Sol Kadhi

Sol Kadhi is a well popular traditional kokam in coconut milk dish from the western coastal region of India. It is a common dish prepared across Maharashtra, Konkan, and Goa regions. It is made with coconut milk, spiced with some green chillies, sweet and tanginess from kokum and flavored with fresh cilantro. Looks very attractive in a very pleasant pink coloured drink that is served as an appetizer and is very good for digestion!

As temperatures soar high in India during summers, every state prepares their traditional humble all-time satiating soulful drink to beat the heat. Sol Kadhi is one such extraordinary summer drink which is a great appetizer. This drink is cooling, refreshing; helps in food digestion and many people drink Sol Kadhi after eating a heavy meal. In Goa, it is also known as Kokum curry made with kokum. The Sol Kadhi has a mixed medley of flavours that includes sweet, sour, tangy, and little spicy. It is one of the most popular and excellent recipe from the Konkan belt.

Homemade summer drinks have become very trendy in most Indian homes made with ingredients available during that season. Chilled Lassi or buttermilk is the well-liked easy and simple Indian beverages in northern India especially in the state of Punjab. Other popular Indian summer drinks are Kharbooja Ka Sherbet (made with honeydew melons, sugar and flavored with khus essence), Tarbooz ka sherbet (watermelon juice), Black Grapes Sherbet, Aam Panna (juice made with raw green mango), and Grape Juice etc.

Looking at Sol Kadhi makes you refreshing, tempting and cooling. It is light, rejuvenating and divine in taste. Kokum has enormous properties that are beneficial to health. It is used for treating skin rashes, ingestion and has cooling properties. In Ayurveda, Kokum controls the pitta levels in our body. Sol Kadhi is made from Kokum (as they are called in Goa) or Brinda (as they are known in Mangalore). Kokum is a dark purple colored fruit grown in abundance in Konkan region. Kokum are usually sun-dried with Aaghol treatment and neatly packed in huge jar for annual usage. The Kokum shells are treated with special creamy extract along with salt taken from the Kokum seeds called as Aaghol in Goan Konkani. The Aaghol is applied to the shells and they are sun-dried for days together till you get dark blackish purple shells ready for use. It is practically used for most of the dishes in Goan cuisine. It is a preferred substitute for tamarind in curries and other dishes from the Konkan region. It is also used in cuisine from Gujarat, where it is frequently used to add flavor and tartness to Dal (lentil soup) for flavor balance, and parts of South India.

Kokum tree has multiple benefits. The leaves, roots, bark and even the fruits, seeds, shells all hold a medicinal value. Sol Kadhi is generally had for lunch and is a good substitute for buttermilk, considering that butter milk is not supplemented so much in the Goan diet. It is an excellent tummy pacifier and aids for digestive ailments. There are different versions of making the Kokum curry (Sol Kadhi). You can also check my earlier recipe of Sol Kadhi in a different version. Check the link for the recipe:

http://www.vahrehvah.com/Goan+style+Kokam+Curry+%28sol+kadhi%29:4057

One is the low fat version which originates from Goa and is called as Footi Kadhi which is simply Kokum shells thrown in with water and spiced up with asafoetida, sugar, salt and green chillies. The other version is Sol Kadhi with Coconut milk and Garlic ground to perfection. Juice from this mixture is added to the Kadhi and partaken during lunch as a beverage. Rest of the ingredients remains the same. The coconut milk version is suitable as a supplement with rice and Goan fish curry whereas the Footi Kadhi can be had just like that. It is generally served chilled which enhances the taste and flavors apart from being soothing and refreshing.

Traditionally it is a Saraswat Brahmin recipe and commonly known as Solachi Kadi. It is nutritionally rich in protein, vitamin and minerals. As coconuts are the staple produce of this region hence makes the prime ingredient that is used in this dish. This special and popular summer drink is almost made for every meal in the coastal region of Maharashtra during summer days. Dried Kokum fruit rinds are widely used in cooking as they impart a sweetish-tangy flavor to the food. The fruits contain citric acid, acetic acid, malic acid, ascorbic acid, hydroxycitric acid and garcinol.

