Beverages – Meal Haven

Mildly Spiced Watermelon Cooler

An instant thirst-quencher, water melon with its high moisture content can hydrate us and is a good source of vitamin A, C and other nutrients.

Ingredients:

Watermelon diced into cubes – 2 cups

Ginger – 1/4 inch piece

Pepper powder – 1/4 tsp

Salt – a pinch

Lime juice – 1/4 tsp

Crushed mint leaves – 4 or 5 (optional)

Water – 1/2 cup

Preparation:

Cut and de-seed the watermelon. Add the cubed watermelon alongwith the other ingredients (except mint leaves) in a blender and blitz well. Strain it through a sieve (I prefer not to strain it) and serve with crushed ice. Mix the crushed mint leaves into the juice.

Save some juice and pour it into popsicle moulds or ice cream trays and freeze, to enjoy it later.

Aam Ras/Keri no Ras or Amarkhand/Mango Shrikand (Mango Greek Yogurt Dessert)

Beverages, Desserts

A traditional Indian dessert from Western India. A flavourful yogurt based dessert enhanced with the flavours of mango and cardamom, this is served with poori in Maharashtrain and Gujarati weddings. An easy no cook dessert with the goodness of mango.

Ingredients:

Ripe Mangoes – 2 (Alphonso or Badami preferred)

Cardamom powder – 3/4 tsp

Powdered Sugar – 1/4 cup or as required

Yogurt – 1/2 cup

Milk – 1/4 cup

Sliced almonds – 4 or 5 for garnish

Pounded pistachois – 1 tsp

Saffron – 3 strands + 3 strands for garnish

Preparation:

Take a muslin cloth and place the yogurt in it for an hour to allow the whey to drain out.

Deskin the mangoes and remove the pulp.

In a blender, add the mango pulp, powdered sugar, cardamom, yogurt, milk and pulse until it becomes smooth and creamy.

You can add saffron soaked in 1 tbsp warm milk to it (optional).

Garnish it with saffron strands, almonds and pounded pistachois and serve in a glass or bowl.

Chill for 30 minutes before serving.

Cucumber Lassi (A blend of cucumber and yogurt)

Beverages

A refreshing summer drink that will cool your body.

Ingredients:

Small Cucumber – 1 1/2

Thick yogurt – 1 cup

Water – 1/2 cup

Roasted jeera powder – 1/4 tsp

Salt – to taste

Heavy whipping cream – 1/4 cup (optional)

Preparation:

Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend it until it is completely smooth. Serve chilled in glasses. Garnish with mint leaf.

You may adjust the water according to your preference for a thicker or thinner beverage.