Snake Fruit Lassi

 

            Whip up this amazing chilled Lassi with Snake Fruit, an exotic fruit from Indonesia. In this way, you can make good use of them and come up with this soothing and refreshing drink. I only added some basic ingredients like yoghurt, sugar, cardamom powder, rose water, etc. 

            You can also use some khoya or dry fruits instead, while blending. Besides cardamom, gulkand, vanilla essence or any other flavour of your choice can be added. So go ahead and give it a try by checking out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare it.

          Snake fruit, a tropical fruit, native to Indonesia is also known as Salak, Salacca or memory fruit. This fruit has a sweet and sour taste. It grows in clusters and the name is derived due to the reddish brown snake like skin. It has pectin, potassium and beta carotene, that is good for constipation, digestion and to improve memory.

         This Lassi is just perfect during summer to beat the scorching heat. I flavored it with cardamom powder and rose water. You can try with any other flavour of your choice. 

          So a great combination of snake fruit and yoghurt makes for this interesting, yummy and  refreshing lassi. Garnish with a pinch of saffron, chopped nuts and mint leaf and you are ready to savour it. 

 

• 1 cup yoghurt
• 2 Snake Fruits
• 1/4 tsp. cardamom powder
• 1 tbsp. sugar or to taste
• a pinch of salt
• 1 tsp. rose water
• a pinch of saffron
• some chopped nuts, saffron & mint leaf to garnish

          Peel the skin off and roughly chop them. In a mixi jar, add the yoghurt, chopped snake fruit, a pinch of salt, sugar, cardamom powder, rose water and saffron. Blend until smooth. 

          Pour into individual glasses and chill to serve, garnished with some chopped nuts saffron, dry rose petals and mint leaf. 

                                 Peel the skin off and roughly chop.

                       In a mixi jar, add yoghurt, a pinch of salt, cardamom powder, rose 

                       water, saffron, 

                                  chopped Snake fruit & sugar to taste.

                                  Blend until smooth. 

                        Pour into individual glasses and chill to serve, garnished with some 

                        chopped nuts, saffron and mint leaf. Enjoy !!!!

            

Mithai Lassi

 

            Whip up this amazing chilled Lassi from some leftover sweets. In this way, you can make good use of them and come up with this soothing and refreshing drink. In this recipe, I made use of Motichoor laddu and peda for a thick and creamy texture. You can also use some khoya or dry fruits instead, while blending. So go ahead and give it a try by checking out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare it.

            This Lassi is just perfect during summer to beat the scorching heat. I have not added any sugar. You may if you wish. I flavored it with cardamom powder and rose water. You can try with any other flavour of your choice. 

          So a great combination of some leftover sweets and yoghurt makes for this yummy refreshing lassi. Garnish with a pinch of saffron, some crushed laddu, chopped pistachios, mint leaf & dry rose petals and you are ready to savour it. 

 

• 1 cup yoghurt
• 2 Boondi laddu
• 1 burfi
• a pinch of cardamom powder
• 1/2 tsp. rose water
• a pinch of saffron
• some crushed laddu, chopped pistachios, saffron, mint leaf & dry rose petals to garnish

          In a mixi jar, add the yoghurt, boondi laddu, burfi, cardamom powder, rose water and saffron. Blend until smooth. 

          Pour into individual glasses and chill to serve, garnished with some crushed boondi laddu, chopped pistachio, saffron, dry rose petals and mint leaf. 

                    In a mixi jar, add boondi laddu, burfi, cardamom powder, rose water  

                                 and the yoghurt and saffron.

                                  Blend until smooth. 

                    Pour into individual glasses & chill to serve, garnished with some crushed 

                    boondi laddu, chopped pistachio, saffron, dry rose petals & mint leaf. 

Apricot Smoothie

           
          This is a perfect blend of apricots, yoghurt and milk in the form of a smoothie and is worth a try. A great way to beat the summer heat is to prepare this yummy Apricot Smoothie and enjoy it. Serve it chilled in individual glasses, garnished with chopped pistachios, dry rose petals and mint leaves. 

           Apricots are good for the eyes, skin and hair. It contains a lot of minerals, vitamins, calcium and dietary fibre. So this pretty fruit has a lot of health benefits for our body. On the other hand, yogurt aids in digestion, treats an upset stomach and has a cooling effect on our body, especially during summers. 

          Apricots are low in calorie and fat. This yummy, creamy and delicious drink can be dished out in a ziffy and can be enjoyed for a nutritious and healthy breakfast or anytime of the day as this aids in weight loss too.

          Prepare in large quantities and refrigerate to have it at intervals. I have used rose water and cardamom powder to flavour the drink. You may add any other flavour of your choice.

• 100 gms. dried apricots, pitted (serves two)
• 2 tbsp. sugar or to taste
•  few drops of lime juice
• pinch of salt
• 1/4 tsp. cardamom powder
• 1 tsp. rose water
• pinch of saffron
• 2 cups yoghurt
• 1 cup milk

           Soak the apricots overnight in 1 cup water. Then blend into a smooth paste. Heat a pan and simmer the apricot paste, sugar, lime juice, pinch of salt, saffron and cardamom powder till reduced and slightly thick. Add the rose water and keep aside to cool.

