Ragi Java

In South India during Summer season,  Ragi Java is prepared daily in homes early in the morning. A glass of Ragi Java is taken and then they proceed for work or school. It is believed that the heat impact  / sunstroke and weakness is minimized by drinking Ragi malt.

There are various methods of preparing Ragi Malt. Easy to prepare and can be done by bachelors too. Ragi flour is available in packs at your nearby retail store.

It was a big ordeal in the earlier days for washing the ragi, spreading it on a thick cloth and drying in the sun for 2 – 3 days. Later on it was powdered in the mill and then the powder was sifted prior to use. The powder would be soaked and the husk would be disposed off ( deep maroon sediment). Currently you need to go to the provision store and pick your pack. Suggest you take a small pack if your family is small.

Serves – 4

Ingredients:

Ragi flour : 4 table spoon

Butter milk : 2 glasses

Water: 4 to 5 cups

Salt : to taste

Procedure for RAGI JAVA:

• Add 4 cups of water in a SS vessel and place it over flame.
• Dissolve ragi powder in ½ cup of water, mix well to avoid lumps.
• When the water boils, reduce flame and add ragi mix into boiling water.
• Keep on stirring till the preparation becomes thick, Add salt to it.
• Note: The mix will get burnt at the bottom of vessel if high flame is maintained.
• Take off flame and leave it to cool.
• Add butter milk and mix well.
• Ragi Java is ready to drink. Serve into glasses and ensure they drink it.

Nourishing drink during hot summers. Consume ragi java and then plan a day out , you will not feel tired with the scorch heat.

If your kids dislike the salty taste you can follow this option of sweet Ragi Java:

Procedure for RAGI JAVA (Sweet variety) :

• Add 4 cups of water in a SS vessel and place it over flame.
• Dissolve ragi powder in ½ cup of water, mix well to avoid lumps.
• When the water boils, reduce flame and add ragi mix into boiling water.
• Add 2 cups of milk and 4 table spoons of sugar , maintain medium flame.
• Keep on stirring till the preparation becomes semi thick
• Note: The mix will get burnt at the bottom of vessel if high flame is maintained and not stirred continuously.
• Take off flame and leave it to cool.
• Refrigerate for 15 mins .(optional)
• Ragi Java- sweet variety is ready to drink. Serve into glasses.

A surprise for your kids this summer.

You can add flavors to it by adding sliced mango, blended mango or any other fruit .

Quick tips:

For ease you can commonly make the malt and pour it into two containers. In one container add buttermilk and salt and in the other boiled milk and sugar. Your effort and time will be balanced.

In rural homes people have ragi java with ganji / kanji i.e water drained after rice is cooked in an open vessel and salt is added for taste.

Basically Sharjah Milk Shake is a native cooling drink of the gulf. As Indians have migrated to and fro, they have also imbibed the eating habits of the places they visit. Probably the main reason for its huge popularity in Southern India.

Serves -4

Ingredients:

Ripe banana : 2 ( small yellow variety that is soft inside)

Milk: ½ litre (boiled, cooled and frozen)

Malt powder- Boost / Bournvita  : 4 spoons

Sugar  : 2 spoons ( Optional honey 2 tspns)

Cashew  / Soaked and peeled Almonds : 6 nos ( break into pieces)

Ice cubes: 8 nos (to maintain consistency)

Procedure for SHARJAH MILK SHAKE:

• Peel and slice banana into small slices.

• Crush frozen milk into small pieces. Use a knife to cut the milk cubes.

• In a mixer, add banana slices and crushed milk cubes.

• Top it with Boost / Bournvita , sugar, cashew / almonds and ice cubes.

• Hold the mixer lid tight and run the mixer for a few seconds initially to avoid the rattling sound of ice cubes. Safe for the mixer blades too.

• After one or two runs (or inches as normally mentioned for a mixer) , blend the contents well to form a smooth paste.

• Transfer quantity into serving glasses.

This is a nourishing health drink. Children who dislike banana or keep away from milk will ask for more. Moms better watch out…they may snatch your glass too.

You can keep it plain and avoid cashew / almonds. If there are family members who are having diabetes issue, serve them only a few spoons.

Ice cream soda recipe

Kids are gonna love Ice cream soda. It can be made instantly. Go ahead and have fun.

Serves -4

Ingredients:

Coke / Cocacola : ½ litre bottle(chilled)

Ice cream :  150 gms ( any flavor)

Procedure for Ice Cream Soda:

• Take 4 tall wide glasses.

