Bel er Panna

 

Bel er Panna / Stone Apple drink from Bengal.. 

There are many Stone Apple and Wood Apple Trees in Tadoba.. the fruits from the tree had fallen and we managed to get some of the wood apples and got one stone apple during the Jungle Safari.. given to us by one of the forest authority… 

Many people get confused between both the fruits… but both are totally different in texture and taste.. the wood apple is sour and the shell of the wood apple is rough, whereas the stone apple is sweet and the shell is smooth. The wood apple is used to make Chutney and Achhar.. the stone apple is use to make sweet Sharbot and Panna - summer drinks and murabba. 

The stone apple is very good for stomach and is very cooling for summers… 

Here is a recipe for the summer drink… 

Ingredients 

1 Stone Apple 

1 cup Curd

2 to 3 tbsp or more Sugar as per the sweetness 

1/2 tsp Black Salt

1 cup Water

Ingredients 

Break the stone apple into half, scoop out the pulp, take a bowl, add the pulp and a cup of water… mash the pulp well with water, remove the seeds and fibre from the pulp…. Take a blender, add the pulp, curd, sugar and black salt… blend until the sugar dissolves and all the ingredients have blended well together… the summer drink is ready.. add ice to serve or keep it in the fridge, cool the drink to enjoy… 

Chikoo and Almond Milkshake

 

Some days are to laze around.... today is one such day, enjoyed the afternoon with this shake.... 

Ingredients 

4 to 5 Chikoo, peeled and deseeded 

1 cup of Milk / Almond milk 

2 tbsp roasted Almond powder 

Pinch of Chocolate powder for garnish 

2 tsp Honey 

Few Ice cubes 

2 scoops of Roasted Almond Ice  -  cream

Method 

Take a blender, add the chikoo, milk, almond powder, honey, ice cubes, 1 scoop of the ice cream... blend all the ingredients together. Pour in a glass and add a scoop of the ice cream. Sprinkle chocolate powder from top... 

Sattu Ka Sharbat

Sattu is used in the eastern region. It’s roasted Chana / Bengal Gram that is powdered. It have many health benefits, it’s cooling and good for stomach. Best time to have this drink is in the morning as it will keep you hydrated the whole day and also will energise you in the summer. 

For the Namkeen Sharbat 

Ingredients 

31/2 tbsp Sattu

1 tsp Sugar 

1 Lime Juice 

1/2 tsp Roasted Cumin Powdered

1/2 tsp Black Salt

Salt to taste 

Few chopped Mint and Coriander leaves 

Chopped Onions is optional 

Method 

Add the lime juice and little Water and stir the sattu well, add another cup of water, stir further, no lumps should remain. Add the sugar, salt, black salt and cumin powder. Stir it well the sugar should dissolve. Add the mint and Coriander leaves. Serve it. 

For the Sweet Sattu Sharbat

Just add water, sugar, lime juice and little salt and mix it.

Pyar Mohabbat ka Sharbat

It’s extremely hot... only way to cool yourself down is to have a cool summer drink and to get back into life. This is a very unique drink originally found in the lanes of Old Delhi during summers.. but now sold in many places. it’s also a popular drink during the month of Ramadan... 

This drink is an ideal drink for summer.

 This drink is a sweet rooh afza flavoured milk and adding watermelon pieces makes the milk more flavourful. 

To make a glass 

Ingredients 

1/2 Glass Milk

2 tbsp Rooh Afza Sharbat

2 to 3 Ice Cubes 

2 to 3 tbsp small Watermelon pieces 

Garnish with Dried Rose petals

Method 

Add rooh afza sharbat into 1/2 glass milk, stir the milk, add the ice cubes. Then add small pieces of watermelon and garnish it with dried rose petals and a cube of watermelon. Enjoy this drink with your family and friends... 

Borhani

This is a very traditional and popular curd base drink from Bangladesh served in parties, weddings or on special occasions. I had this drink at Fakhruddin in Singapore. I must say it's an amazing drink. This drink helps in digesting the heavy food. The curd is blended with the other ingredients and it's served cold. The drink has the flavor of mint and it's bit spicy as green chilli, ginger, pepper corn and mustard seeds are some of the ingredients added in the drink. The sugar is added as per the requirement and taste you want. 

I have added mustard oil to enhance the flavor of the drink. 