Kokum fruit is an ideal snack by itself. Adding a little salt and chili powder can make it yummier. The rind and the pulp are often dried and then pulverized into a powder. This sweet and sour combo is a great addition to a number of dishes, both hot and cold. It is mostly used in curry dishes, especially fish. Sometimes it is added to vegetables to give a different flavor and taste. Kokum powder can also be added to juices and sodas, to give a tangy kick. The heat resistant nature of kokum makes it an ideal canning agent for pickles, chutneys and relishes, providing a little extra bite to the flavor of the canned item. Kokum is also added to prevent spoilage.

To prepare Solachi Kadhi, soak kokam in warm water or normal water for few minutes and later extract the kokum water (just like extracting the tamarind juice). Add the kokum water in a bowl, add thin first extracted coconut milk, little salt and mix. Take fresh crushed green chillies and garlic in a strainer; dip it in the kokum water and mix well to extract its flavours. Mix all the ingredients well and check for seasoning.

Add little oil in a pan for tempering, when the oil is hot enough, add cumin seeds, curry leaves and pour this in the kokum mixture. Sol Kadhi is ready to be served.

Tips:

Usually green chillies and garlic is added to the grated coconut and then the milk is extracted.

Make sure it’s not too sour – you should be able to drink a glass full so adjust the consistency.

Don’t reheat this curry. Just refrigerate them and remove 1 hour prior eating. If you reheat the curry will get spoiled because of coconut milk.

Do try this amazing and luscious drink from the Maharashtrian cuisine and enjoy its taste. Click on the below link to view the making of Sol Kadhi:

http://www.vahrehvah.com/SOL+KADHI:7766

Enjoy Cooking!

Kerala ayurvedic water

Kerala Ayurvedic Water is a hot drinking water, slightly pinkish in colour, used by many people in the state of Kerala, India which is served in many restaurants and homes just before eating. It is made with a hard part of the wood of a multipurpose tree that is widely used for various medicinal purposes.

Pathimugam is widely used since ancient days and is an excellent herbal medicine.  Kerala is one state in India which is popular for use of ayurvedic medicines. Herbs and shrubs are said to possess certain medicinal values but less considered that even a tree which does not bear any edible fruits can also possess some medicinal compounds. In order to make a healthy living, one such tree species evolved which is called Pathimugam tree. It is also known by the name sappan wood or East Indian red wood. It is said to be a multipurpose tree and grown in regions where red soil is available in vast.

Sappan wood consists of the heartwood of Caesalpinia Sappan, Linn. (Leguminosae family), a tree indigenous to India. The wood occurs in red, hard, heavy pieces, or in orange-red chips. It is whitish when freshly cut but becomes red on exposure to air. A transverse section exhibits well-marked, concentric rings, numerous narrow, modularly rays, and large vessels. The drug has no odour, but an astringent taste.

If “Pathimugam” is boiled in water, the water gets purified and thereby drinking this water can prevent epidemic diseases spreading through water. This material is used as an ingredient in almost all Ayurvedic medicines and because of its prophylactic nature; it can be used by itself as a medicine. This way the people in Kerala are trying to make their living hygienic with the use of natural herbals and ayurvedic trees available in that region.

The Tibetan medical Encyclopaedia, the Ashtangahridayam, the Sahasrayogam, the Dhan-wanthari Nikhandu and all Pauranic Ayurvedic books carry the benefits of this herbal tree. Experts state that “Pathimugam” can prevent and cure diseases like certain types of cancer, kidney disorder, piles, cholesterol, blood purification, stomach ailments, Skin diseases, diabetics, body heart etc.

