Drinks which provide a cooling effect are a must have for the festival of Holi. They nourish you and help in keeping the body hydrated while you loose out on energy roaming around all day.
And even if you don’t, its great to indulge yourself in a festive mood.
Here are few drinks which can be easily made at home for Holi…..
Thandai– One of the most liked and famous drink which is super tasty and delicious for holi as a drink. Soak 1/3 cup almonds, 2tbsp melon seeds and 1tbsp khus khus(poppy seeds) for 2-3 hours. Boil 1 and 1/2 litres of milk and add sugar to it, once the sugar dissolves switch off the gas and let it cool.
In a bowl take peeled almonds, melon and poppy seeds, 2tbsp cashew nut, 2 tsp fennel seeds, 5 cardamom, 3tsp black peppercorns and grind with little water to make a smooth paste. Mix this paste to the milk and leave for half n hour. Strain after that, add saffron strands and died rose petals or rose essence to the milk and refrigerate till chilled. If you do not want to strain then you can skip this step.
Sweet Lassi– In a grinder take few cardamom and crush them to make a fine powder. In a bowl take 2 cups chilled yogurt and whisk it till it becomes smooth. To this add sugar and 2 cups chilled water or chilled milk. Now churn or whisk everything together till sugar dissolves. Add cardamom powder and few saffron strands. If you do not have saffron then adding 2tsp rose water is also good. Add ice cubes and Whisk once again. You can add fresh cream while serving the lassi.
Kanji– This recipe is super easy. Take 5 fresh black carrots and cut them to fine small pieces. In a jar put these pieces and add 1 tsp small rai, black salt, a pinch of hing, 5 crushed peppercorns and add a litre water to this. Mix well and keep in a hot place to ferment. You can also keep it in sunlight to speed up the process. It will be ready in 4 or 5 days to consume. It is a tangy drink and very appetizing and healthy.
Rose Milk– For Rose milk keep the milk in freezer for some time, and when you are ready for preparation, take it out and put it into a mixer jar, to one cup of milk add 3 tbsp rose syrup, 1 tsp almond paste or fresh cream if you like a thick flavor and blend. If you find the almond or the cream too heavy then leave it. Rose milk is ready, garnish with rose petals. While making for kids, you can add a scoop of vanilla or strawberry ice cream too. For making rose syrup at home follow the insert link.
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Image reference: pinterest