For the Green Fresh Juice

Ingredients 

1/4 cup Mint Leaves 

2 tbsp Coriander Leaves 

1 Green Chilli

1 small piece of Ginger 

8 Pepper Corn 

1/2 tsp Mustard seeds 

Method 

Grind all the ingredients in a grinder. Add 1/4 cup water and grind further into a smooth paste. Strain the paste into a bowl. 
Watch the video here 👇🏼

https://youtu.be/XTcQr0JVxvo

For the Drink 

Ingredients

200 grams Curd

Green Fresh Juice

1 tsp Black Salt

1/2 tsp Roasted Cumin seeds powder 

5 tsp Sugar or as per the requirement 

6 Mint Leaves and some Mint for garnishing 

1/4 tsp Mustard Oil

2 cups Water 

Ice cubes 

Method 

Add the curd, sugar, black salt, roasted cumin seed powder, mint leaves, green juice, mustard oil, some ice cubes and 1/2 cup of water in a blender and blend the ingredients well. Pour the remaining water in a jug. Add some more ice. Pour the curd drink into the jug and add mint leaves for garnishing. Pour it into a glass and enjoy the Borhani. 

Khatta Mitha Kesari Aam Sharbat Sour and Sweet Mango Squash with Saffron

Since I am very fond of making various types of pickles, my husband got around 3 1/2 kgs of Raw Mangoes from a tree situated in the compound where he works. Apparently I had made 2 kgs mango Pickle the same day. So I kept the raw mangoes for 2 days, and by the time when I thought about making some more mango pickle, these mangoes were already in their half riped stage. So thought of making Mango squash. This is an experiment in my kitchen. This Mango Squash has no preservatives and will stay for 3 months in the fridge. I loved the flavor of the saffron infused with the flavor of the Mangoes. It is sweet and sour in taste.

Stage 1 

Ingredients 

3 1/2 kgs Half riped Mangoes 

2 liters of Water 

1 tbsp Salt or Rock salt

5 to 6 pods of Green Cardomom crushed 

1/4 tsp Saffron 

Method 

Peel the skin of the mangoes. Cut them into pieces. Take a big pot. Add the mango pieces and the mango seeds along with the flesh into the pot. Add water, cardamom crushed,  saffron and salt. Let it simmer till the mangoes have become pulpy. Let it cool. Remove the mango seeds and squeeze out the pulp from it and discard the seeds. Add the rest of the mango pieces and the pulp into a blender and blend it. Take a wire mesh strainer and strain the juice out. 

Stage 2 

Ingredients 

Mango Juice

2 1/2 kgs of Sugar

1/4 tsp Saffron 

Method 

Take a pot, add all the above ingredients. Let it simmer till it reaches a level before the one string consistency and small lumps begins to form. To check, take the juice on a ladle. Pour out the juice from the ladle. You will see small tiny lumps stuck on the ladle and the juice has thicken a bit. Switch of the gas. Let it cool. Strain the juice out through a wire mesh strainer. Let it cool completely. Store in dry glass bottles. 

To make the Sharbat, fill up 1/4 of the glass with the Squash. Add chilled water and ice. Stir it and enjoy it.

Aam Pora Shorbot

This drink is basically made in Bengal during the summers. Similar drink made with raw mango in other parts of India is called Aam Paana. The difference here is the raw mango is roasted first and then the pulp is taken out. It has heat resistance properties. Have a glass of it you feel relaxed. 

Ingredients 

3 medium size Raw Mangoes 

Hand ful of Mint leaves

1 tsp Black Salt powder 

1 tsp Rock Salt powder

1 tsp Roasted Jeera powder 

1/2 cup or more Sugar as per the taste or sourness of the mangoes

Or 

Sugar and Jaggery both can be add in equal proportions 

Method 

Take the mangoes and roast them till it becomes a bit soft. After roasting let it cool. Remove the skin and take out the pulp. Take a blender, add a cup of water, blend it until smooth. Add the mint leaves, black salt, rock salt, sugar and another 2 cups of water blend it. Pour it in a bottle and keep. This can be kept for 3 to 4 days. When ever you want to serve the drink, take a glass, pour the sharbat to 1/4 of the glass, add water and few mint leaves and some ice. 

Cool Berry Mint Ice Tea...

As it's extensively hot, I am just practically living on water, for a change drinking juices with sugar is not healthy too... Here is a drink without sugar and it's a perfect, energetic and healthy summer drink for you from my kitchen. 

For a glass..

Ingredients 

2 Strawberries 

2 tbsp dried Cranberries 

1 tbsp dried Blue Berries 

Few Mint leaves

2 tbsp or more Honey as per your requirement..

1 cup Water

Pinch of Salt 

2 tbsp Lime juice

1 cup Leaker Tea ( Take a cup of hot water, add 1/4 tsp of tea leaves. Cover and keep for 2 minutes. Strain it.)