Apart from being a valued medicinal herb, this wood is also used for various commercial purposes. The wood when boiled or add to boiling water produces a red colour like ivory young which is generally used for painting, cakes, drinks or as ink and in colouring textiles. Pathimugam is an excellent dye raw material. WTO and WHO has decided to ban the usage of artificially chemical dye for human usage, both internal and external, within a short span of time. By doing so, the experts foreseen that the natural colour dye demand will increase by 1000 times done the current consumption. Hence, agriculture experts state that Pathimugam has a bright future in the natural colour industry.
It is also an ideal plant for dry land development. It requires very little amount of water. When it grows it provides plenty of oxygen and cools the atmosphere of the surrounding areas. It provides an ideal environment for patients who require treatment in agro-therapy. Pathimugam will lead a way for many industries like paper, leather, or cloth to make their product an ecofriendly. Dye obtained from the heartwood will provide a great profit as well a low cost product for the locals.

This tree brightens the future of pharmaceuticals industries with its tendency to cure many types of diseases such as cancer, kidney disorder, piles, cholesterol, blood purification, stomach ailments, skin diseases, diabetics, heart diseases etc.

This herbal drinking water has the ability to cure anti-thirst, used as blood purifier, anti- diabetic, improvement of complexion and several other properties. This heartwood as also established itself as a colouring agent for liquor, wine, meat and fabrics etc.

For preparing this valued and amazing Kerala Ayurvedic water, firstly take a bowl and add water, pathimugam and boil for about 2 – 3 minutes and later strain the water and serve water hot. Pathimugam is mostly available at every Kerala store.

 
Do try this and benefit from its medicinal values. Check out the making of this water by clicking the below link:

http://www.vahrehvah.com/kerla+ayurvedic+water:7708

Enjoy Cooking!

Healthy Fruit Punch

 Healthy Fruit Punch is an excellent mix of juices extracted from apples, beetroot, carrots, ginger and oranges making a refreshing, nutritious and exotic punch to quench your thirst. Healthy eating or drinking of fresh juice is a doorway to a healthy body and relaxed mind. These healthy fruit punches made from extracting either fruit or vegetables juices are the healthiest way to substitute soft drinks or aerated and carry various nutritional benefits.

Generally Punch is the term used for a wide assortment of drinks, either non-alcoholic and alcoholic usually containing fruit or fruit juice. The drink was introduced from India to England in the early seventeenth century; from there on its use slowly spread to other countries. Punch is typically served at parties in large, wide bowls, known as punch bowls. They are generally served as welcome drinks at weddings, receptions and parties.

This recipe is a mix off 100% fruit and vegetable juices, staple in healthy diets for generation, an excellent nutrient dense beverage that is rich in many of the nutrients found naturally in whole fruits and vegetables. These types of fruit and vegetable juice punches are a smart addition to any well-balanced diet providing tons of vitamins and minerals like potassium, vitamin C and folate.

History of Punch from other sources states that the word punch is a loanword from Hindi ‘Panch’ and the drink was originally made with five ingredients which included the alcohol, sugar, lemon, water and tea or spices. The original drink was named ‘paantsch’. This traditional drink was brought back from India to England by sailors and employees of the British East India Company in the early seventeenth century. From here on introduced into other European countries. It is said that the word punch was first recorded in British documents in 1632. During that time, most punches were of the Wassail type made with a wine or brandy base. But around 1655, Jamaican rum came into use and the ‘modern’ punch was born. By 1671, documents make references to punch houses. Today, they are a lot of soft drink manufacturers distributing many types of fruit punch beverages containing only a small fraction of actual fruit juice while the major constituents being sugar or corn syrup, citric acid and artificial flavours.

Punches are exotic and luscious aperitif which is quite simple and easy to prepare. It is a refreshing drink that brings relief from the sultriness and heat; instantly energizes the body system. This healthy fruit punch is made of half fruit and vegetable juice which boost a blend of sweet, sour and tangy flavours. The key highlight to this incredible punch is its simplicity, natural juices and tastes surprisingly different than your average fruit punch.  It would be a great homemade drink to make for family parties.

