[New post] [FOOD & DRINK] 10 Easy And Quick Desi Summer Coolers For India’s “Hottest Summer Ever”
HelluvaLotToShare posted: " India is witnessing its "hottest summer ever" forcing the weather department to announce an Orange alert - a heatwave warning for at least five states. While Summertime in India is between April and June, March kinda broke records this year. Severe heatw"
India is witnessing its "hottest summer ever" forcing the weather department to announce an Orange alert - a heatwave warning for at least five states. While Summertime in India is between April and June, March kinda broke records this year. Severe heatwave conditions are expected to continue to prevail with Delhi seeing its hottest day yet in 72 years in the first half of April. Here are some of my all-time favourite tried-and-tested Desi Summer Coolers to keep you chilled through this madness...
Must-Try Summer Coolers to Beat the Heat. Photo: Pexels
Apart from Delhi's sweltering conditions, the northwest region recorded its highest average maximum, and central recorded it's second-warmest March in terms of day temperatures for the month since 1901. India, on average, recorded its warmest March days in 121 years with the maximum temperature across the country clocking in at 1.86°C (passing the 40-degree mark, even touching 44) above normal, an analysis by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has shown.
IMD has predicted heatwave conditions in large parts of the country in the coming days.
"Rise by about 2 degrees Celsius in maximum temperatures very likely over most parts of Northwest India during next three days and fall by about 2 degrees Celsius thereafter," it said.
Prayagraj, Northwest India. Experts are attributing the absence of periodic light rainfall and thundershowers, which typify this time of year to the heatwave extremes. Photo: PTI
A heatwave warning has been announced for Rajasthan, Delhi, Haryana, UP and Odisha as parts of these states record temperatures above 45 degrees Celsius. The severe conditions are likely to persist till the first week of May after which chances of rain increase, IMD scientist RK Jenamani was quoted as saying by news agency ANI
The mercury maintained an upward trend in central India with temperatures in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh crossing 45 degrees Celcius
Rajasthan has scheduled four hours of power cuts for factories, making it at least the third state after Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh to disrupt industrial activity to manage surging power demand amid an intense heat wave. The state also imposed four-hour power cuts for rural regions, exposing thousands of families in the desert state to extreme temperatures, with peak summer heat still to come before cooling monsoon rains arrive in June
In the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, the winter capital Jammu recently recorded its hottest day of the season with the mercury touching 40 degrees Celsius. The soaring temperature has led to power cuts and water crisis in different parts of the Union Territory
Odisha sweltered in the blazing sun for the third successive day on Wednesday as the maximum temperature breached the 40 degrees Celsius-mark in 24 places, the Met office said. All schools in the state have been shut till April 30 due to heat wave
Neighbouring West Bengal has announced early summer holidays for educational institutions due to severe heat. Schools and colleges in the state have been ordered to shut by May 2 due to heat, according to reports
This year, Northwest India recorded the hottest March in 122 years, with an average maximum temperature surpassing the previous record of 30.67 degrees Celsius in 2004.
Time for some coolers I reckon
Let's start with my all-time favourite - Buttermilk. I drink it through the year, but rising temperatures and the risk of dehydration make it one of the favourite drinks people turn to in summer.
Buttermilk
However, I've learned that overdoing it can take a toll. Buttermilk is a great byproduct of milk which is obtained from its churning to make butter. The churned milk is fat-free as the butter is separated and is a little sour due to the healthy beneficial bacteria. It is an amazing source of protein, calcium & Vitamins A and D. The probiotic nature of buttermilk helps a lot with digestion and bowel movement.
TheHealth Benefits
There are innumerable health benefits of having buttermilk. Some of them are: Vitamin A helps to keep your eyesight strong. It also boosts the immune system and keeps internal organs such as the heart, lungs and kidneys healthy.
