Nellikkai Mor / Spiced Gooseberry Buttermilk / நெல்லிக்காய் மோர்

Gooseberry Buttermilk is a super coolant drink, particularly during this hot summer. The ingredients used in this drink helps in increasing our immunity and aids better digestion.

Try and include this in your daily diet! 

Let's check the recipe now.

              

PREP TIME

10 min

COOK TIME

0 mins

TOTAL TIME 

10 mins

                                                                                                                                               

Recipe for Spiced Gooseberry Buttermilk

Recipe type: Beverages

Cuisine: South Indian

Serves: 2 (approximately)

Ingredients:

Amla - 2
Ginger - a small piece
Curry leaves - 1 sprig
Small onion - 1 or 2
Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp
Thin Buttermilk - 2 cups
Salt - as required

Directions:

Wash and slice the amla into pieces to remove the seed; keep aside.

Add all the ingredients in the mixer, except buttermilk and salt.  Grind it using a pulse mode.

Add little quantity of buttermilk into the mixer and grind it once using pulse mode.  Don't grind it into paste.

You can omit this step, if you don't to grind it once again.

 

Mix it with the remaining buttermilk; add salt as required. Mix  well.

Serve immediately. Vitamin C rich and immunity booster drink is ready to serve!

Note:

You can also add whole cumin seeds in buttermilk instead of grinding.

     

Cucumber Lemonade / Cucumber Lemon Juice / Cucumber Juice

Cucumber Lemon Juice is a refreshing drink  and an excellent coolant for the body.  It is a perfect drink to beat the summer!

PREP TIME

10 min

COOK TIME

0  mins

TOTAL TIME 

10 mins

                                                                                                                                                

Recipe for Cucumber  lemon juice

Recipe type: Beverages

Serves:  2 (approximately)

Ingredeints:

Cucumber - 2 (chopped)
Lemon - 1
Salt - as required
Sugar / Honey - To taste
Mint leaves - 4 to 5

Directions:

Take a blender; add chopped cucumber, salt, sugar / honey, mint leaves and required water. Grind into fine paste.

Strain cucumber mixture completely.   After that add lemon juice and mix well.

Adjust the salt and sweet, according to your taste.  Dilute it if needed with extra water.

Serve it in a glass! enjoy!

Mint Lassi / Salted Mint Lassi / Pudhina Lassi

Lassi is one of the popular summer drink in India, prepared by using curd/ yoghurt, sugar / salt. It is very easy to make and healthy too. Addition of mint in this drink gives a added flavor and also increases the nutritive value. You can adjust the consistency by adding water, according to your preference.

Try and enjoy this refreshing drink !

PREP TIME

10 min

COOK TIME

0 mins

TOTAL TIME 

10 mins

                                                                                                                                                   

Recipe for Mint lassi

Recipe type: Beverages

Cuisine:  North Indian 

Serves: 1  to 2 (approximately)

Ingredients:

Curd / youghurt - 1½ cup
Mint leaves - ½ cup
Cumin powder - 1 tsp
Salt - to taste 
Black salt - ½ tsp(optional)

Ice cubes

Directions:

Add Mint leaves, cumin seeds and 1 or 2 tbsp of yogurt / curd in a mixer. Grind it to make a paste. 

Add the remaining curd , black salt(if using), ice cubes and salt.  Blend it once again.

Pour it in a glass and serve!   Slruppp!

Vendhaya kanji / Thengai Paal Kanji / Coconut milk rice porridge - Summer Special!

This Vendhaya kanji / Porridge is a healthy breakfast recipe prepared using rice, fenugreek seeds, garlic and coconut milk.  The list of ingredients itself will indicate the health benefits of the porridge.

It is a good body coolant; highly recommended for people having mouth and stomach ulcer. My mom used to prepare this often especially when I return from hostel during my school and college days😉😃. 

Kids love to have it with jaggery and me too😊.
  
Try to add in your diet once or twice a month; a great meal to keep your body cool during summer.