Method 

Take a pot. Add water, strawberries, cranberries, blue berries, few mint leaves and pinch of salt. Simmer it on medium heat till it reduces to 1/2 it's quantity. Cool it. Take a blender. Add the berry and mint decoction, leaker tea, honey, lime juice and ice. Blend it well. Pour it into a glass and enjoy the perfect, healthy and energetic drink.

P. S. You can also use fresh berries, if it is available.

Chocolate Chips Banoffee Smoothie with Chia...

If you are lazy and want to avoid solid food... you can enjoy this drink. It fills up your stomach while you enjoy the chilled smoothie. Love this drink and I am sure you will love it too... 

Ingredients 

1 1/2 cup Milk 

1 Banana chopped 

1 tbsp Chia soaked in water

1 tsp Coffee powder 

1 tsp Honey 

1 tbsp Chocolate chips 

1/2 tsp Chocolate chips and Chocolate syrup for garnishing 

1 Cake toast cut into thin strip for garnishing 

Method 

Take a blender. Add milk, banana, chia seeds, coffee powder, honey, 1 tbsp chocolate chips and few pieces of ice in the blender. Blend all the ingredients. Take a glass. Add the a tbsp of chocolate syrup. Pour in the smoothie in the glass and garnish with 1/2 tsp chocolate chips and cake toast. 

Piyush

Piyush

It is a thick creamy drink popular in Maharashtra and Gujarat as lassi is popular in Punjab....

Piyush is made with hung curd or srikhand

and buttermilk or curd and milk with flavours of Saffron, Nutmeg and Cardomom...  it is a good summer drink....

Cooling for children and adults...

Ingredients 

1 cup Saffron Shrikhand 

4 cups Curd

1 cup Milk

1/4 tsp  Cardamom powder 

2 tbsp Sugar or more as per the taste 

Pinch of Nutmeg powder

2 pinches of Saffron

1/2 tsp Almond flakes 

Method 

Add shrikhand, curd, milk, cardomom powder, nutmeg powder and sugar in a blender. Blend it well. Pour the piyush in  glasses and garnish it with almond flakes and saffron and sprinkle little cardamom powder. Chill it before serving...

Thandai

Thandai is a refreshing drink made on Holi. It’s cooling and hence the name thandai .There are variations of thandai. It’s more popular in the north. 

Thandai Masala

Ingredients 

30 Almonds 

20 Pistachios 

4 tbsp  Melon Seeds

8 Rose Petals 

1/2 tsp Poppy Seeds

2 Green Cardamom 

6 Peppercorns 

1 tsp Fennel Seeds 

1 tsp Rose Essences

Few strands of Saffron 

2 tbsp Sugar

Method 

Grind all the ingredients together and store in an airtight container.

Thandai Drink

Ingredients 

2 to 3 tbsp of Thandai Powder 

1 glass of Cold Milk 

Sugar as per sweetness

Few Almond flakes and Saffron strands for garnishing 

Method

Mix in one glass of chilled milk and add sugar according to the sweetness required. Add the thandai powder and mix well. Garnish it with Almond flakes and few strands of Saffron. Let it stand for sometime for the taste to enhance. Serve it chilled.

Strawberry Mojito (Mocktail)

Strawberry Mojito (Mocktail)

Absolutely refreshing drinks to beat the Summer Heat... 

Mojito is a traditional Cuban highball.

Traditionally, a mojito is a cocktail that consists of five ingredients: white rum, sugar (traditionally sugar cane juice), lime juice, sparkling water, and mint. The original Cuban recipe uses spearmint or yerba buena, a mint variety very popular. It is a combination of sweetness, refreshing citrus, and mint flavors is intended to complement the potent kick of the rum, and has made this a popular summer drink.The cocktail has a relatively low alcohol content. When preparing a mojito, lime juice is added to sugar (or syrup) and mint leaves. The mixture is then gently mashed with a muddler. The mint leaves should only be bruised to release the essential oils and should not be shredded.Then rum is added and the mixture is briefly stirred to dissolve the sugar and to lift the mint leaves up from the bottom for better presentation. The drink is finally topped with crushed ice and sparkling soda water. Mint leaves and lime wedges are used to garnish the glass.

Net Resource 

Here I have made a Mocktail Fruity Strawberry Mojito... Absolutely refreshing... 

Ingredients

4 Frozen Strawberries slices

Handful of Mint Leaves  

1 Lime cut into slices 

4 tbsp Sugar + 1/2 glass water mixed

1 tsp Chat Masala

Chilled Club Soda

Method 

Take a tall glass, add the sugar syrup, strawberries, 2 lime slices ( keeping the centre pieces for garnishing), few mint leaves (keep few for garnishing) and chat masala. Mash the mixture with the muddler. Take 2 tall glasses, pour 1/2 the mixture in one glass and the rest into another glass. Pour the club soda, take few mint leaves and add it in the drink and garnish with lime slices.

