This summer, before you grab that bottle of aerated drink to cool your senses be warned that they are high on fizz and low on goodness. Ditch the zero wellness bottled liquids and sip on these healthy and tasty coolers.
SPICY BUTTERMILK
The well-loved summer refresher, an all time favorite.
Ingredients
Handful of pudina (mint) leaves
1 cup thick curd
½ tsp cumin powder
¼ tsp kala namak powder
½ tsp salt
1 tsp finely chopped ginger
Crushed ice
Chopped coriander leaves for garnishing
Method
- Wash a handful of mint leaves, place it in ½ cup of water and boil for a few minutes
- Whisk the curd till smooth, along with the pudina water, cumin powder, kala namak powder and salt
- Add four cups of water, and continue to whisk
- Pour into tall glasses, garnish with coriander leaves
- Add crushed ice just before serving
AAM PANNA
Green mangoes blend with mint and coriander leaves in this traditional cool drink
Ingredients
2 small raw mangoes (250 gm)
1 tsp sugar
3 tbsp chopped mint leaves
4 tbsp chopped coriander leaves
1 tsp chopped ginger
1 tsp cumin powder
Salt to taste
1 tsp pani puri masala
Method
- Clean and wash the mangoes, peel them, remove seeds and chop into bite size pieces
- Pressure cook in two cups of water with sugar
- Liquidise the cooked mango pieces, mint leaves, coriander leaves, ginger, cumin powder and pani puri masala
- Blend with the water used for cooking mangoes, add two more cups water and stir
- Strain the juice using a fine sieve
- Garnish with sprigs of fresh mint and add crushed ice before serving
BANANA SMOOTHIE
A sure fire hit with kids, this concoction tops the health charts and is manna for the taste buds
Ingredients
1 large or 2 small banana(s)
4 tsp sugar
A pinch of cinnamon powder
2 cups of cold milk
1 tsp vanilla essence
2 scoops vanilla ice cream
Method
- Peel bananas, chop into large pieces and place in the liquidiser goblet
- Add sugar, cinnamon powder, cold milk and vanilla essence
- On medium speed blend the ingredients until smooth
- Add ice cream and process on high speed till the mixture becomes light and frothy
- Pour into large cups or glasses and serve immediately
Note: Instead of bananas you could also use 1 cup of chopped mangoes
GAZPACHO
Good to eat and great to taste, this Spanish soup is traditionally served cold
Ingredients
750 gm tomatoes
1 tbsp tomato puree (commercial)
2½ tbsp red wine vinegar
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp Tabasco or red chilli sauce
1 large cucumber
1 yellow capsicum
¼ cup minced onions
1½ tsp salt
½ tsp freshly ground pepper
For Garnish
4 lime wedges
½ cup chopped coriander
Method
- Chop the tomatoes fine. Liquidise this with the tomato puree, vinegar, oil, and Tabasco or chilli sauce. Pour out into a bowl and refrigerate
- Skin and de-seed the cucumber and chop very fine. Cut the capsicum in half, remove pith and seeds and chop into small pieces
- Chop enough onions to make ½ a cup
- Add all these chopped vegetables to the blended soup, add one cup of ice water, stir well and refrigerate in a jug until serving time. Serve ice cold in small glasses, garnish each glass with a lime wedge and chopped coriander
MIXED FRUIT PUNCH
Infused with the goodness of fruit this drink packs a healthy punch
Ingredients
1 cup black grape juice
½ cup light green grape juice
3 oranges
3 limes
Sugar syrup as required to taste
1 tbsp of honey
Water 5- 6 cups
Ice cubes
Method
- Extract the juices from the black grapes and green grapes quantities as specified
- Extract orange and lime juice
- Mix the juices together, stir in honey and then sugar syrup to taste, add water
- Pour into a glass jug and refrigerate. Add ice cubes to individual glasses before serving
FOAMY COLD COFFEE
A chilly twist to the number one pick-me-up
Ingredients
1 cup water
6 tsp instant coffee
2 tbsp sugar or more if you like it sweet
4 cups cold milk
¼ cup light cream
Crushed ice
Method
- Boil water, remove from heat and add the instant coffee and sugar, stirring to dissolve it.
- Cool the mixture and blend in a mixer for a minute.
- Add cream and crushed ice and blend for a few seconds. Serve chilled.
STRAWBERRY SMOOTHIE
Luscious red berries and chilled yoghurt make a cool combo smoothie
Ingredients
2 cups yoghurt
1½ cups of strawberries
5 cups water
Tang powder lemon or orange flavour
1 tsp vanilla essence
Method
- Wash the fruit and place all the ingredients in a liquidizer bowl and blend.
- Pour into a glass pitcher and serve in tall glasses