PREP TIME

15mins

COOK TIME

15

TOTAL TIME 

30 mins

                                                                                                                                                  

Recipe for Vendhaya kanji / Thengai Paal Kanji 

Recipe type: Main Course

Cuisine - Tamilnadu

Serves - 3 to 4(approximately

Ingredients:

Rice - 1 cup (I have ponni parboiled rice)
Garlic - 10 to 15
Fenugreek seeds / Vendhayam (in Tamil)- 2 to 3 tsp
Salt - as required
Coconut milk - 2 to 3 cups (I have used fresh coconut milk)
Accompaniment - Thengai Thogayal / Jaggery

Directions:

Wash the rice;  add it in the pressure cooker along with fenugreek seeds, peeled garlic, water and salt.  As we want rice to be in soft texture , have to add 4 cups of water for 1 cup rice.

Close the lid and pressure cook for 3 whistles and simmer for 10 minutes. Switch off the gas and allow the it cool completely.

Mash the rice roughly with back of the ladle and start adding the coconut milk.  Mix it evenly. 

Serve it along with thogayal / jaggery..

Note:

When the kanji is cooled, it tends to get thick. Adjust the amount of coconut milk according to your preference.

Pomegranate Beetroot juice

Doesn't summer call for refreshing and healthy drinks? Try this  heart - healthy, antioxidant rich drink  prepared using pomegranate seeds, beetroot and lemon juice.  Actually I didn't add any honey / sugar to it.  I always prefer to have the fresh juice with its natural sweetness!

Do try and include in your diet for healthy living!

PREP TIME

15  mins

COOK TIME

0

TOTAL TIME 

15 mins

                                                                                                                                                  

Recipe for  Pomegranate Beetroot Juice 

Recipe type: Beverages 

Serves - 2 (approximately)

Ingredients:
Pomegranate - 2 cup seeds
Beetroot 1 small(peeled and chopped)
Lemon juice - 1 tbsp
Sugar / honey - to taste

Directions:

Add the pomegranate seeds and chopped beetroot into a blender / mixer. Grind it finely by adding water.

Strain it and add lemon juice and honey / sugar; mix well and Serve immediately.

Notes:

Dilute the juice according to your taste of preference.

Peanut Salad / Peanut Pomegranate Salad

This is a refreshing salad with healthy combination of texture and flavour.  The addition of pomegranate in this salad enriches the taste; so don't skip it.  For extra crunchiness, you can add some walnuts / almonds too.

This is a meal by itself; perfect for weight watchers!  I learnt this salad from my friend Lolita; this peanut and pomegranate combination was really awesome; a great hit in my family.

Try and give your feedback!

PREP TIME

20 min

COOK TIME

15mins

TOTAL TIME 

35 mins

                                                                                                                                                   

Recipe for Peanut Salad

Recipe type: Salad

Cuisine:  International

Serves: 3  to 4 (approximately)

Ingredients:

Raw peanuts - 1 to 1½ cup
Pomegranate seeds - ½ cup

Capsicum - 2 tbsp (chopped)
Onion - 1 medium seized, sliced

Tomato - 1 tbsp(chopped)

Cucumber - 1 small(chopped)
Apple - ½ (chopped) 
Walnuts / almonds - 1 tbsp(chopped)(optional)

Salad Dressing:
Olive oil - 2 tbsp
Lemon juice - from 1 lemon
Salt - to taste
Pepper - as required

Directions:

Soak the raw peanuts in water for 5 to 6 hours.

Pressure cook peanuts  by adding salt for 3 or 4 whistle or until it becomes soft.

Drain the excess water and keep aside .

Take a bowl, add cooked peanuts, pomegranate seeds, chopped capsicum, chopped onion,chopped tomato, chopped cucumber and diced apples.

Add the ingredients for salad dressing in a bowl.  Mix well and keep aside.

Pour the dressing over the Peanut mixture and toss it.

Healthy and colourful salad is ready to eat.

Note:

This salad is taste better when serve chilled.

Adjust the amount of all the ingredients according to your taste bud.