         Blend the reduced apricot mix, yoghurt and milk in the mixi. Chill for some time. Pour into individual glasses and enjoy this refreshing summer drink, garnished with chopped pistachios, dry rose petals and mint. 

Dates Lassi

           A healthy refreshing drink made of dates and yogurt is just perfect during summer. I have not added any sugar, so you may if you wish. I flavored it with cardamom powder and rose water. You may try with gulkand or any flavor of your choice. Garnish with chopped nuts and tutti frutti. Serve it chilled or with some ice cubes to beat the scorching heat. 

• 12-15 dates, deseeded & soaked for an hour 
• 1 & 1/2 cups yogurt
• 1/4 tsp. cardamom powder
• 1 tsp. rose water
• 1 tsp. chopped pistachios
• 1 tsp. tutti frutti
• few ice cubes

          Blend the dates, yoghurt, cardamom powder and rose water into a smooth puree. Refrigerate for an hour. 

          Pour in individual glasses along with 2-3 ice cubes. Serve, garnished with chopped pistachios and tutti frutti as a refreshing summer drink. 

Cucumber Mint Cooler

       
          Cucumber along with yoghurt is extremely beneficial especially during summer. It contains antioxidants, nutrients, keeps us hydrated, prevents us from heat and flushes out toxins from our body. As cucumber also contains a fair amount of water and fibre, it is low in calories, helps in weight loss and lowers blood sugar too. 

          So how about a summer cooler with some mint leaves thrown in, for a refreshing drink? Add a pinch of pepper powder, salt and roasted cumin powder to it and you have a yummy healthy drink to be enjoyed as and when desired.

• 1 cup yogurt (serves 2)
• 1 cucumber, roughly chopped
• 8-10 mint leaves
• salt to taste
• pinch of roasted cumin powder
• pinch of pepper powder
• pinch of sugar
• few drops of lime juice (opt)

          Blend all the above ingredients to a smooth puree and refrigerate for a couple of minutes. Pour into individual glasses / small earthen pots and enjoy chilled for a refreshing drink.

Strawberry Yogurt Smoothie

          Strawberry contains a lot of minerals, nutrients, vitamins, dietary fibre and antioxidants. So this small pretty fruit has a lot of health benefits for our body. On the other hand, yogurt aids in digestion, treats an upset stomach and has a cooling effect on our body, especially during summers. 

           So the combination of both these superfoods in the form of a smoothie does wonders and is worth a try. It is both low in calorie and fat. This yummy, creamy and delicious drink can be dished out in a ziffy and can be enjoyed for a nutritious and healthy breakfast or anytime of the day. 

• 3-4 strawberries
• 1 cup yoghurt
• 2 tbsp. brown sugar or to taste
• pinch of cardamom powder
• 1 tsp. rose water
• sliced strawberry, mint leaf & chopped pistachios to garnish

          Blend together all the ingredients in a mixi jar and refrigerate for a couple of minutes. 

          Garnish with sliced strawberry, mint leaf and chopped pistachios. 

          Serve chilled in individual glasses.

Mango Chia Pudding / Dessert

          Chia seeds are a powerhouse of fiber, calcium, protein, healthy fats, antioxidants, etc. You can easily make simple and delicious desserts with it without any effort. Today I incorporated it with mango puree and milk and made this amazing & yummy pudding for an after-meal dessert. You can just mix and match and add any of your favorite fruit / flavor to these seeds and dish out healthy desserts / pudding for your family and friends. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare it. 

• 2 cups full fat milk
• 2 cups mango puree
• 4 tbsp. chia seeds
• 1/4 tsp. cardamom powder
• 1 tsp. rose water
• 2-3 tbsp. raisins
• almonds & cashew nuts to garnish
• pinch of saffron

           Blend together milk, mango puree, cardamom powder and rose water. In a bowl, mix together chia seeds, the blended smoothie and the raisins (save some to garnish).

          Refrigerate overnight. To serve, spoon into individual bowls / glasses and garnish with remaining raisins, almonds, cashews and saffron. Enjoy just as it is or as an after-meal dessert.

                                  Chia Seeds....

                                Blend milk, mango puree, cardamom powder & rose water.

                                 In a bowl, mix together chia seeds, blended smoothie 

                                 & raisins (save some to garnish). Refrigerate overnight. 

                Garnish with remaining raisins, almonds, cashews & saffron. Enjoy just as it
                is or as an after-meal dessert.

Strawberry Lassi

          This is a delicious Strawberry Lassi with a twist. As I love creating something different to the same old traditional recipes, Here is my take - I added some crumbled store bought milk pedas to give a thick and creamy texture to the finished product. It turned out simply yummy with a slight hint and flavor coming from the cardamom powder and rose water.

• 1 & 1/2 cups yoghurt
• 1 cup strawberry puree (frozen or fresh)
• 2 pedas, crumbled
• sugar to taste
• 1/4 tsp. cardamom powder
• 1 tsp. rose water
• 1/2 cup water (opt)
• 1/2 cup milk 
• fresh strawberries and mint leaves to garnish (opt)

          Blend together all the above mentioned ingredients (except fresh strawberries and mint) to a smooth puree. 

          Pour into glasses and serve, garnished with fresh strawberries and mint.