Mango Lassi

Mangoes are known to produce heat to the body, but yet they are available only in the hot summer season. You can combine them with milk or yogurt to make their heat reduce. In this recipe I have added mango, yogurt and milk and made a tasty chill lassi for all the lassi lovers. Hope you will enjoy it as much as I loved it.

Mango Lassi

No. of Serving : 3

Ingredients

Mango ripe - 1 large

Yogurt fresh - 1 cup

Milk cold - 1/2 cup

Water cold - 1/2 cup

Sugar - 3 tbsp

Preparation Method

1. Peel and chop the mango into cubes. Keep aside.

2. In a blender add the mango cubes and grind to a thick paste.

3. To this add yogurt, milk, water and sugar and blend well.

4. Add water or milk according to your consistency.

5. Serve chill.

Mango Parfait

For this summer let's give our kids some good healthy homemade dessert. Mango Parfait is a perfect dessert for this hot summer and kids will enjoy it. I have used almonds and walnuts, you can use any nuts of your choice. Mango mousse used in this recipe is from my previous post (recipe link for your reference).

Mango Parfait

No. of Serving : 2

Ingredients

Mango Mousse - 2 cups - recipe link for your reference

Marie biscuits - 20

Almond - 10

Walnut - 10

Preparation Method

1. Refrigerate and keep chill 2 cups of already prepared mango mousse (recipe link for your reference). Keep aside.

2. In a blender, powder marie biscuits, almond and walnut to a course powder.

3. In a serving glass put a layer of powdered marie biscuit mixture and press it well, then add a layer of mango mousse, repeat has many layers as you wish.

4. Top it with cherry or chopped nuts.

5. Serve chill. 

Eggless Mango Mousse

Delighted to have something cool and refreshing for this summer ? , here is an eggless mango mousse. Mango has lots of health benefits. Its healthy antioxidants help fight cancer, improves eye health, lowers cholesterol, improves digestion, helps fight heat stroke.

Mango is available only in hot summer season, but when you take it along with ingredients like milk and buttermilk the heat effect is reduced.

Eggless Mango Mousse

No. of Serving : 5

Ingredients

Mango ripe - 3 medium

Custard powder - 4 tbsp

Corn flour - 2 tbsp

Milk  - 3 cups

Sugar - 1/2 cup

Preparation Method

1. Peel chop and puree the mango, keep aside.

2. Mix custard powder, corn flour and sugar in milk and bring it to boil. Keep stirring till it thickens. Cool it and keep aside.

3. Mix the mango puree and the prepared custard.

4. Refrigerate it for 1 hr , serve chill topped with nuts and cherries.

Millet Apple Porridge

My twist on this regular traditional porridge is that I have added apple for more nutrition and flavour. Apple has lots of nutrients in it. It's extremely high in antioxidants, flavanoids and dietary fibre. It helps reduced heart diseases, diabetics, hypertension and cancer.

Millet Apple Porridge

No. of Serving : 3

Ingredients

Millet flour - 1 cup

Water - 500 ml

Cardamom powder - 1/2 tsp

Milk - 100 ml

Apple - 1 medium

Preparation Method

1. Peel and grind apple into a puree, keep aside.

2. To the 500 ml of water mix millet flour and keep over medium flame and keep stirring continuously till it is cooked. This will take around 10 minutes.

3. Add the apple puree and cardamom and milk and boil for 5 minutes.

4. Serve hot or at room temperature.

Banana Cranberry Smoothie

I choose this combo because cranberry had a unique tangy taste. The combo worked well, it was delicious had a nice flavour and taste. Cranberry has a lot of health benefits. It boosts immunity, lowers the risk of urinary tract infection and prevents cancer.

