The summer season brings with it everyone's favourite sugarcane season. During the scorching afternoons, one thing that soothes the soul is sugarcane juice. This juice is available around every corner of the street throughout the season. The term "sugarcane" is derived from a combination of the Sanskrit word शर्करा (śárkarā, later sukkar from Arabic, and sucre from Middle French and Middle English) and cane, a crop grown on Caribbean plantations. Gana is the Hindi word for cane. In the early 16th century, Spanish settlers in the West Indies were the first ones to coin the name. Many types of sugar products can be processed from sugarcanes like jaggery, brown sugar, molasses and refined white sugar. Sugarcane gives you a boost of energy right away. Sugarcane sugar is quickly absorbed by the body and helps to replace sugar levels. The sugarcane juice has a low glycemic index, despite its sugar concentration. As a result, it restores the body's sugar levels while also preventing blood glucose spikes due to its low glycemic index. It is also said that sugarcane is very good for the digestive system and helps maintain the metabolism. It is one such seasonal plant that is full of nutrition and tastes delicious when tried with different recipes.
Here are a few recipes that you can try with sugarcane-
Sugarcane juice
This is not a new recipe. Sugarcane juice is a classic refreshment that is available in India throughout summer. Having a glass of chilled sugarcane juice with some mint leaves in it during the hot afternoon is a feeling that cannot be described. The juice energises you instantly and gives you a sugar rush with every sip.
Lemon chicken with sugarcane syrup
For all the non-vegetarians, lemon chicken is a perfect evening snack that gives a tangy and zesty flavour with every bite. If you want to amp up the tanginess of the chicken, add some sugarcane juice to the recipe and wait for the magic to happen. Sugarcane juice adds sweetness to the tangy lemon chicken. Make the lemon chicken in the usual way, using spices and lemon juice. Pour in some sugarcane juice at the end to round out the flavour of this light chicken recipe.
Sugarcane sorbet
Ditch the usual ice candies and try this sugarcane sorbet. All you have to do is mix the sugarcane juice with some mint leaves, lemon juice and 1 teaspoon of ginger juice. Blend it well and freeze the liquid in a container overnight. Later, churn the frozen liquid until it becomes a little slushy. Pour it into small bowls and enjoy the icy cold sugarcane juice with every bite.
Sugarcane kheer
You must have heard about chawal ki kheer, and carrot kheer but sugarcane kheer is a new yet unusual recipe. Ganne ki kheer is a sweet blend of rice and sugarcane juice that is cooked together and complements each other's flavour. You can top it up with some dry fruits and seeds to add an extra touch to it.