Showing posts with label Drink. Show all posts

Ram Navami special Panaka recipe | Panakam Recipe

Panaka or Panakam is a traditional Indian cooler popular during Summers in South India!!

Panaka or Panakam is a traditional Indian cooler popular during Summers in South India. It is served along with spice buttermilk and a lentil salad called kosambri during the festival of Ram Navami.

This was one of those posts with a writer's block. I did not want to write about the weather, I did not want to write about my memories or childhood. Nothing special happened this week either. So I was kind of lost. I started to write, then deleted it at least 3 times!!

So now I have settled on just talking about the ingredients that make up this mocktail like drink called Panaka.

Panaka is sweet, mildly tangy, warm with the ginger, earthy because of tulsi or holy basil and fragrant from the freshly ground cardamom. It is very similar to a lemonade but with different proportions.

One of the main ingredients in Panaka is jaggery. Jaggery is unrefined cane sugar. The closest in texture is Muscovado sugar. Jaggery has a complex flavor profile as compared to regular refined sugar. The darker the jaggery, the more complex the flavor. Dark jaggery is the least refined and purified, while the yellow jaggery has less impurities. With people looking for more organic stuff these days, the organic brown jaggery has become very popular.

Ginger is added for its health benefits. It is known to cleanse the body of toxins. If you cannot find fresh ginger, you can substitute it with dry ginger powder. Ginger also adds an earthy flavor to the drink while making it mildly hot.

Cardamom is the main flavoring agent. I used fresh cardamom pods that I lightly crushed with a mortar and pestle. You can use a store bought cardamom powder, but I highly recommend making it yourself.

Tulsi or Holy Basil leaves are added for health reasons again. I did not have any readily available, so I substituted with home grown mint leaves.

The squirt of lime is optional, but recommended. Some folks use a tamarind juice instead. You can add any souring agent, just don't let it get overpowering. Panaka is much milder than a regular lemonade. The predominant flavor is from jaggery and the cardamom.

If you made this recipe, let me know! Leave a comment here or on Facebook, tag your tweet with @oneteaspoonlife on Twitter and don't forget to tag your photo #oneteaspoonoflife on Instagram. You can also email me at onetspoflife@gmail.com. I'd love to see what you are upto.

If you like this recipe, do not forget to share it with your friends and family!

You can follow One Teaspoon Of Life on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and Google+ or you can subscribe to One Teaspoon Of Life and receive all the latest updated via Email

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ram Navami special Panaka recipe | Panakam Recipe

Panaka or Panakam is a traditional Indian cooler popular during Summers in South India.

Recipe Type: Beverage
Cuisine: South Indian
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 0 minutes
Yield: Serves 6-8

Ingredients:

1.5 litres Water
1.5 cups powdered Jaggery
6-8 green Cardamoms
2-3 Tbsp grated Ginger
1 lime
A handful of Tulsi or Mint leaves

Method:

Crush the seeds of the cardamom until fine.
Add the cardamom, grated ginger, powdered jaggery and juice of 1 lime to the water and stir until the jaggery has dissolved.
Add the tulsi leaves or mint leaves.
Refrigerate until serving.
Strain before serving. Serve chilled

If you liked this, you may also like:

rose yogurt beverage smoothie curd flavored drink Indian Punjabi

Rose Lassi

Pudina Majjige Soda

Pudina lemon juice limonana chia basil seeds sabze ka beej

Mint Lime Cooler

Mint Lime Cooler | Pudina Lime Juice

The evening just became PERFECT. I'm sitting in my balcony and gazing at the stars. The moon is peeking from behind the clouds. There is that din of daily traffic that comforts me that I'm not alone. The radio is playing those melodious songs from old black and white movies. AND. I am sipping on my new summer drink - Mint Lime Cooler as I much on some spicy roasted nuts.

This first paragraph on twinkling stars, I wrote yesterday, but then it was late and all I wanted to do was crash into the bed and go to sleep. And something happened overnight. The weather changed. I mean it is weather and it is supposed to change. But I have rarely seen such a drastic change. It was summer yesterday, perfect for my Mint Lime Cooler and today, I'm sitting in the exact same place, but Brrrr...., I'd rather have a cup of steaming hot ginger tea than anything that is "COOL".