• Serve 2 ice cream scoops in each glass.

• Now dispense cococola upto ¾ th level of the glass.

• There will be a hissing noise as the Carbondioxide gets released with vapors.

• The bubbly drink is great to have. Use a spoon to mix and drink or use a wide straw.

• Watch out for spills to avoid sticky feeling. You can decorate with sliced lime or fruits and make it look attractive.

Hey…Didn’t I say this is an instant drink. Have fun this summer experimenting various recipes to keep you cool.

I tasted this in a kids party and enjoyed the taste . I got the recipe for all of you.

Pudina pani

Vendors place Pudina pani stalls at prime places which attracts shoppers and the passer-bys. If you are health conscious and not comfortable drinking from the road side vendors , you can as well prepare this delicious drink at home and serve the family.

Pudina pani is a healthy summer coolant. You can also use drinking water stored in earthern pots if you want to avoid crushed ice cubes.

For making 3 large glasses of Pudina pani.

Ingredients:

Pudina leaves ( Mint leaves): ½ cup

Fresh Ginger: 2 “ piece

Drinking water : 2 cups

Lemon: 2 nos (extract juice)

Sugar: 5 tspns

Black salt ( Kala namak) :1 tspn – crushed

Chaat masala: 1 tspn ( recommend Everest brand, I always use this Chaat masala)

Cumin seeds ( Jeera) : ¾ tspn ( roasted and powdered)

For garnishing :

lemon slices -3 nos

5 to 6 mint leaves

crushed ice cubes-3/4 cup

Procedure for Pudina pani:

• Wash Mint leaves and drain all water.

• Grind mint leaves and ginger in a grinder along with 1 cup of water.

• Strain the juice thru’ a fine mesh filter , this will keep off all fibers.

• Transfer the filtered juice into a large jug.

• Add all the remaining ingredients. Mix well and check for the level of sweetness and taste.

• Chill this for 30 minutes prior to serving.

• Serve into tall serving glasses.

• Garnish with lime slices and 1 or 2 mint leaves and add some crushed ice cubes into each glass.

You family will be amazed to have the healthy drink at home and will also appreciate your efforts in hot summer.

Green Mango drink

The preparation is easy too. Quench your thirst with Green Mango drink. Follow this quick and easy recipe , you can certainly give it a try.

Ingredients:

Unripe green mango: 3 nos

1 tsp dry roasted cumin seeds( Jeera)

½ tsp red chilli powder

¼ cup mint leaves finely chopped

6 tsp Sugar

Ice cubes ½ cup crushed

Chilled water : 2 cups

Procedure for Green Mango drink:

• Wash green unripe mangoes.

• Heat water in a small pan. Add  unripe mangoes into water.

• Close the lid, reduce flame and allow to boil for 10 minutes.

• Switch off flame, drain water and allow the mangoes to cool.

• When cool, peel the mango skin and remove the pulp with a steel spoon into a bowl.

• When the pulp is collected completely, add cumin seed powder, red chilli powder, sugar and salt .

• Beat this pulp and mixture with a fork. Use a blender for thorough mix.

• Add the chopped mint and mix again. Add crushed ice cubes and chilled water.

• Take a large serving jug and shift the mixture from one beaker to the bowl.

Green mango drink is ready to be served. Sure your family is going to appreciate the summer special drink.

Further reading: How to make Ragi Java at home and remain healthy this summer.

South Indian style of preparing Buttermilk.

For making 2 large glasses of butter milk.

Ingredients:

Curd: 1 cup

Water: 3 cups

Green chilly:1 no.

Ginger: 1 tsp (finely chopped)

Curry leaves: 1 stem (finely chopped)

Coriander leaves: 2 tsp (finely chopped)

Shallots / Small onions : 2 tsp (finely chopped) ……Optional

Salt (to taste)

Procedure for Buttermilk:

• Crush ginger and green chilly.

• In a blender add curd, water, coriander leaves, curry leaves, crushed ginger – green chilly and salt  .

• If you are opting for shallots then crush onions along with ginger and green chilly. Blend in mixer for a minute.

• If you want it cold , add chilled water or ice cubes to the mix.

• Serve into glasses.

Note: Filter and serve for children , they will not like the particles that contain in the buttermilk.

Further read easy recipes for Ragi Java and Green Mango drink and remain healthy and cool this summer.