The bacteria left in buttermilk after the churning process help convert lactose to lactic acid making it easier for lactose-intolerant people to digest
Buttermilk generates energy through riboflavin which also helps in regulating amino acids. Amino acids are important to make proteins needed by the body
The Side Effects
While the benefits of buttermilk are pretty well known, many don't know that it might also pose some dangers. If you are someone who drinks buttermilk daily, these are some of the negative effects of the drink you might experience:
Buttermilk is high in sodium content which is not good for patients with kidney problems. Avoid drinking it if you are one with a kidney ailment
Buttermilk can worsen your cold. It is not advisable to drink buttermilk at night during fever, cold and pollen allergy
The churning process of extracting butter requires days for formation. This leads to the development of bacteria that might be harmful to children. These bacteria can cause cold and throat infections in kids
Ingredients • Thick Curd, 1 cup • Cold Water, 2 cups • Curry Leaves Chopped, 1 tablespoon + extra for tempering (as required) • Coriander Leaves Chopped, 2 tbsp • Green Chili, 1 small (optional) • Ginger Chopped, 1 tsp • Oil, ½ tsp • Mustard Seeds, ¼ tsp • Asafoetida/Hing, a pinch • Salt, as required
Preparation
To prepare buttermilk, hand whisk the thick curd with 2 cups of water until there are no lumps and the buttermilk is frothy
In a mixer jar, add half of the curry leaves, coriander leaves, green chilli and ginger. Blend it into a coarse paste
Add this prepared paste to the buttermilk along with salt required and whisk it again
In a small pan, heat oil. Add mustard seeds and as they splutter, add curry leaves and a pinch of hing/asafetida. Add this tempering to the prepared buttermilk, mix well
Serve it cold in tall glasses
Other Favourite Desi Summer Coolers
Here are a few recipes of my other favourite desi coolers that are a hit across the country and easy to try at home. These coolers are perfect to beat the heat and treat the buds. Let's go...
Iced Jaljeera
The go-to drink. Who doesn't like super tangy and chilled jaljeera during summer? A refreshing drink bursting with pungent flavours is all we need to deal with the heat.
Ingredients • 125 Gram Tamarind pulp • 3 tbsp Mint leaves • 1/2 tsp Ground cumin • 3/4 tsp Ground cumin, roasted • 50-gram Jaggery, grated • 4 tsp Black salt • 1 tbsp Ginger salt (gourmet flavoured salt), grated • 3-4 tbsp Lemon juice • A pinch of Chilli powder (Kashmiri Mirch) • 1/2 tsp Garam masala • 1/2 litre Water
Preparation
For the jaljeera, add all the ingredients in a food processor and blend together
Chill overnight. Then strain and freeze it
Garnish the drink with some boondi and serve
Key Ingredients: Tamarind pulp, Mint leaves, Ground cumin, Ground cumin, Jaggery, Black salt, Ginger salt (gourmet flavoured salt), Lemon juice, Chilli powder (Kashmiri Mirch), Garam masala, Water.
Masala Chaas
A very North Indian variant of Buttermilk, this is something that got me hooked during my Delhi days. It also happens to be the favourite among the famous Indian traditional drinks! It is a salty drink, mainly for summer to energise the body in the heat.
Ingredients • 1 Cup curd • 1 tbsp coriander, chopped • 2 tsp chilli, chopped • 1 tbsp salt • 2 tbsp black salt • 1/2 cup water • A pinch of chaat masala
Preparation
Take curd in a big bowl, chop coriander and chilli
Add them to curd along with salt and black salt
Mix it thoroughly and add water to it
Blend the mixture to have the perfect chaas consistency
Pour it into a glass, add a pinch of chaat masala
Garnish with coriander leaves and serve
Key Ingredients: curd, coriander, chilli, salt, black salt, water, chaat masala
Recipe Notes This recipe is for one serving only, increase the quantity of the ingredients according to serving.
Kokum Sharbat
The kokum fruit is a powerhouse of rich nutrients. Kokum is packed with many essential vitamins such as vitamin A, vitamin B3, vitamin C and minerals such as calcium, iron, manganese, potassium and zinc. It also contains a good amount of folic acid, ascorbic acid, acetic acid, hydroxycitric acid and fibre.
