Thursday 14 May 2015

Delicious summer drink recipes

Try these thirst quenching drinks

Indian food is probably the last thing we’d associate with a healthy, nutritious diet, but Mira Manek has her heart set on changing that perception. The avid blogger who is set to revolutionize Indian cooking with her debut cook book ‘Green Daal Stories’, out later this year, says that her Gujarati vegetarian dishes aren’t just vibrant, tasty and nutritious, they’re also incredibly easy to make. Mira has taken the blogosphere by storm with her popular foodie blog @miramanek www.miramanek.co.uk where she posts regular fusion recipes, concocting Western and Indian influences to create a unique dining experience.

HEALTHY DRINK RECIPES TO SPICE UP YOUR SUMMER BY MIRA MANEK:

Fennel Cooler:At home, we’ve always chewed on fennel seeds after a meal but I’d never really wondered why. It was just something we did, as many Indians do. But there is of course a purpose to every herb and spice in the Indian kitchen. Fennel helps to stimulate the digestion, reduce acid reflux and maintain fresh breath - the perfect thing to mellow all those strong Indian flavours. And fennel has a distinct flavour, which I absolutely love. Its cooling qualities make it the perfect thing for the hotter months. And fennel powder in a drink – well there’s nothing quite like it in the summer. So refreshing and healthy you’ll be asking for seconds.

Chai Ice: Summer or winter, I always love a cup of strong chai, but sometimes, when it’s hot outside and you want something cooling yet rich and decadent, why not make a cup of chilled chai. Keeping ice cubes ready in the freezer means you can serve up this summer delight to anyone without any preparation or make it for yourself without all the effort grating the ginger and boiling the tea each time. Just pour almond milk over the ice cubes and keep a few stylish glasses ready. The cubes will work their magic within minutes, as they start melting and the milk becomes infused with the powerful tea, a kick of ginger, hints of spices and a warming sweetness. Delightfully healthy yet gloriously rich. And the more the ice cubes the better!

Saffron Summer: The balance of lime and sweet is just as important in this drink as saffron. This is refreshing, cooling and luxurious all at once. I try to use up all those chewy bits of lime so there’s a real tanginess and variation in texture. The saffron has been lightly toasted so that the broken strands can be left inside and swallowed – if using neat saffron then strain before drinking.

Indian Lime: Drinking or eating something freshly made by a street vendor, as authentic as it gets, has its own winning flavour and charm. The experience simply cannot be replicated. I’ve often walked past the man making nimbu pani on the street in India – refreshing freshly mixed sweet lime water with their own tangy masala mix. But since it’s made using local water rather than the bottled water we can drink, I’ve never indulged in this. The general rule is, anything cooked is fine. So I’ve come up with the perfect lemonade for the summer, but with a real punch, a hint of cumin, which adds a delicious zest to the drink. But rather than lemons, this drink is all about limes.  

Cardamom Chia: This smooth and creamy cardamom drink is an impressive dessert, to be savoured with a spoon or a small straw. Made with blended cashews and sweetened with dates, it is as nourishing as it is filling. The chia seeds offer a layer of texture along with a whole array of health benefits. And the touch of cardamom and saffron transform the taste entirely, lending intensity of flavour and delicious decadence.

Masala Chia-ccino: An iced coffee muddled with chia seeds, thickened slightly with cashews and spiced with cardamom and cinnamon, this is great to serve at summer lunches and picnics. You can have this as a drink or as a dessert pudding.

 

Article Health & Fitness May 14, 2015 via Featured Articles Read This...

No comments:

Post a Comment