Here’s the thing. Hot chai has been an unapologetic go-to for me, regardless of season. But this time around, the summer heat has forced me to look the other way whenever I see a chai tapri. So, to quench my thirst, I headed in the path of cold, summer beverages (unwillingly killing my passion for chai) . And boy oh boy, did I discover some amazing ones.
Smoked Masala Chaas
Come summer, and the streets of Hyderabad are jam-packed with colorful carts selling refreshing summer drinks. While scouting these lanes for some ice golas, I made a stop at a pushcart that caught my attention. A large earthen pot bedecked with a garland of mint leaves and surrounded by ice sat at its center. “Charcoal Chaas!”, shouted the vendor and a cloud of smoke fumed out of the pot. The vendor then started pouring out spiced buttermilk into tall glasses. That was the first time I had buttermilk infused with a smoky flavor. Unusual, but I became a fan. I just had to recreate that exact flavor, and I’m proud to say I succeeded.
Ingredients–
- 2 cups yogurt
- 8-9 mint leaves
- 1 inch ginger
- ½ spoon cumin powder
- ½ tsp crushed pepper
- ½ tsp salt
- 1½ cup water
- 2 pieces of red hot charcoal
- ¼ tsp jeera
- ¼ tsp ghee
- Aluminum foil
Instructions–
- Throw in all the above mentioned ingredients in a mixer/blender (do not apply this instruction to the charcoal and aluminum foil)
- Blend until smooth
- Transfer into a jug
- In the jug, place a stainless steel container and make sure it is floating
- In the container, place the red hot charcoal pieces, pour ghee over the charcoal until the pieces are reasonably coated and the jug with aluminum foil
- Once the smoke has been infused well, remove the foil and the container
- Transfer into a glass and serve chilled
Imli Dhaniya ka Sharbat
In addition to being a culinary staple in almost every Indian kitchen, this tropical fruit, even when eaten straight out of the pod, has flavors that can put a smile on your face. Pair it with some fresh and aromatic coriander, and you have a flavor profile beyond delicious. A recipe from my grandma’s cookbook that won’t disappoint.
Ingredients–
- 1 tbsp Tamarind concentrate
- ½ cup coriander leaves
- ½ tsp jeera
- ¼ tsp powdered red chilli
- Jaggery as per taste
- ¼ tsp black salt
- 1½ cup water
Instructions–
- Take the tamarind concentrate and soak it in water
- Strain the tamarind water into a glass
- Add the jaggery and black salt and keep aside
- Take the coriander leaves and grind into a fine paste
- Add the paste to the water and mix
- Transfer the coriander water into the glass
- Stir well and serve chilled (preferably with crushed ice)
Watermelon Orange Punch-
A recipe you’ll make a melon times!
Ingredients-
- 4 small squares of watermelon (about an inch a side)
- 4 orange wedges
- 1 lemon wedge
- 2 tbsp simple syrup
- ½ cup cranberry juice
- Mint leaves
Instructions-
- Crush the watermelon squares in a glass with a muddler
- Squeeze the orange wedges and the lemon wedge into the glass
- Pour in the simple syrup and the cranberry juice
- Garnish with mint leaves and serve chilled
Kiwi Ginger Cooler-
I love Kiwi. I just love experimenting with flavors more. A recipe that I was sure would ruin my liking for kiwi but ended up being a summer favorite.
Ingredients–
- 2 no. Kiwi (medium sized)
- 1 inch ginger
- 2 ½ cups sugar
- Cucumber to garnish
- Sprite
Instructions–
- Take the kiwis, dice them, and throw them in a mixer/blender
- Grind until a smooth mixture is prepared
- Take a pan and add sugar in the above mentioned quantity
- Add the Kkiwi into the pan along with some water and crushed ginger and cook until a syrup is prepared
- Transfer the syrup into a glass container to cool
- Take a serving glass and add 3 tbsp of the syrup
- Add ½ cup of water
- Add 200 ml Sprite
- Garnish with a cucumber slice and serve chilled
Shirley Temple with a twist
I started out wanting to make a classic Shirley Temple and discovered a non-existence of ingredients required. So, here’s a recipe incorporating ingredients with tastes closest to the actual ingredients required to make a Shirley Temple.
Ingredients–
- 2 cups pomegranate juice
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- Any fizzy lemony drink (preferably 7Up)
Instructions –
- We start by making Grenadine. Combine the pomegranate juice, the sugar and the lemon juice in a saucepan and cook over medium heat until the edges of the syrup begin to bubble.
- Stir slowly and occasionally
- Let the syrup cool before bottling
- Pour any fizzy drink into a glass. Then top the drink with chilled Grenadine, stir well and add crushed ice
- Garnish with orange, lemon wedges