This striking, lip-smacking fruit punch flavoured recipe delivers a complete multivitamin protection with appropriate vitamins and minerals as said below:

Apple is a very popular fruit that belongs to the Rose Family of the wide kingdom of plants. Apple is a crispy, white-fleshed fruit with a red, yellow or green skin. This juicy, moderately sweet and refreshing fruit is a relative of apricots, plums, cherries, peaches, pears, raspberries, and almonds. Yes, there is truth to that old phrase “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” because apples are truly packed with numerous health benefits.

Apple juice has tremendous health benefits. They help improve your health and well-being. Apple juice looks very refreshing and delicious with its golden colour and sweet aroma. It contains several nutrients which are beneficial to your body and are a super source of Vitamins B and C, and a number of minerals, including phosphorus, iron, chlorine, silicon, potassium, carotene, riboflavin, thiamine and calcium. Apples have a good amount of pectin which soothes the intestines and aids digestion to combat constipation.

Beetroot is juice is not only blessed but with a beautiful natural colour packed with nutrients. They are best known as blood purifier and blood builder that help in the creation of red blood cells. The juice of Beetroot has an extremely strong flavour and tastes best when mixed with other juices. Beetroot juice goes well mixed with carrot, apple, pineapple, cucumber etc. juices. A mix of beetroot, carrot and apple juice is said to amazingly boost your energy levels. The magic of beetroot juice is that it claims to have the ability to clean and build the blood, improve circulation and calm the nerves. It also improves the health of the liver, kidneys, and bladder.

Carrot is very popular and a common veggie best known for it’s highly packed nutrients and vitamins. Carrot juice has shown to strengthen the eyes, protect the heart and lower the occurrence of chronic diseases. Carrot juice provides potent nutrition, and slowly sipping it allows your body to better assimilate it. It is also consider mixing carrot juice with other fruits and vegetables to spice things up. Carrot and apple juice is a popular combination. You can add a small piece of pineapple for a tangy taste. Some people also mix in beets or celery. Carrot juice can also make for a delicious breakfast shake. It is said that a glass of plain carrot juice contains vitamins A, B6, C and K, thiamine, dietary fibre and potassium. Carrots are generally considered a goldmine of natural vitamins and nutrients. Apart from just making the carrot juice, carrots are very versatile veggie that is used for many a range of sweet and savoury dishes such as carrot halwa, honey glazed carrot, carrot pickle, spicy peas and carrot pulav etc.

Carrot juice has very good anti-inflammatory, anti-cancerous and anti-aging properties. Carotene is a known anti-oxidant, which can prevent degenerative processes in the cells and has great anti-aging effects. Also, drinking raw carrot juice can be helpful for lowering the symptoms of stresses and normalizing the function of your digestive system. Among all other raw vegetable juices, carrot juice is an absolute leader prized for its therapeutic effects, the contents of useful elements and its compatibility with other juices or foods.

Ginger is an excellent spice having important healing properties and the best way to receive the benefits of ginger is by extracting its juice. The intake of ginger juice will warm the body, promoting healthy sweating, which not only assists detoxification but also boosts the immune system thanks to the germ-fighting agent in sweat called dermcidin. This makes it good remedy for fighting off a cold or a cough. You can also mix the juice with honey to soothe the throat and make it taste better.

Ginger juice is useful for treating many health problems, as well as being good for your general wellbeing. The benefits of ginger have been known for centuries. Try this tasty juice as an additive to many foods or other juices. Ginger is rich in antioxidants and Everyday Minerals that can be used in treating other medical disorders. It works wonders even if you have digestive disorders, fever, fatigue, arthritis, and much more. This wonderful condiment adds taste to your food and treats several diseases as well. It is used mainly for spicing variety of non-vegetarian recipes. Ginger is used in making delicious dishes like Prawn curry flavoured with Ginger, Ginger curry, Ginger garlic paste, Ginger Chicken, Ginger pickle, Ginger biscuits and many more.