Banana Cranberry Smoothie

No. of Servings : 2

Ingredients

Dry cranberry - 1 cup

Banana - 2 medium

Milk - 2 cups

Sugar - as per taste (optional)

Preparation Method

1. Soak cranberry in water for 1/2 hr, wash and drain, keep aside

2. In a blender / mixer grind together cranberry, banana and milk.

3. Serve the smoothie topped with nuts or dry fruits

4. For more sweet taste you can add sugar while grinding the smoothie.

Apple Walnut Milkshake

Milkshake is a healthy and non fussy way to make your kids love milk. In this recipe I have chosen apple and walnut, both apple and walnut have a lot of nutrients.

Apple Walnut Milkshake

No. of Serving : 2

Ingredients

Apple - 1 medium

Milk - 2 cups

Walnut - 10

Preparation method

1. Peel the apple skin off, keep aside.

2. Pulse the walnut in a blender / mixer , then add apple and grind it to thick paste.

3. Add milk little by little while grinding.

4. Add the remaining milk and pulse it.

5. Serve chill topped with nuts.

Soya Milk Jigarthanda

This recipe of mine was published in the discover chennai magazine (April 2016).

My twist on the Madurai famous jigarthanda is that I have substituted regular whole milk with soya milk, both for the jigarthanda and the ice cream.

Soya milk Jigarthanda

Ingredients

For the jigarthanda

          Soya milk - 200 ml

          Nannari syrup - 3 tbsp

          Badam Pisin - 3-4 pieces

          Sabja seeds - 1/2 tsp

For the Soya milk icecream

          Soya milk - 200 ml

          Nannari syrup - 3 tbsp

          Sugar - 5 tbsp

          Cornflour - 1 tbsp / China grass - 1 tbsp

Preparation Method

For homemade soya milk ice cream

1. In a heavy bottom pan mix in soya milk, sugar and cornflour / china grass. Place it on the stove and with flame in medium, bring it to a boil , stir continuously. Reduce the flame to sim and stir for 3 mts.

2. Let this cool for about 5 minutes. Then add in the nannari syrup. When the mixture is completely cooled, pour it in a freezer safe container and freeze it.

3. Once in very 3-4 hrs, take it and blend it in a mixer. Then freeze this again. Repeat this for 2 - 3 times. Doing so gives a creamy ice cream. Then pour it back and freeze for atleast 8 hrs.

For jigarthanda

1. Take the badam pisin in a bowl, rinse it with water and then add water bowl full. Keep it covered undisturbed overnight. It will increase in size. If there are any impurities remove them before serving.

2. Take the sabja seeds in a bowl and add water and soak it for 10 - 15 mts.

3. When ready to serve, take a glass and pour in the nannari syrup and then the soaked badam pisin and stir it. Then add soya milk and top it with the soya milk ice cream and soaked sabja seeds

4. Chocolate shavings or chocolate chips can be used for garnish.

5. Jelly can be used for garnish also. Regular ice cream can also be used for topping.

Watermelon Paneer Smoothie

Healthy and filling smoothie with no regrets. Watermelon, paneer and mint leaves have lots of nutrients. Watermelon has high water content along with essential vitamins and minerals. Paneer is full of protein and calcium. Mint relieves congestion and cough. Regular intake of mint increases alertness and memory retention.

This trio: watermelon, paneer and mint was awesome ! It tasted so delicious; you must try it, to experience it.

Watermelon Paneer Smoothie

Servings : 2

Ingredients

Watermelon - 250 gms

Paneer - 25 gms

Mint - few leaves

Preparation Method

1. In a mixer / blender, grind together paneer and mint.

2. Then add watermelon cubes little at a time and blend it to a smooth paste.

3. Refrigerate and serve cool.

Notes:

• You can add almonds for more richness and taste.

Cucumber Fruit Smoothie Sweet and Savoury / Vellari Pazham Juice

Keep yourself hydrated this hot summer with cucumber fruit / vellari pazham, an exclusive summer fruit.

Cucumber fruit has little sweet taste which makes this smoothie delicious, both sweet and savoury. Its high water content keeps the body hydrated and flushes the toxins. It contains lot of nutrients too.