Kokum has been known as Grandma's cure for acidity. It primarily grows in the Western Ghats, especially the Goa and Konkan region.
Preparation
Take two fresh kokum fruits, cut them into half, remove the seeds and then grind them into a fine paste
Make rock sugar syrup and pour it into the kokum paste
Add cumin and cardamom powder to taste
Add 2-3 tbsp of this paste in a glass, add cool water from an earthen pot and enjoy your kokum sharbat
Lassi
This ultimate summer cooler from Punjab is the oldest smoothie in the world. Here are delicious ways to shake it up a bit...
Classic Lassi
Nothing like a chilled glass of lassi to cool down on a hot summer day! This classic recipe is ridiculously easy to stir up at home.
Ingredients • 750 gms yoghurt • 50 gms ice cubes • Salt or sugar • 200 ml of water
Preparation
Crush the ice cubes in a blender
Add the yoghurt, water, salt or sugar
Blend for about 1 minute
Serve chilled
If you are making a namkeen lassi you can add masala like bhuna jeera and kala namak and as desired
Key Ingredients: yoghurt, ice cubes, Salt or sugar, water
Mint Lassi
This popular summer cooler gets a lift with refreshing mint adding in some zing.
Ingredients • 300 ml Curd • 2 tbsp Sugar • 1 tbsp Dried mint • Ground cumin, roasted • 1 tray of Ice cubes
Preparation
Add curd to a container
Add sugar and add dried mint and mix it well
Add a few ice cubes
Garnish with a little ground cumin and fresh mint leaves
Why miss out on the most sought after summer drink, our very own nimbu paani or lemonade? A quick drink to make and amazingly delicious, this drink is prepared using mint leaves, lemons, sugar, salt and water. You can also add spices like cumin, coriander powder, black pepper, et al to make it interestingly tasty. Here's a recipe for nimbu paani you must try.
Ingredients forNimbu Paani (3 Way)
For Minty Nimbu Paani: • 1/4 cups mint leaves • 2 tbsp sugar • 5 tbsp lemon juiced For Masala Nimbu Soda: • 1 tsp coriander powder • 1/2 tsp black pepper • 1 tsp chaat masala • 1 tsp cumin powder • 1/2 tsp black salt • 1 tbsp powdered sugar • 6 tbsp lemon juice • 1 cup soda water • Ice cubes For Coconut Nimbu Paani: • 1 cup coconut water • 4 tsp powdered sugar • 2 tsp ginger juice • 5 tbsp lemon juice
Minty Nimbu Paani
Take mint leaves in a bowl
Add sugar and crush well to make a paste
Add a glass of water and lemon juice to the paste
Stir well
You can garnish the drink with lemon roundels
Masala Nimbu Soda
Put Coriander powder, black pepper, chaat masala, cumin powder, black salt, powdered sugar and lemon juice in a glass
Add soda water to the glass
Stir well so all the ingredients blend well
Serve chilled with ice topping
Coconut Nimbu Paani
Take a glass full of coconut water
Add powdered sugar to it and stir well
Add ginger juice and lemon juice to it
Stir well
Refrigerate for 2 hours
Serve chilled in a coconut
Key Ingredients: mint leaves, sugar, lemon juiced, coriander powder, black pepper, chaat masala , cumin powder, black salt, powdered sugar, lemon juice, soda water, Ice cubes, coconut water, powdered sugar, ginger juice, lemon juice.
Recipe Notes You can use the spices in the Nimbu Pani recipe according to your choice.
Aam Panna
There's nothing better than a glass full of tangy Aam Panna to refresh your body. It not only quenches your thirst but is also considered beneficial for the treatment of gastrointestinal problems. Try it at home.