Orange juice is an excellent drink that offers numerous health benefits. While fruits and vegetables contain numerous vitamins and minerals that can help to keep you in optimal health, fruit juices, such as orange juice, tend to be calorie-dense and contain lower concentrations of nutrients that aid weight loss than their whole-food counterparts.

Orange juice is a rich source of vitamin C, an antioxidant vitamin that helps to fight damage caused by free radicals. Vitamin C is also important in wound healing and enhances the absorption of calcium and iron. Thus people with iron or calcium deficiencies are advised to drink orange juice with their iron- or calcium-rich meals. Orange juice is also a good source of potassium, thiamine, phosphorus, folate, vitamin B6 and flavonoids.

Preparing this healthy fruit punch is quite simple and easy. Firstly wash and clean the above ingredients. Put them all into a juicer to extract juice. Serve it cold or just at room temperature. This is a very easy way of getting fruits n veggies into children. The bright red colour from the beetroot is very inviting. As a variation, you can also add grapes, pineapples or celery, mint. Fill up a tall jug with this juice n serve it to the entire family.

This drink makes a supersonic beverage with all valuable nutritional benefits that we must really give it a try and enjoy being healthy at all times. For details, click on the link:

www.vahrehvah.com/Healthy+Fruit+Punch:3565

Lime, Coconut, Mint Lassi is superb, mouth-watering, thick and creamy nutty flavoured Indian beverage made with mix of coconut milk, fresh mint (pudina), honey, lime (nimbu) and ice cubes.

This is an excellent summer cooler that soothes your dried taste buds, refreshes and energizes your system. Generally lassi means one would automatically think that it is made of yogurt but the secret ingredient in making this delectable and luscious lassi is the coconut milk. An implausible diary free lassi, simple and easy to prepare! The procedure is the same but with a little variation.

Lassi is a common and traditional Indian beverage originally from Punjab made with blending yogurt and water, salt and spices until frothy. There are two varieties of lassi, one the sweet and other salt lassi. A traditional lassi is normally flavoured with ground roasted cumin which is good for stomach. The lassi prepared at Punjab is sometimes made with little milk and topped with a thin layer of malai (cream) also known as Devonshire cream. Sweet Lassi is a latest version flavoured with sugar, rosewater, mango, strawberry, pineapple, lychee or other fruit juices. Sometimes you find lassi added with the popular Roohafza sherbet which is a wonderful light pinkish coloured lassi served in Hyderabad. It’s a popular Hyderabadi sweet lassi.

The combination of mint and lime gives that extra zest and sweetness from honey is smooth and fresh.  A glass of chilled lime, coconut, and mint lassi is truly divine and refreshing on any hot summer day. Mint is a very common flavouring that is used for flavouring a variety of dishes, candies, beverages, chutneys, chocolate etc. It has a very soothing and refreshing taste. It is commonly used to flavour teas and other beverages. Mint tea is one of the popular drinks. It gives a natural perfumed herbal aroma to any dish or drink.

Mint has been used in healing remedies for many centuries now. It has a great natural smell and taste. It is commonly used to treat health conditions in the Middle East, India and Europe. Mint is often used to settle a nervous stomach. It is a popular treatment for irritable bowel syndrome and other digestive conditions. Mint is believed to slow the effects of bacteria or fungus, and is also said to help control asthma and various allergies. The next time you want a fresh-tasting dessert or have an upset stomach, mint could be your solution.

Lime or the juice of lime is a vital ingredient to any cuisine from India and is used in dressings (Honey Lime dressing), pickling (lemon pickle), marinating, desserts (Key Lime Pie) and beverages (lemonade, Fresh Lime soda, Lime Rasam) etc. It is also used as garnishes. Lime is valued mainly both for the acidity of its juice and the floral aroma of its zest. Limes are excellent source of free citric acid, natural sugar, vitamin C, calcium and phosphorus. It contains far more vitamin C than the lemons. Lime juice is an indispensable ingredient of salads. In fruit salads, it helps to retain the normal colour of fruits and imparts tart flavour. It is often mixed with cooked pulses, soups, sauces and gravies to make them more tasty and palatable.