Cucumber and Coriander Health Drink

Cucumber and Coriander Health Drink
Ingredients
1/2 Cucumber or 1 small Cucumber cut into pieces
1 tbsp Coriander Leaves
1/2 tsp Coriander seeds
1/2 tsp Dry Wheat Grass powder (Optional)
1 tbsp Lime juice
Rock Salt to taste
1/4 tsp Pepper powder

Method
Take a blender add cucumber, coriander leaves, lime juice, coriander seeds, wheat grass powder ( Optional ) and rock salt. Add 1/2 cup water and blend it. Moist the rim of the glass with some juice.  Apply pepper powder on the rim. Pour in the juice in the glass. Garnish with coriander leaves and cucumber stick.

Drink it in the morning  an empty stomach. It detoxifies, reduces acidity and helps in digestion, cools your body during summer, antioxidant, reduces the risk of cancer, helps in weight reduction, protects your heart if drank every day.

Healthy and Cooling Masala Chaas (Savoury and spicy Curd Drink)

Healthy and Cooling Masala Chaas (Savoury and spicy Curd Drink)
A must for healthy living...have it every day...How does each of the ingredient helps us to live healthy... Here are few of the benefits of the ingredients had on a daily basis.

Curd helps to keep the bones strong, fights high B.P. and controls Cholesterol,helps in Weight loss.

Curry Leaves fights Diabetes and helps in Digestion.

Garlic improves longevity,controls Cholesterol and reduces the risk of Heart Disease, it has antioxidants which helps to prevent Alzheimer and dementia.

Coriander Leaves helps in Skin Inflammation , controls high Cholesterol levels, helps to fight Anemia, Indigestion, and Blood sugar.

Mint Leaves helps in digestion, reduces irritated bowel syndromes, cleanses the stomach and helps to reduce skin irritations, it eliminated toxins from the body and is a good cleanser for blood.

Ginger helps to reduce stomach problems, morning sickness, prevents cough, help in reducing muscle soreness, arthritis pain, Heart burn, lower the risk of Cancer.

Black Pepper helps to fight respiratory disorders, coughs, the common cold, constipation, indigestion, anemia, muscular strains, dental disease, diarrhea, and heart disease.

Cumin seeds include its ability to aid in digestion, improve immunity and treat piles, insomnia, respiratory disorders, asthma, bronchitis, common cold, lactation, anemia, skin disorders, boils and cancer.

Asafoetida Helps to fight breathing problems, asthma, digestion problems including intestinal gas, upset stomach, irritable bowel syndrome,  and irritable colon. It is used as a nerve stimulant for ongoing mental and physical fatigue.

Rock Salt is good for diabetics, prevents osteoporosis, reduces depression and stress, prevents and treats muscle cramps, numbness and tingling sensations, regulates blood pressure, keeps the blood vessels flexible, maintains the correct acid-alkaline levels, helps in digestion, relieves a number of skin problems, benefits in relieving arthritic problems etc.
Information Source from various web pages.

Ingredients
2 big cup Curd
4 to 5 glasses of Cold Water
4 Garlic clove
Few Curry leaves
1 tbsp Coriander leaves chopped
Few Mint leaves
Rock Salt to taste
1/2 tsp Pepper powder
1/2 tsp Roasted Cumin powder
1/4 tsp Dry Ginger powder or 1 small piece of fresh ginger
Pinch of Asafoetida
Dry Mint and black salt for garnishing

Method
Add curd, garlic, curry leaves, coriander leaves, mint leaves, salt, pepper powder, cumin seeds, dry ginger powder or fresh ginger and  asafoetida in a blender and blend it. Add 4 to 5 glasses of cold water and mix it. While serving sprinkle dry mint leaves and black salt.

Oats and Apple Health Drink

Oats and Apple Health Drink
Ingredients
1/4 cup Oats
1 Cup cold Milk
1/2 Apple Grated
6 Black Raisins seeds removed and chopped
6 Almond Crushed
1 Walnut Crushed

Method
Add oat and milk in a blender. After 5 minutes add the grated apples, raisins, almond and walnut keeping few raisins, almond and walnut for garnishing. Blend it and server the health drink. Before serving garnish it with the raisins, almond, walnut and few slices of Apple.

