Nimbu Pani and Shikanji are the Indian variants of lemonade or limeade made with contemporary lemon juice, water, sugar, salt and optionally a couple of floor spices. When the solar is fierce and the climate is scorching, I flip to Nimbu Pani or Shikanji to chill me down. These quick and easy-to-make drinks are rehydrating, refreshing and offered by avenue distributors and made at dwelling.
About Nimbu Pani
When your physique is overheated, ingesting HFCS-laden colas does nothing to assist. As an alternative, you must flip to naturally cooling drinks like coconut water, kokum juice, and nimbu pani. Translated, nimbu pani merely means “lemon/lime water,” or in frequent parlance, lemonade or limeade!
It appears there may be some model of lemon or limeade out there in each nation; right here, ours is named both Nimbu Pani within the western Indian states or Shikanji in North India. Making this wholesome and cooling drink is fast and cheap, requiring only a few pantry substances like lemon juice, salt and sugar.
What offers this lemonade a very Indian aptitude is the addition of salt. To really be an Indian lemonade, we should use kala namak, also called black salt. In contrast to desk salt, kala namak is deeply flavorful; it someway manages to be concurrently bitter and salty. Black salt can be touted as a cooling salt in Ayurveda as a result of it helps to manage physique temperature.
Salty lemonade might sound unusual, however right here it’s fairly frequent. In actual fact, many individuals in India desire their nimbu pani with out any sweetener. (We personally desire so as to add sugar or powdered jaggery to stability out the flavour.) The salt is especially refreshing when you find yourself dehydrated – sodium is without doubt one of the electrolytes that’s most rapidly depleted via sweat.
I additionally like so as to add spices like cumin powder and chaat masala, each of that are recognized for his or her digestive properties. Apart from being good for the abdomen, these spices add a depth of taste to the nimbu pani.
Whereas it’s completely non-obligatory, I typically additionally like so as to add Sabja (sweet basil) seeds. Often known as falooda or tukmaria seeds, these little gems have a stunning perfume. In addition they have some large well being advantages, together with aiding in digestion, being cooling in nature and having each antioxidant and antiviral properties.
When soaked in liquid, they take up water and swell like chia seeds. Sabja seeds are added to many cooling drinks like this nimbu pani, or Falooda and sherbet. I really like how they add a little bit of texture and chunk to the lemonade.
To make use of, soak in water for about half-hour prior to make use of. Drain the water utilizing a nice strainer, then add 1 to 2 tablespoons of the cooling sabja seeds to your glass of lemonade. Combine and serve.
About Shikanji
This citrusy drink can be recognized by the title Shikanji in North India. As with nearly all recipes, there are numerous variations that abound – many individuals add ginger juice, mint juice and even soda water (glowing water) to their shikanji.
Shikanji (or shikanjvi, as we name it at dwelling) is a well-known and conventional lemonade of North India and Pakistan. It’s a summer time cooler that we wish to make in bulk and hold within the fridge.
When it’s swelteringly scorching exterior, there may be truthfully nothing higher to gulp than shikanji! It’s refreshing, loaded with vitamin C and excellent for rehydrating a sun-weary physique.
What’s the Distinction Between Shikanji and Nimbu Pani?
While dwelling in Delhi, I’d see so many shikanji stalls within the summers. In Mumbai, I’d see stalls promoting nimbu pani. So far as I’m involved, these are simply two names for a similar drink. Relying on the place you’re from, there are additionally doubtless some small variations within the floor spices added.
The recipe right here is the best way we make it at dwelling: all you want is contemporary lemon (or lime) juice, sugar, black salt and water. Generally I additionally add a touch of roasted cumin powder or chaat masala for an additional dose of taste. Some individuals additionally desire to make use of premade shikanji masala that’s out there within the shops.
I supply two variations on the essential Indian lemonade recipe beneath, although you must be at liberty to experiment and discover your individual favourite twist.
The best way to Make Nimbu Pani
1. In a glass jar or a bowl, add 4 cups chilly or room temperature water.
Halve 2 small to medium-sized lemons or 3 small limes. Place them in a lemon press and squeeze the lemon juice into the water.
TIP: To get essentially the most juice out of your citrus, I like to recommend giving it a agency roll on the countertop for 15 to twenty seconds earlier than halving.
2. Add 6 to eight tablespoons of the sweetener of your selection; I used uncooked sugar, however white sugar, brown sugar, coconut sugar, honey or jaggery can all be used as effectively. Every will give a particular style, so discover what you want greatest!
First, add 6 tablespoons sugar and stir till all sugar is dissolved. Do a style take a look at and add 1 to 2 tablespoons sugar or extra if required.
3. Add ½ teaspoon roasted cumin powder.
4. Add ¼ teaspoon of black pepper or white pepper powder. That is non-obligatory.
5. Add ½ to 1 teaspoon of chaat masala powder (or as required) to present some zing to your nimbu pani.
6. Add ¼ teaspoon black salt. When you can substitute common salt, the black salt offers a particular sulphurous style which pairs properly with the flavors of lemon.
7. Stir effectively.
8. Serve nimbu pani in tall glasses garnished with mint leaves. Add few ice cubes, in case you desire. Sprinkle with some additional chaat masala in case you like. Get pleasure from!
The best way to Make Shikanji
1. Add 4 cups of water to a bowl or jar. Squeeze the juice straight from 2 lemons or 3 limes into the water.
2. Add 6 to eight tablespoons of uncooked sugar or white sugar and ¼ teaspoon of black salt or common salt.
3. Optionally add ½ teaspoon roasted cumin powder. Stir until the sugar dissolves. Verify the style and if wanted add extra sugar.
4. Pour the shikanji in glasses. Be happy so as to add soaked candy basil seeds in case you like. Add ice cubes, garnish with mint and serve. Get pleasure from!
You too can make the shikanji and chill within the fridge after which serve.
FAQs
Completely! When the climate is swelteringly scorching, I extremely advocate you make a giant pitcher to maintain in your fridge. Ready Indian lemonade will final for as much as 2 to three days underneath refrigeration. Any leftovers may be frozen into ice cubes or popsicles.
That, my associates, is completely as much as you! Each lemon and lime are scrumptious.
Sure! Simply notice that I don’t advocate making a big batch prematurely in case you go for this technique, as the glint and champagne tends to fade over time.
In case you are brief on house, you may make a concentrated model of this refreshing beverage by solely including a single cup of water to the combo. If you end up able to drink, use 1 half focus to three components water or seltzer.
Extra Cooling Drinks!
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By Dassana Amit
Nimbu Pani and Shikanji are the Indian variations of lemonade or limeade made with contemporary lemon juice, water, sugar, salt and optionally a couple of floor spices.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Prepare dinner Time 0 minutes
Whole Time 5 minutes
Servings 3
Models
Forestall your display screen from going darkish whereas making the recipe
This Nimbu Pani put up from the archives (Could 2013) has been republished and up to date on 18 September 2021.
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