Coconut milk is a common ingredient in many tropical cuisines, such as Burmese, Cambodian, Filipino, Indian, Indonesian, Malaysian, Singaporean, Sri Lankan, Thai and Vietnamese, as well as Brazilian, Caribbean, Polynesian, and Pacific islands cuisines. It is the main base or sauce to many Indonesian, Malaysian, Sri Lankan and Thai curries.  Coconut milk is consumed mainly because its soothing and has healing effect; to the extent that it can cure mouth ulcers.

It is one of the important ingredients to various dish prepared in Kerala and Tamil Nadu especially slightly sweetened coconut milk is an accompaniment for appam. In southern China and Taiwan, sweetened coconut milk is served on its own as a drink during spring and summer. It is made by adding sugar and evaporated or fresh milk during the process of preparing the coconut milk. Drinks using coconut milk as ingredients include Piña Colada and its non-alcoholic variant Virgin Piña Colada (Coconut cream may also be used). Coconut milk is rich in protein but high in fat hence consume in moderate amounts.

Finally I am in for making the Lime, Coconut, Mint lass. In a processor or blender combine the coconut milk and lime and blitz it until the lime is finely chopped (alternatively add the juice or peel of the lime only). Add honey and ice and blitz the drink until it is well smooth. Pour the drink into a tall glass and decorate it with a sprig of mint and serve chilled. The lassi is ready to be served.

Try it to cool off on a hot afternoon or alongside spicy food at lunch or dinner. Normally traditional lassi is a bit salty; hence this would make an exquisitely perfect for your taste. Check out the link for detailed recipe:

http://www.vahrehvah.com/Lime,+Coconut,+Mint+Lassi+:1922

Tips: You can add different flavourings to make the salty lassi spicy according to your taste.

Carrot Milk is simple, easy to prepare and delicious sweet milk flavoured with fresh carrots and cardamom powder. Well, it’s got very few ingredients in making but tastes divine and silky.  Carrot milk is an excellent chilled beverage loaded with all the essential nutrients and vitamins to make your kids strong and healthy.

We hear many mothers complaining that their kids hate milk and do not drink at all. By not having milk, the kids are actually losing valuable intake of nutrients and vitamins especially calcium which helps in strengthening the bones and teeth. To get your kids to drink milk, you can always try experimenting some excellent surprising milkshakes, flavoured milk with whole milk that would make a delightful treat to the kid. Restricting children access to flavoured milk may only lead to undesirable effect of cutting nutrient intake.

Flavoured milk is always better than none at all even though it has more sugar and slightly higher calorie content than unflavoured milk. It’s a nutrient-rich package. Homemade flavoured milk is always the best chosen that is fresh and nutritious. Flavoured milk contains both natural and added sugars (nearly half of the sugar in flavoured milk is naturally present in the milk), it contains less added sugar than other beverages that kids drink, such as carbonated soft drinks.

Carrots are excellent and versatile vegetable that can be used in making savoury and sweet dishes. Carrot & Cabbage curry is an incredible combo veggie which tastes great with roti or chapatti. Carrot is also used in pickling such as Carrot & Cauliflower pickle. This makes an interesting combo! Stir fried French beans and carrot is popular dish from the south Asian cuisine. Delicious and mouth-watering sweet recipes include carrot halwa (also commonly called as Gajar ka halwa), Carrot Mysore pak, Carrot juice, Carrot payasam with cashews etc. Most of the sweet dishes made with carrots are milk based, hence don’t worry as this would also make an easy way to feed to your kids milk and carrots together which is a nutritional bonus.