Avocado Chickpea Salad

Avocado chickpea salad is refreshing & healthy salad, which is a meal by itself.  This salad is low in carbohydrates; rich in protein, fiber and vitamins.

It is very easy to prepare  and light in stomach!  This salad is perfect meal for persons who want go on light dinner and also for weight watchers!

PREP TIME

15 min

COOK TIME

5  mins

TOTAL TIME 

20 mins

                                                                                                                                                   

Recipe for Avocado Chickpea Salad

Recipe type: Salad

Cuisine:  International

Serves: 2 to 4 (approximately)

Ingredients:

Avocado - 1 to 2 (pitted and chopped
Chickpeas - 1 to 1½ cup(cooked)
Onion - 1 medium seized, sliced
Tomato - 1 medium seized, chopped

Parsley / Coriander leaves - 1 - 2 tbsp (chopped)

Salad Dressing:

Olive oil - 2 tbsp
Lemon juice - from 1 lemon
Salt - to taste
Pepper - ¼ tsp

Mango lassi - Summer Special!

Here is a tasty & refreshing treat for all mango lovers! Slrupp!😋😋😋

Mango lassi is a yoghurt based drink and perfect to have in hot summer.  

PREP TIME

10 min

COOK TIME

0 mins

TOTAL TIME 

10 mins

                                                                                                                                                   

Recipe for Mango lassi

Recipe type: Beverages

Cuisine:  North Indian 

Serves: 1  to 2 (approximately)

Ingredients:

Chopped Mango - 1 cup ( approximately 1 or 2 mangoes)
Yogurt / Curd - ½ cup
Milk - ¼ cup
Sugar - to taste
Cardamom powder - a pinch
Ice cubes - 2 to 3

Sweet Melon Milk Shake / Melon Milk Shake

Sweet melon milk shake is an easy to make, healthy, tasty and refreshing drink!  

Though I bought this fruit named as "sweet melon", there are many other references such as honey dew melon, cantaloupe, musk melon from the same family!  

So you can try whichever melon available in your town or according to the season and follow the same recipe.

                                                        

PREP TIME

15 min

COOK TIME

15 mins

TOTAL TIME 

30 mins

                                                                                                                                                   

Recipe for Sweet Melon Milk Shake

Recipe type: Beverages

Cuisine: 

Serves: 1 to 2 (approximately)

Ingredients:
Honey dew melon - 2 cups (peeled and cubed)
Milk - 1 cup
Vanilla essence - ½ tsp
Sugar / Honey - if required
Ice cubes - 2 to 3

Directions:

In a blender/ mixer, combine melon, milk, vanilla essence and ice cubes.

Blend until smooth and frothy.

Serve chilled.

Note:

I didn't add honey / sugar for the milk shake, because there is enough sweet from melon itself.

Add ice cream according to your preference.

Instead of vanilla essence; try adding cardamom powder for flavour.

Nutella Banana Milkshake

Try this thick, creamy and delicious drink with the combination of nutella, banana, milk and ice cream.  I have already tried Nutella banana sandwich  too.  Do check this.

I am sure your kids can't resist to drink this lip smacking milkshake!

Ingredients:

Banana – 1(big)
Milk – 1 to 1½ cups
Nutella - 2 to 3 tbsp
Vanilla ice cream – 1 scoop (optional)

Ashgourd Raita / Poosanikai Thayir Pachadi - Summer Special

Ashgourd / White Pumpkin/ Poosanikai is a low calorie vegetable with high water content and high fibre. It is a highly preferred vegetable during summer, for its cooling properties. 

Though we usually prepare sambar, kootu using ashgourd; now I tried in raita form using curd and without coconut.

Though this recipe is suitable for all ages; it is highly recommended for people suffering from ulcer and constipation. 

Try to include in your daily diet for a healthy living!

Ingredients:

Ash gourd / Poosanikai - 1½ to 2 cups (chopped into bite sized pieces)
Yogurt / curd - ½ to ¾ cup
Salt - to taste

For Seasoning:
Mustard seeds – ¼ tsp
Curry leaves - few
Red chilly - 1
Oil - 2 tsp