Zesty Jaljeera Recipe

Zesty Jaljeera Recipe

Z for Zesty Jaljeera Recipe! And I really need one today. The #BlogchatterA2ZChallenge-done and dusted! Phew!

A glass of chilled Jaljeera on a hot summer day is very refreshing. It is a traditional Indian summer drink with health benefits. Jal jeera means ‘cumin water’ but there are more cooling ingredients than just roasted and powdered cumin in it. Zesty Jaljeera Recipe is surely zesty.

Flavour of Spices

The unique flavour in the jaljeera powder is an amalgamation of spices. Roasted cumin,  amchur(mango powder) and black salt are ground to a fine powder. They are added to a paste of fresh mint and coriander leaves. Fresh mint and coriander leaves give it an invigorating fragrance and flavour. Traditionally, tamarind is used to make jaljeera but I prefer fresh lemon juice. Have you sniffed roasted cumin or jeera?  Just roast some cumin on a griddle till the aroma floats. Powder it with a rolling pin when it is still warm. The aroma is heady.

Summer Cooler

This summer cooler is minty and flavourful, a lot zesty and tangy. North India, it is served as a digestive drink or appetiser. In Delhi, during summer there are vendors selling jaljeera in earthen pots and they have bunches of flavourful fresh mint and lemon wedges over the top. It is difficult to resist when you are tired from shopping all day.

The coolest part is that it is safe for diabetics who cannot have sweetened drinks. They have few options to quench their thirst. They can drink this in summer as there is no sugar. This Zesty Jaljeera Recipe is an ideal appetiser. There are many Jeera drinks in the market but they have added sugar and preservatives. Make a jar of this powder and pour yourself a drink every time you need to feel invigorated.

 Zesty Jaljeera Recipe

INGREDIENTS

2 tsp Cumin Seeds roasted

1 tsp Amchur or dry mango powder

2 lemon slices for garnish

2 tbsp fresh mint leaves

Fresh coriander leaves

2 tbsp Lemon juice

Ice cubes as required

Soda 1/2 litre optional

½ tsp black salt or normal salt

Pinch of sugar…optional

METHOD

Firstly, pound the cumin seeds, black salt and amchur in a mixer or manually in a mortar with a pestle.

The mortar is always preferable.

 For the cumin powder, I follow my mom’s method.

Roast the cumin on a griddle till the aroma wafts in the air or it is golden brown.

Now,  transfer the roasted hot cumin or jeera to the countertop.

Next,  roll the rolling pin over it a couple of times and you get the best fresh cumin powder

Grind the mint and coriander leaves with a little water into a smooth paste. Transfer into a bowl and add lemon juice and pounded masala, salt and water. Mix well and strain the mixture.

Drop ice cubes in a tall glass. Add a cup of the jaljeera concentrate and top it up with soda or chilled water.

Serve Jaljeera immediately, garnished with a slice of lemon, mint or even a little grated raw mango.

Summer Drinks

You cannot finish the whole summer on one drink as variety should always be there. Another sugar-free drink is – Butter Milk

 Aam Panna, Mango Mojito,  Ice Apple Sherbet, Mango Mint Iced Tea, Watermelon, ice apple Mocktail, Pomegranate Iced Tea, Lychee Mojito 

I am participating in #BlogchatterA2Z  by @ Blogchatter 2022

If you haven’t checked out my theme for A2Z 2022, then do check it out here.

My A post is  Ambrosial Pineapple Cream Pudding.  B post is Strawberry Biscuit Pudding.  C is Chana Dal or tadka Dal, D for Thandai Drink, E for How to eat a juicy Mango, F for Frittata, G for Godh Bharai, H for  Homemade Kulfi, I for Mango Icecream, J for watermelon Juice, K for Matar Kulcha, L for Lazy summer days, M for Munjalu, Palm fruit or Ice Apple, N for Natural Munjalu or Ice Apple Sherbet, O for Offbeat Destination Bhopal, P for Shoppers Paradise-Dilli Haat, Q for 10 Quintessential ways to get cooking without sweating, R for Ram Ladoo, S for Sustainable Travel, T for The Lucknow Heritage Trail, U for Understanding Hereditary and genetic factors in Mental health, V for Velvety Mango Sago Floats, W for The Lucknow Food Walk, X or Xtra Heavenly Mango desserts, Y for Dahi Papdi or Yoghurt Wafer Chaat.