Carotene, the famous ingredient in carrots, is an anti-oxidant that has powerful healing virtues for many diseases. Drinking a glass of carrot juice daily will do much more for you than many bottles of supplement tablets. Carrots are high in fibre Carrots are packed with fibre, which helps keep the digestive system healthy and helps balance blood sugar levels. Fibre also helps you to feel fuller for longer so you find it easier to maintain your weight.

Carrot Milk, a chilled milk beverage made by mixing fresh carrot in a glass of milk gives sufficient energy to people before going running. This also is delicious to drink before exercise or after them as well. If you want a drink that is smooth and creamy as silk then do try preparing this appetizing and famous Carrot Milk. A delicious, lip smacking and healthy refreshing drink would always be an ideal choice better than the sugar laden soda pop or the aerated soft drinks. High in nutrition and calcium, a good drink for the kids and health conscious people too. The variety of Milkshakes includes: Apple milkshake, Banana milkshake, carrot milkshake, orange milkshake, pineapple milkshake, strawberry milkshake and the popular Indian beverage called the Badam Milk or Almond milk, a soothing energy giving drink and rich in vitamin E and nutritious too.

To prepare this soothing, refreshing and exotic Carrot milk, firstly cut the carrots into pieces and cook until soft and then grind the cooked mixture. Add milk to the grinded mixture, boil it for 20 minutes. Add almonds, carrots, elachi and grind well. Add this to the boiling milk and stir well until it is cooked. Off the stove and place in the refrigerator. Serve chilled with ice cubes.  Click on the below link for detailed recipe:

http://www.vahrehvah.com/Carrot+Milk:6460

This sweet Carrot milk with carrot and milk, infused with a hint of freshing ground cardamom and saffron gives it a delicious sweet note, aroma and a lovely color. This recipe is easy to prepare and takes less time. So try it out and enjoy the benefits by having this yummy Carrot milk drink.

Milk contains nine essential nutrients and vitamins, including protein, vitamins A, D, and B12, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, riboflavin, niacin, zinc, and magnesium. Children who drink milk tend to have “superior” overall nutrient intakes compared with children who don’t drink milk. Always opt for other alternatives when the kid is really stubborn towards milk.

Enjoy Cooking!

Papaya Lassi, wow! Have you ever tried this recipe before?

Summer and each one of us think of re-creating new drinks or smoothies apart from the regular plain lassi. Lassi is delicious refreshment that is often served in restaurants or made in most North Indian households. You could make a yummy sweet or savory lassi. They are divine, soothing and exceptional refreshments that would quench your dry palates on summer days.

Kids love having chilled juices, smoothies or fruit mocktails apart from the popularly sold variety of branded cool drinks. Fruit drink are yummy, delicious to taste and nutritious too. They look attractive, fun to drink and healthful. Papaya lassi is an ideal fruit drink for a sensational summer served with plenty of finger food and festive appetizers. It is rich, creamy and refreshing. Papaya lassi is the perfect drink for using tropical fruits and keeping cool.

Generally summers is all about lazy days, staying indoors or spending time in your garden in the evening having an exotic drink and mainly quenching your thirst and cooling down with a appetizing Papaya lassi, mango lassi, pista lassi or angoor lassi (grapes lassi).  You could also start your day with a nice lassi which would kick start with delight.  Papita Lassi is basically a typical Indian yoghurt refreshing drink packed with tropical flavours and makes a great match with spicy food. This refreshing Indian yogurt drink is packed with tropical flavour and makes a great match with spicy food. Cool, thirst quenching and a treat for the taste buds with hints of mint and tangy lemon juicy. Cool and refreshing, this fruity thirst-quencher makes a great drink to complement rich spicy Punjabi food. This beautiful pink drink is the perfect non-alcoholic cocktail for summer parties

The papayas in India are a revelatory experience. Their texture is dense, and juicy, their flavour floral and rich. Cutting into a perfectly-ripened papaya, their aromatic seed gleaming is just lovely. Add a sprinkle of lime juice and a pinch of black pepper and that’s it, your mind will be blown. Papaya lassi is full of sweetness and tang; this dreamy drink will cool you off and transport you to the next world (paradise). Papaya lassi has an amazing color, velvety and creamy texture blended with fruit and yoghurt. All ingredients get incorporated well in the lassi.