Ingredients 500 gm green mangoes 1/2 cup sugar 2 tsp salt 2 tsp kala namak (black rock salt) 2 tsp roasted and powdered cumin seeds 2 Tbsp finely chopped mint leaves 2 cups water
Preparation
Boil the mangoes till they become soft inside, and the skin gets discoloured
When cool enough to handle, remove the skin and squeeze the pulp out of the mangoes
Mix all the ingredients together, blend and add 2 cups of water
Put some ice in the glasses and pour the panna over it
Barley Water
Barley water makes for an ancient remedy for good health. All you need to make this elixir is pearl barley, water, salt, a dash of honey and lemon and you are good to go. Here's how you can make barley water at home.
Ingredients 1/4 cup pearl barley 4 cups water A pinch of salt A drizzle of honey (optional) A lemon rind (optional)
Preparation
Heat the water and pearl barley in a saucepan and bring it to a boil
Add the salt and let it cook on a low flame for 30 minutes. You can muddle the grains a little, using a spoon
Strain it into a glass, tip in a lemon rind, and drizzle with a little honey on top. Let it cool completely. You can also keep it in the refrigerator for 30 minutes and then have it Note: You can use ginger, cinnamon, cumin seeds and other spices, or orange juice to enhance the taste. The leftover grains can be used to make cereals, salads or a thickening agent for curries and smoothies. Don't waste it!
Sattu Sharbat
Very famous in Bihar with its own variations in states like Punjab, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, this cooler is considered a detox that cleanses the system properly and aids in weight loss. The perfect drink to shoo away summer woes.
Ingredients
Chilled water - 4 cups Lemon juice - 2 teaspoons Roasted Cumin powder - Half teaspoon Mint leaves - 2 teaspoons (chopped) Black salt to taste Green chilli - 1 (chopped) Raw Mango - 2 teaspoons (grated)
Preparation
1. Add all ingredients to a jug and mix well 2. Serve in glasses along with some ice cubes 3. Garnish with more mint leaves
Shikanji
A variant of lemonade, this simple, fizzy drink made with lemon, water, masala and some fresh mint leaves, can reboot, rejuvenate and revitalise in a matter of minutes. You can also roast jeera powder to give it a street-style taste.
Preparation
Take a tumbler, add lemon juice and mint leaves. Blend using a hand blender to blend it. You can blend the two in a mixer as well.
Then add salt, black pepper, cumin powder, black salt and sugar. This is your shikanji masala or base.
Pour some soda water to the lemony-mix you just made.
Take a glass, add some ice cubes and pour the shikanji into the glass. Garnish with mint leaves.
Bonus
Nannari Sarbath
Nannari Sarbath, famous in the hot Andhra Pradesh region is something I grew up on and is made from lemon juice and nannari syrup. Nannari syrup is prepared from Nannari roots (Indian Sarsaparilla) which is a natural coolant.
A natural coolant, Nannari roots have the medicinal quality of providing relief from constipation, and acidity, while also purifying blood. Apart from these, Sarasaparilla is effective for inflammations of liver and spleen, urinary disorders, wheezing, anaemia and rheumatoid arthritis.
And, some staples for any hot day...
Coconut Water
A chilled glass of coconut water can instantly cheer you up. The mild sweetness and fresh taste make it just the perfect drink to keep summer blues at bay. It also makes for a great electrolyte, so every time you feel dehydrated.
Dubbed "nature's sports drink," a chilled glass of coconut water can instantly cheer you up.
Sugarcane Juice
Sugarcane juice makes for an energy drink that helps build up plasma and body fluids, helping you counter dehydration and dullness. Adding mint leaves to the juice will only help enhance the taste of your summer drink.
It makes for an energy drink and helps build up plasma and body fluids.
Watermelon juice
One of the best summer fruits is watermelon and what's even better is its juice. It is super refreshing and its hydrating properties help keep your body hydrated and fresh.
One of the best summer fruits is watermelon and what's even better is its juice.
Go ahead, give these recipes a try, spice up things and ensure a happy and healthy summer!Chill out!
One of the best summer fruits is watermelon and what's even better is its juice.
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