Beating Indian Summer!

Indian Summers have a notoriety of being one of the hottest summers

in the world. In recent years the average summer temperatures have

undergone a considerable hike. Getting out on the street in the scorching

summer heat during noon time is like walkling through a thick screen

of hot steam. It ruins perfectly applied makeup and primly coiffed hair

and not to mention the sweat soaked clothing! In such times what I crave

for is a very chilled glass of Kokum Sarbat, or a refreshing tumbler

of Lassi/Chaas or a mug ful of sweet mango Panna. I remember the summers of

my childhood when my mother would have jugs of yummy drinks ready in

the fridge for my friends and I to enjoy.

Masala Lassi

2 cups of fresh Yogurt

4 tbsp chopped coriander/cilantro

2 tbsp chopped mint

1 tsp each of fennel power and cumin power

salt to taste

a pinch of sugar

Whisk the yogurt. add a little chilled water if its too thick. Add rest of the ingredients and mix well. Serve in a tall glass and garnish with a little coriander sprig and mint!

This is one of my all time favorite drinks. Its very easy to digest too! Plus there is no caffeine or other artificial flavorings that could cause much damage to the body.

Aam Panna

5 to 6 raw mangoes (medium sized)

3 tbsp sugar

1 tsp salt

1 tsp red chili powder or cayenne pepper (optional)

2 tsp cumin powder

2 tbsp chopped mint leaves

Put the raw mangoes in a pan. Add water to cover them and briong the pan to a boil. Keep the pan simmering on medium heat for about 10 to 15 mins. Retrieve the mangoes from the pan. Peel and stone them. Mash the pulp.

Add the chopped mint, cumin powder, chili powder, sugar and salt . Mix everything well. (this pulp can be stored in the fridge for a week)

While serving the Aam Panna, Fill the glass upto 1/3rd with the prepared mango pulp. Add some ice cubes and fill the glass with water. Stir to mix well. Garnish with some mint leaves!

Aam Panna is a typical summer drink in India. Mangoes are available in abundance in the summer season here. There are a lot of drinks and dishes prepared with raw and ripe mangoes during that period.

Watermelon and mint cooler

3 cups of chopped watermelon flesh

1 cup of mint leaves

2 tsp sugar (optional if the watermelon isnt sweet enough)

1 tsp black salt

Blend the watermelon pieces, mint, salt, sugar. Add a little water to it. Serve it in a tall glass with some ice!

I sometimes add beetroot, celery, spinach to while blending. The flavours get masked by the watermelon and mint. Its a good way to get kids eat some veggies!

Kokum Sharbat (drink)

I use the ready to use Kokum syrup available in Supermarkets. They are made with Kokum pulp, sugar, salt. Kokum fruit is a sour-sweet fruit. Hence a lot of sugar is used to process it to make the concentrate syrup.

Fill a glass upto 1/3 with the syrup and add water. Add a pinch of cumin powder and stir well. Top with icecubes.

Kokum Sharbat brings memories of my childhood spent at my grandma's place in the village. Playing around heaps of fresh and drying Kokum fruits...while sipping the sweet and spicy Sharbat. Ah bliss!

Summer may have its disadvantages, but its also the season which brings opportunities to enjoy these delicious and refreshing drinks! Summer may not be my favorite season, but these beverages surely are on top of my Fav drinks list!