It rained in the evening and how the mercury dropped!!! My stars, have hidden behind those orange clouds that are lighting up the sky and the Moon, I'm not even sure if it has risen today.

I know that this cool weather may not last long. For all I know, it's gonna be bright and sunny and hot tomorrow and I'm gonna want to reach out to my Mint Lime Cooler.

For all of you not as fortunate to have a cool weather wave going on, let me list down why this is the best and most economical drink to lift up your hot summer days:

Mint - It is a natural stimulant. Mint charges your batteries and gets your brain functioning. It helps lift your spirits when you are sluggish or anxious or depressed. And guess what? Mint also helps you lose fat.

Lemon - I'm not sure this blog post is enough to list down all the good things about the Lemon. It is rich in Vitamin C and sooo many other nutrients. It apparently helps prevent digestive ailments, diabetes and what not. In short, it is a wonder fruit.

Basil Seeds / Sabza - These seeds are very similar to chia seeds. They fluff up when soaked in any liquid. They form a major part of Falooda - another summer drink. They are known to reduce cholesterol and I've heard they help cool down the body.

Mint Lime Cooler | Pudina Lime Juice

Mint Lime Cooler is a chilled beverage made by blending lime juice and mint together.

Recipe Type: Beverage / Drink
Cuisine: International
Yield: 2 tall glasses

Ingredients:

1 cup loosely packed fresh Mint leaves
2 Lemons
5-6 tsp Jaggery powder or Sugar
1/2 tsp of Black Salt
2 tsp of Chia or Basil seeds (sabza)
3 cups of Water

Method:

Blend together everything except the Chia or Basil seeds until the mint is combined well.
Add the chia or basil seeds and refrigerate for a few hours.
This allows the basil seeds to fluff up.
Serve chilled.

Rose Lassi

Rose are red... Violets are blue... and then something something something...

Well, all I care about right now are roses. Hubby dearest got me a couple of long stemmed dark pink Roses yesterday. Ain't I the lucky one?

Whoever discovered that Roses were edible contributed a lot to this recipe of mine. I love roses. Especially in food. I love Rose biscuits. I'm always ready to share a plate of butter Gulkand with fruits and ice cream. I am a die hard fan of Falooda. Cold rose milk with fluffed up basil seeds and a big scoop of Vanilla ice-cream - PERFECT! Well, that's a recipe for another day. Watch out, it may be coming soon, this summer.

But today is not that day. Today is the day to celebrate the Rose Lassi.

Many many years ago, when I was in college, my Mom and I spent a summer just having home made Lassi. We always had yogurt (curd) at home being South Indians. At 7 pm, after a hard days work, while my mom rested, I'd bring out the blender - chuck in some yogurt, sugar and ice and make us glasses of Lassi. We'd enjoy sipping it slowly while relaxing on cane chair in the sultry summer of coastal Goa. I remembered her fondly when I made this Rose Lassi.

Lassi is awesome on it own, without any fruit or flavouring. But the rose syrup takes the humble Lassi to a fantastically new level. And it is just as easy to make as the original Lassi.

To make Rose Lassi, all you need are 4 ingredients - Yogurt, Rose Syrup, Sugar and Water or Ice cubes. If you like it really thick like the Punjabis, skip the water. It is creamy, it is Rose-y, it is definitely a WINNER.

Rose Lassi

Rose Lassi is a rose flavoured yogurt based summer drink popular in North India.

Recipe Type: Drink
Cuisine: North Indian
Prep Time: 0 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes
Yield: 3-4 Glasses

Ingredients:

2.5 cups thick Yogurt (Curd or Dahi)
4 Tbsp Rose Syrup
4-5 tsp of Sugar
1 cup Water
Ice cubes
Finely chopped Pistachios or Almonds for garnish (Optional)

Method:

Blend together yogurt, rose syrup, sugar and ice cubes. I started with 2 Tbsp of rose syrup and 3 tsp of sugar. I increased it later according to my liking. I suggest starting with less and then increasing according to how sweet you want it to be. Don't forget the rose syrup is sweet too.
Add water if it feels too thick.
Garnish with finely chopped dry fruits.