P. S. 1 tsp Honey can be add if required (optional)
Apple grated and Raisins is a natural sweetener in the drink....

Guava and Pineapple squash

Guava and Pineapple squash
Ingredients
3 ripe Guava peeled and chopped
2 cups Pineapple chopped
2 tsp roasted jeers powder
1 tsp black salt
2 lime juice for squash
2 cups of sugar

Method
Blend the fruits in the blender and strain the liquid in a strainer till most of the pulp is collected in a vessel.... add 2 cups of water and strain the pulp till only seeds remain. Take the vessel with water added to the pulp. Add sugar, black salt, roasted cumin and lime juice. Add 3 more cups of water. Boil the liquid till it reduces to half. Cool it. Strain the liquid and store it in a bottle. While serving pour the squash to 1/4 of the glass, add cold water, ice, few mint leaves crushed and a dash of black salt. Or apply black salt on the rim of the glass and enjoy...

Gola

Which flavoured Gola you want..... Kala Khatta, Kachi Kairi or Rose.... Yea home made Kala Angur, Aam Panna or Gulab Khus 😉😀

Kala Angoor Syrup
Ingredients
1 1/2 kg Black grape juice ( Ripe Black Grapes should be cleaned, blended and then strained)
1 kg Sugar
1/2 tsp of Salt
2 lime juice
1 liter of water
2 tsp Tonovin (Grape essence)
Method
Take the sugar, lime juice, salt  and water in a pan and heat it until the sugar dissolves and it bubbles up. Add the grape juice and boil till a syrup is obtained. Cool it Now pour the squash into a sterilized bottle and store in refrigerator.
To serve, fill 1/3 of serving glass with the grape squash and remaining by water. Mix up well and serve chill. Add the syrup directly to the Gola.

Aam Paana
Ingredients
1 kg Raw Mangoes
1 kg Sugar
1/2 cup mint leaves
1 liter water
1 tsp Black salt
A pinch of Roasted cumin seeds powder
1 drop of Green food colour (optional)
Method
Take the raw mangoes and peel the skin. Add mint leaves and  water.Boil the raw mangoes till tender. Strain the mangoes. Take the juice and add sugar. If the juice is very thick then add more water accordingly. Boil the juice till the syrup is obtained. Cool the syrup add green colour if you want. While serving add 1/3 of syrup, if you want add more black salt to taste, roasted cumin seed powder. Add chill water and serve. For the Gola add the syrup directly.

Rose Syrup
Ingredients
1 kg Sugar
1 liter water
1 lime juice
1/2 cup Rose water
250 grams Red Rose petal
1 Drop of Red Food Colour (optional)
Method
In a pan take sugar, water and rose petals.  Cook on medium flame till it boils after 1-2 boils add lime juice and continue to cook till a sugar syrup is obtained.Remove from flame cool. Strain the syrup. Add Rose water. Due to the colour of the rose petals, the colour of the syrup will be light pink. If you want deep red colour then add red colour.Rose syrup is ready. Enjoy adding 2-3 teaspoon of prepared syrupp to chilled glass of water. You can add the syrup directly to the Gola.

For the Gola
Crush ice... Add the syrup of your choice. Add lime juice and Chaat Masala from top.

Mango Slush

Mango Slush
Ingredients
1 cup ripe mango pulp ( preferably a bit sour)
1 tbsp mint leaves
1 tbsp black salt
1  tbsp lime juice
2 cup water
2 tbsp sugar or more
1/2 tsp chaat masala
1/2 lime
Method
Add mango pulp, water, mint leaves, black salt, lime juice, water and  sugar in a blender. Blend it. Pour the liquid into ice cubes chill it for 5 hours in the freezer... Take a glass. Rub the lime juice on the rim of the glass. Sprinkle chaat masala on the rim of the glass. Take the ice cubes and pour it in the glass till the glass is filled.. Add few mint leaves for garnishing... Slush is ready ....

Mango Smoothie

Mango Smoothie
Ingredients
1 ripe mango chopped
2 tbsp sugar or honey (as required )
1 cup Amul cream or vanilla ice cream
1/4 cup curd
1 cup ice cubes
Method
Add all the above ingredients in the blender and blend till smooth.... Serve it chilled.....

Rose Drink

Rose Drink

Ingredients 

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 tsp of salt 

1/2 tsp rose essence 

2 lime juice 

1/2 cup red Rose petals

2 cups water

Method

Take a pot and add 2 cups water, sugar, salt. Boil it till the sugar dissolves. Add rose essence, lime juice and rose petals keeping few petals for garnishing. Boil the water till it changes the water colour and reduce to 1/2 the quality. Strain the syrup out and pour in a bottle. Take a glass. Fill 1/4 glass with Rose syrup and the top it up with more water  or soda and fill the glass. Serve it chilled adding rose petals and lime for garnishing.