Summer brings with it a breath of fresh air, and a yearning for all things natural. Noboborsho is filled with vibrant colours and exciting celebrations, but you may find yourself wanting an escape from its sweltering heat.
Worry not! We have the perfect solution. These easy-to-prepare drink recipes will do wonders in breathing the life back into you.
Jeera Paani
A crowd favourite that has amazing health benefits, jeera paani is a tangy, flavourful cooler perfect for these hot Boishakhi days.
Step: 4
What you’ll need:
½ cup cane molasses 2 tbsp sugar 4 cups water 2 tbsp tamarind pulp ½ tsp rock salt 1 tsp roasted cumin (jeera) powder 2 tbsp lemon juice
Directions:
In a small saucepan, bring the sugar, cane molasses and one cup of water to a boil. Stir the mixture and let it simmer until the sugar is fully dissolved.
Remove the mixture from heat and allow it to cool completely.
Pour the prepared mixture into a blender along with the remaining cups of water. Add the tamarind pulp, rock salt and lemon juice, and blend on high for three to four seconds.
Stir in your powdered cumin and wait 10 minutes for the flavours to blend. Voila! You’re done. Pour over ice in serving glasses and garnish with thin slices of lemon or mint leaves for an elegant finishing touch.
Note:
Roasted cumin powder isn’t readily available at stores, so it has to be prepared at home. Fret not! It’s a simple process. In a wide pan, add one-quarter cup jeera seeds and roast at medium heat until they are
golden (it should take about two minutes). Transfer to a working surface and grind to a fine powder.
Kacha Aamer Shorbot
A fresh, rejuvenating cooler that is the perfect balance of sweet and sour, Kacha aamer shorbot makes the best use of in-season raw mangoes.
Step: 4
What you’ll need:
3 medium sized raw mangoes ½ cup sugar 1 tsp grated ginger ½ cup fresh mint leaves 1 tsp bit lobon (rock salt) 3 tbsp lemon juice 5 cups water
Directions:
Boil, peel and mash the green mangoes, and let them cool. In a small saucepan, add sugar, grated ginger and two cups of water and bring to a boil. Wait until the sugar is fully dissolved, then remove from heat and allow it to cool.
Pour three cups of ice-cold water into a blender, and add in your mangoes, rock salt, mint leaves and sugar-water mixture. Blend well and keep an eye out for mint leaves that don’t cooperate.
Once that’s done, pour into a jug and stir in your lemon juice. Adjust salt and sugar to taste.
Strain and transfer to serving glasses, and garnish with chopped mint leaves. Enjoy!
Sweet Lassi
This perhaps requires the least amount of time and effort. If you aren’t up for the kitchen work, this one’s for you! Simple, sweet and absolutely delicious, this drink will never disappoint.
Step: 2
What you’ll need:
1½ cups plain yoghurt 2 tbsp sugar ¼ cup water
Directions:
Blend yoghurt, sugar and ice-cold water together. Pour into glasses and serve chilled. That’s all there is to it! Garnish with mint leaves if you so desire, or leave as is.
Tips:
Use larger ice cubes instead of smaller ones. The small ones melt faster, and in doing so, water down your drink. Before juicing lemons, you have to make sure you get a bang for your buck. If they were in the fridge, warm them up individually in the microwave for about 20 seconds and roll them firmly on a flat surface to soften. This will ensure you get the most juice out of them.
