The hot and humid climate in most parts of India during summer makes it imperative to keep oneself hydrated and active all the time. The sweltering heat can be very exhausting and suck out all the energy from your body. At such times, it is always recommended to avoid consuming heat-producing acidic foods and spicy, greasy items. Deep-fried fritters, fiery curries with loads of spices and meat-intensive meals can increase the heat generated by the body and lead to stomach-related problems of indigestion, dehydration and more.
Since peak summers are here, you must have already started churning out that lemon juice to make the classic nimbu paani at home, right? There are some who rely more on squash and Rooh afza to satiate their sweet tooth. Although there are plenty of sugary drinks in the market, it is best to avoid them and make something refreshing for yourself at home. Aam panna is another such quintessential summer drink that has won hearts for years. Summers means the season of mangoes and it isn’t just the mango shake that people are drinking. There’s a light beverage called aam panna that is perfect for the weather.
Made with green mangoes that are usually tart in taste, they a rrive during the beginning of the season and are used for making pickles too. However, this homechef has a slightly tangy take on the drink. @thepinkapron shares her delicious recipe of Imli Panna with us and we are delighted.
Did you know that imli aka tamarind comes with a lot of benefits? The tangy tropical fruit has a sweet and sour flavour and is usually used in pastes and juices. Tamarind consists of a lot of antioxidants and is good for improving heart health too. It aids in regulating blood sugar and has anti-inflammatory properties too. This ingredient is commonly used in Carribean and Asian cooking. In fact, in South India, tamarind is a common source of souring agent used in dishes like sambhar.
Source: Slurrp HT/Instagram
Here’s the detailed recipe for you to try at home.
Imli Panna
Ingredients
- Coriander and Mint leaves
- Ginger 1 tbsp
- Jaggery 1/4 cup
- Tamarind water 1/4 cup
- Water 1/2 cup
- Salt 1/2 tsp
- Cumin 1 tsp
- Black salt 1/2 tsp
- Mint leaves for garnish
- Ice cubes
- Crispy boondi for garnish
Method
- To begin making the tangy drink, add some coriander and mint leaves to a blender.
- Then, add jaggery and peeled ginger to it. Sprinkle a pinch of salt with some cumin and black salt.
- To this, pour in some prepared tamarind water or imli ka paani. This is made by soaking tamarind in water for a couple of hours. This adds the tanginess to the beverage.
- After this, pour some regular water and blend it all together.
- Take the serving glass and pop in some ice cubes. Drop in some mint leaves.
- Pour the imli panna into the glass and garnish with crispy boondi.
- Your refreshing drink is ready to be devoured.