Cucumber Fruit Smoothie Sweet and Savoury

Vellari Pazham juice

Servings : 1

Ingredients

For Vellari Pazham Sweet Smoothie

Cucumber Fruit / Vellari Pazham - 100 gms

Sugar - 2 tsp

Preparation Method

1. Wash the cucumber fruit. Peel the skin off. Chop it into cubes.

2. In a mixer or blender, grind cucumber cubes with sugar.

3. Refrigerate and serve it cool.

For Vellari Pazham Savoury Smoothie

Cucumber Fruit - 100 gms

Lemon juice - 2 tsp

Mint leaves - few

Salt to taste

Ginger juice - 1/2 tsp (optional)

Preparation Method

1. Wash the cucumber fruit. Peel the skin off. Chop it into cubes.

2. In a mixer or blender, grind together cucumber fruit cubes, lemon juice, mint leaves, salt and ginger juice (optional).

3. Refrigerate and serve it cool.

Notes:

• Best time to purchase the fruit is in the morning.

• Immediately after you purchase the vellari pazham, wash and peel the skin off and refrigerate it till ready to use. The fruit will become sour if it rests in room temperature for a long time.

Nannari Lassi / Sarsaparilla Lassi

Double cool yourself this summer with the wonder root 'nannari' and digestive friendly 'yogurt' :) Nannari Lassi / Sarsaparilla Lassi.

Nannari / Sarsaparilla has cooling medicinal property to protect us from summer heat ailments and an excellent blood purifier. Yogurt / curd is rich in calcium, vitamin B, potassium and magnesium. The good bacteria in it promotes a healthy digestive track and boosts the immune system.

Nannari Lassi / Sarsaparilla Lassi

Servings : 2

Ingredients

Thick curd / yogurt - 1 cup

Milk - 1 cup

Nannari syrup - 4 tbsp

Flax seeds and Almonds - optional

Preparation Method

1. With an electric blender or mixer, mix ice cold curd / yogurt till frothy.

2. Add ice cold milk and mix again.

3. Add nannari syrup and mix till frothy.

4. Garnish with crushed flax seeds and chopped almonds.

Notes:

• Curd / yogurt and milk must be ice cold, otherwise lassi will curdle.

• You can use low fat yogurt and milk.

• For a light lassi, substitute half the quantity of milk with ice cold water.

Pavakkai Guava Smoothie / Diabetic Smoothie / Bitter Gourd Smoothie

          

      
        Bitter Gourd / Pavakkai , as you all know is bitter even when cooked, so people avoid eating it. Bitter gourd has lots of goodness in it. It's also known to reduce the blood sugar level and so recommended for diabetic people, but those who are on medication for diabetic may seek medical advice before trying this smoothie. To reduce the bitterness of the gourd, I have used guava. Guava is another highly nutritious fruit.

Pavakkai Guava Smoothie / Diabetic Smoothie / Bitter Gourd Guava Smoothie

Serves: 2

Ingredients

          Bitter gourd / Pavakkai - medium size - 1/2

          Guava - medium - 1

          Mango ginger (Manga Inji) - 1 inch piece

          Salt to taste

          Pepper as required

          Water as required

Preparation Method

1. Remove the seeds from the bitter gourd and wash thoroughly.

2. In a mixer or blender grind all the ingredients to a smooth paste.

3. Add water as per your requirement. The thickness of the smoothie is your choice.

4. Adjust salt and pepper to your taste.

Notes:

• The bitter gourd used for this must be fresh and tender. Those which are ripe and outside may look green but inside around the seeds, if they look red, those tastes more bitter than the white fleshed ones.

• It's important to serve this immediately because the smoothie will become bitter if it reset for a long time.

• You can also use regular ginger instead of mango ginger. If you are using regular ginger then reduce the quantity of ginger by half.