Summer is about to hit Qatar and the heat is going to get unbearable. My apartment gets the morning heat which during the winters is a blessing, but for now, it starts to get hot as early as seven in the morning.
The temperature in July and August reaches a scorching 45-55 degree Celsius and with the heat waves accompanying the high temperature, it is even worse.
My way of beating this extra heat is by preparing nutritious coolers, dishes made from seasonal fruits such as mangoes, watermelons, grapes et al.
These fruits help us in remaining hydrated, make our bodies cooler and even immune us from the scorching heat. It makes you feel absolutely energized after entering the house, battling the sun and heat.
Even if you don’t live in areas where the temperature never goes that high it is still good to sip on this delicious drink once in a while.
This refreshing raw mango cooler commonly known as 'Aam Panna' (in India) is a drink made using raw mangoes, fresh mint, sugar, salt and roasted cumin powder. Try it this summer and feel cool, rejuvenated like never before.
Prep Time - 5 minutes Cook Time - 30 minutes Total Time - 35 minutes
Servings - 8 people
Ingredients
1/2 kg Raw Mango
1 cup Fresh Mint
1 cup Sugar
2 tsp Roasted Cumin Powder
4 tsp Black Salt
Instructions
Peel the skin of the mangoes and cut them into cubes.
Add the chopped mangoes in a pressure cooker.
Add enough water to cover them and cook till soft (One whistle on high and 2 on low).
Remove the pressure cooker from heat and let the mangoes cool down.
Transfer the mangoes in a blender along with mint leaves and blend to make smooth puree.
Add sugar, roasted cumin powder and black salt to the mango pulp and mix well.
Add 5-6 cups of water and mix well.
Chill the panna for a few hours.
Pour the panna in serving glasses.
Add some ice cubes.
Garnish with mint leaves.
Serve chilled.
Note
Choose the raw mangoes which are tart.
You can keep the skin on before boiling the mangoes. It gives a very distinct flavor to the panna.
Peeling the skin before boiling makes the process very easy.
If the panna is not very tangy, you can add some lemon juice to it.
You can strain the panna before adding spices if you do not like bits of mangoes coming in mouth.
Do give it a try and share your comments with me for the same: you liked it or not.
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