Cold Coffee | Iced Coffee

In the winters, we sat on our bean bags in the balcony, all covered up with blankets and sipped on hot tea while watching the clear skies and the twinkling stars.

Finally, it's time to welcome SUMMER!!

Now, days are getting hotter and so are the evenings... The kind of hot that brings out all the sleeveless tops and the shorts. The kind of hot that makes one wince at the thought of going out in the Sun. The kind of hot that demands you relax at home under the cool breeze blown by the fan and just keep drinking COLD DRINKS all the time. Iced water is good, Iced Coffee or Cold Coffee is even better.

Cold Coffee - A chilled caffeine shot is what I call it. All the energy of coffee with all the coolness of ice.

And when it gets so hot that you cannot be bothered to go down to the Coffee Shop to buy a cold coffee, turn to this Cold Coffee Recipe. All you need is right there in your house. Just 5 ingredients - Milk, Coffee, Sugar, Water and Ice. No ICE CREAM in my recipe. Probably less than half the calories of your Coffee Shop Cold Coffee but just as delicious and a lot cheaper on your pocket. What's even better is you can flavor it just as you like it. Cinnamon, may be? Or do you fancy chocolate? Or is Cardamom your vice? It's all up to YOU!!!

I made it plain and absolutely LOVED it...

I've used instant coffee, so it is absolutely INSTANT Cold Coffee.

Cold Coffee | Iced Coffee

Cool beverage made of milk, coffee, sugar, water and ice.

Recipe Type: Beverage
Cuisine: Indian
Cook time: 10 minutes
Yield: 4 Tall Glasses

Ingredients:

3 cups of Milk
1 cup of Water
4-5 Tbsp of Sugar
4-5 tsp of Instant Coffee Powder
Ice Cubes

Method:

In a blender, blend together all the ingredients. Start with less sugar and increase if needed. Same goes for the coffee powder.
Serve cold with more ice.

Pudina Majjige Soda | Yogurt Soda with Fresh Mint | Pudina Chaas Soda

Summer is here... yippee... isn't that your first thought when the sun comes out of its winter snooze and begins to shine down with all its warmth? Well... that's how I feel in the initial days of April, until the sun really begins to scorch us poor little earthlings.

As a kid, I did not mind it though. I simply loved summers. 2 months vacation from school, it is definitely any kid's best dream come true.. well, may be except Lisa Simpson. Be it 30 degrees C or 40 degrees C, we played outdoors until we were called indoors for lunch/dinner.

Now a days, without the blissful ignorance of childhood, I actually feel the temperature outside and it makes me want to sit inside all day in the cool confines of the house and keep drinking something cool. But cool drinks aren't very healthy, right? What if there was one that was refreshing and healthy?

South Indians have housed this secret all through the ages - Buttermilk. Known for its cooling qualities, every South Indian meal in summer ends with a tall glass of mildly spiced buttermilk. Spices can range from cumin to ginger to asafoetida. Traditional buttermilk is actually the milk from which butter has been churned. I don't like that too much, so what I make is actually a watered down version of yogurt.

Add to add a little twist... add plain soda water instead or regular water and see the difference...

Pudina Majjige Soda | Yogurt Soda with Fresh Mint | Pudina Chaas Soda

A healthy low fat fresh mint and yogurt soda

Recipe Type: Beverage
Cuisine: South Indian
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes
Yield: 2 Glasses

Ingredients:

Yogurt / Curd - 1 cup (Taste better if the yogurt/curd is sour)
Fresh mint leaves - 1 cup (washed and chopped)
Plain Soda - 400ml
Salt to taste.

Method:

Grind the mint leaves into a fine paste along with a little yogurt.
Add the yogurt, salt and mint paste to a blender and blend until combined.
Strain well and pour equally into the serving glasses.
Add the soda, stir and enjoy the refreshing goodness of this drink

Aam Panna [Without Boiling] | Sweet and Spicy Raw Mango Cooler

During these hot summer months in Bangalore, I catch myself day dreaming about summers in Goa. Summer vacations, back then was our right, now just a dream. Off to play by 9am and back home only by 8.30pm managing to squeeze in a lunch only cause my friend was called in for lunch and I would be alone in the sun. It was bliss! Hot & sweaty, all tanned up, we would play everything from lagori to chor police. When the heat got to us, we would take juice breaks. Rasna was an all time favorite among kids back then. Come summer, and all the moms would make a bottle of Rasna and keep it in the fridge for these breaks of ours. It was in times like these, my best friend N introduced me to a more natural homemade drink - Aam Panna. I loved it so much, that she had to bring me some every summer when her mom made it.

