Shikanji ~ The Indian Lemonade
One weekend I was feeling a little low and
convinced my husband to go for lunch to a very popular Lebanese restaurant in
Abidjan. It’s a little far from our apartment and the sun was pouring lava from
the sky. I clipped my messy hair into a bun and threw in a light cotton dress.
Hubby drove the car and within half an hour we reached there. It was weekend
and the restaurant was full. The man in the reception told us to wait a bit.
And although we were standing in their lobby, where an a.c was running full
fledged, we both were starting to crave for some iced water. We got a table
after another 15 minutes, and the first thing we ordered was their very popular
lemonade.
They churn their iced chunk
of lemonade in a machine just behind the entrance and it is so fresh. One sip
of that refreshing drink...and our senses were restored again. Phew....!! It
almost felt like the hot and burning noons of Kolkata and the misery that
carried within it. No matter how many soft drinks or beverages you try...this
very classic old fashioned lemonade ceases to lose its charm.
I can remember this one
particular man who sold lemonades in a cart in College Street, where I have
tasted the best Lemonade till now. He used to sneak in half of a packet of the readymade
jaljeera with every glass and used to make the drink by shaking shaved ice,
lime juice and the syrup in a shaker, which was nothing but two steel glasses,
one pushed inside the other one at their neck. After tuition, that lemonade was
the only one element in the earth that kept us living during those summer
months.
Shikanji ~ The Indian
Lemonade
Serves 2
Ingredients:
500 ml sprite (You can also
use soda or just plain water. Use sugar as per taste if you are using soda / water)
1 tsp dry roasted and
ground cumin seeds
A few sprigs of mint
leaves
2 limes
Black salt – as per taste
Method:
Take two tall glasses and
squeeze the limes in the glasses, one for each.
Break some of the mint
leaves and rub them in your palms. Throw them inside the glass as well.
Add the roasted and ground
cumin seeds and black salt to them.
Pour in the sprite. If you
are adding soda then add sugar to it as well.
Stir all the spices and
salt with a spoon.
Throw in some crushed ice
as well.
Serve immediately.
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