In India, papaya lassi are made with fresh, local fruits and their flavour is more subtly rosy than its mango counterpart. This papaya lassi is great as a snack and fantastic accompanying any spicy foods. It will soothe and calm heat and is very good for digestion. . A juicy, ripe papaya is worth waiting for, moreover a glass of fruity papaya lassi would make the difference and spice in life. Lassi can be made with any fruit. Eating papaya is extremely healthy and it is wonderful for the digestive system and is packed with vitamins A, B and C. They are also naturally sweet to taste hence you can check and add the required quantity. Papaya is excellent for the human body. Eating this excellent fruit can help in keeping you healthy and strong.

Normally in India or Indian restaurants, a lassi can be served plain, salted, sweetened or with fruit, sometimes even with spices like chili, cardamom or cumin. When a fruit like papaya is added, this delicious drink is served as a dessert rather than a drink with a meal. Papayas are power fruit. It is not only delicious fruit to eat but also contains abundant health benefits and medicinal values. It can be just cut into pieces and eaten or made into a delicious smoothie or milkshake.

To prepare this delicious and mouth-watering Papita Lassi, firstly peel the skin, remove the pips and cut in cubes. Beat or blend plain yogurt, then add water and beat or blend again. Add mashed papaya with all the seasonings (that includes freshly ground Black Pepper Powder (Pisi Kaali Mirch), Cold Water, Ice Cubes, Lime Juice (Nimbu Arakh), Mint Leaves (Pudina), Papaya (Papita), Plain Yogurt, Salt to taste) and beat or blend again until smooth and silky. Pour in individual glasses. Garnish with mint and serve cold.

This papaya lassi can also be served as a refreshing dessert after a hot curry meal. Feel free to experiment with different kinds of fruit and spices.

Note: This recipe is easily adaptable to most of the fruits. You can use banana or mango (or berries are great, not traditional in Indian dishes) with great results.

Those who are fond of yogurt would love this one. This is simple yet delicious and very filling beverage. Just blend yogurt with water or milk along with sugar and serve with ice cubes as plain lassi. Add dry-fruits to give a crunchy taste. Blend strawberries with lassi to make Strawberry Lassi.

Papaya contains natural fiber, carotene, vitamin C and essential minerals. It also contains enzymes like arginine and carpain. Papaya is good for skin and used for making face packs and skin lightening creams. Papaya makes the skin glow as it contains the enzyme papain which helps to dissolve dead skin, thus imparting a fresh and clean glow to the face.

Papaya is a fruit high in fiber which lowers cholesterol levels. Papaya contains antioxidants which prevents the cholesterol from oxidizing. When cholesterol in the body gets oxidized, it can lead to heart-attacks. The anti-oxidants in papaya also help in controlling premature ageing, which helps to give a young look.  It also contains a high amount of potassium and the flesh of papaya is very high in Vitamin A.  Papaya is an incredible fruit low in calories and high in nutritive value and is an excellent food for those on a diet.

All the parts of the papaya fruit are useful and beneficial. Right from the seeds to the papaya leaves and the flesh of the fruit, all of it has some value. Both the inside and the outside of the fruit can be utilized .Thus no part of the fruit is useless or goes as a waste. Thus, if you love eating papaya, it is great because along with savouring the taste you are also ingesting all the benefits associated with eating the fruit, which will result in good health for you!

So, go ahead and eat plenty of those papayas and try new recipes with it to include in your regular diet!! To get the detailed recipe, click on the link below:

http://www.vahrehvah.com/Papita+Lassi+:1929

Enjoy Cooking!