Aam Panna is a raw mango cooler. So easy to make and oh so tasty. These days we catch it staring at us from the pages of restaurant menus, but that bright green concoction tastes nothing like the real thing. Firstly, the real thing isn't even bright green :) The recipe I have below is N's mom's. The extra additions I have made to it are all the optional ingredients. You can make it without all the optional ingredients and it will still taste equally good.

Aam Panna | Sweet and Spicy Raw Mango Cooler

A sweet and spicy beverage made using raw mangoes

Recipe Type: Beverage
Cuisine: Indian / Maharastrian /Goan
Prep Time: 3 Hours (Includes soaking time)
Cook time: 10 minutes
Yield: 4-5 Glasses / 750 ml

Ingredients:

3 or 500 gms Raw Mangoes
500-750 ml Water
8-10 tsp Sugar
1 tsp Pepper powder
A pinch Salt (Optional)
1/4 tsp Black salt / Kala Namak (Optional)
1/2 tsp Cumin powder / Jeera powder (Optional)

Method:

Wash and peel the raw mangoes

Take 500ml of water in a large container

Grate the mangoes and add them to the water

Cover and leave aside for 2-3 hours

Drain out the water into another container. Squeeze the pulp to remove any more juice available.

Add sugar, pepper powder, salt, black salt and cumin powder and mix well until sugar dissolves.

If it is concentrated, add more water and serve it on a hot summer day.

Notes:

1) The above recipe made 750ml of diluted juice for me. If the mangoes are very sour, you can store this as a concentrate and dilute it while serving.
2) The amount of sugar, salt and spices, all depends on the sourness of the mangoes being used. I suggest starting with half the quantity of sugar/salt/spices mentioned above and adding more as required.
3) N suggested this is usually served at room temperature, however I generally serve is slightly cooler.
4) This may not be suitable if you are suffering from throat infections, it may aggravate it. There is a slightly different version you can make if you are suffering from throat troubles, boil the mangoes until then are half cooked and then peel and grate. Follow the rest of the recipe as is. This version apparently does not aggravate throat infections.
5) This stores well in the fridge for 18-20 days. However, I doubt you will ever get the chance to test this :). Mine barely lasted 3.

Solkadi | Spicy Kokum Drink

Kokum isn't a fruit many are familiar with. It is indigenous to the Konkan coast of India. It isn't generally consumed like other fruits, it is mostly had in the form of the sweet juice or the savoury kadi. The kokum rind is sun dried and is called "Aamsol" in Konkani and used in kadi. It is also used instead of tamarind to add sourness to curries and gravies. Solkadi is a must for every Goan meal. It is made in 2 ways in Goa, one with coconut milk and one without. Solkadi is supposed to aid in digestion. The recipe below is for the one without coconut milk. Although this is eaten with rice in Goa, I prefer it just like a drink along with my meal.

Aamsol or dried kokum rind

The recipe makes 2 big glasses.

Solkadi | Spicy Kokum Drink

Traditional Goan savory beverage made with the dried peel of the kokum fruit.

Recipe Type: Beverage
Cuisine: Indian / Goan
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook time: 0 minutes
Yield: 2

Ingredients:

10-12 pieces Aamsol / Dried Kokum Peel
2 glasses Water
2-3 Green chillies
A handful of Coriander leaves(Optional)
1/2 tsp Sugar(Optional)
Salt

Method:

Heat 1/2 a glass of water until it is slightly warm.

Add the kokum and allow them to seep.

After 10-15 mins, add this seeped liquid along with the kokum to the remaining water

Slit the green chillies and add to the water

Add salt and sugar. I don't add sugar, I prefer the tartness.

If it isn't yet tart/ sour enough for you, allow the kokum to seep longer in the water

If you think it is too sour, add more water.

While serving, remove the kokum and the green chillies and garnish with finely chopped coriander and serve.