains from £8.95 it’s credit conscious too.

To drink, Mela have created a ‘detox delight’ – a blend of apple and cucumber juice with a dash of mint.

The ‘Curry of Conscience’ detox menu is available for lunch and dinner, alongside the à la carte, at all Mela restaurants throughout January.

152 – 156 Shaftesbury Avenue, London WC2H 8HL T: 020 7836 8635

136- 140 Herne Hill, London SE24 9QH T: 020 7738 5500

1 Linkfield Street, Redhill, Surrey RH1 1HQ T: 01737 766154

www.melarestaurant.co.uk