Last weekend it was so hot that I felt it was summer already.
I suddenly got the urge to drink all sorts of fruit juice mocktails and cocktails. One of my favorites is this watermelon cooler. Fresh watermelon juice with just a hint of mint and lemon. Try it!Watermelon Cooler
(Serves: 1)
Ingredients
1 ½ cups watermelon slices
2 slices of lime
1 pinch salt
3 mint leaves
½ tsp. sugar
Handful of ice cubes
½ tsp. sanding sugar for garnish (red or green colored)
1 lime slice for garnish
¼ cup carbonated water
Method
Put watermelon slices in a blender and process to make juice. Strain the juice (You should get about one cup of juice) and keep aside.
Put lime slices, salt and mint leaves in a cocktail shaker. Muddle it to release juices and oils from mint and lime. Add few ice cubes, sugar and watermelon juice and shake well.
Put some lime on the edge of the glass and dip it in the sanding sugar.
Put few ice cubes in the glass, fill it up with watermelon juice mixture and top it with carbonated water.
Garnish with a lime slice and serve.
Tips:
While straining watermelon juice do not push it with a spoon against the strainer otherwise you will get a muddy juice. Lightly tap the edge of the strainer instead. This way you will get a clear juice.
If you are making many drinks at a time, it is always better to use“simple sugar syrup” instead of sugar. It dissolves immediately in the drink. The drink tastes smoother and it easier for people to help themselves. To make a syrup. Mix equal quantity of water to sugar. Bring the mixture to boil, remove from heat, let cool. Do not keep boiling for a long time.
IF you do not have a cocktail shaker, you can use any vessel to make the drink. Just remember to strain it before serving.
Variations:
You can add 1 oz. of any liquor like Tequila, Vodka or Rum to this drink.
You can also add a pinch of “Chaat masala”. Chaat masala is easily available in Indian grocery stores. It is a mixture of spices like dry mango powder, pepper, salt, cumin etc. Just omit the salt in the recipe.
Put watermelon slices in a blender and process to make juice. Strain the juice (You should get about one cup of juice) and keep aside.
Put lime slices, salt and mint leaves in a cocktail shaker. Muddle it to release juices and oils from mint and lime. Add few ice cubes, sugar and watermelon juice and shake well.
Put some lime on the edge of the glass and dip it in the sanding sugar.
Put few ice cubes in the glass, fill it up with watermelon juice mixture and top it with carbonated water.
Garnish with a lime slice and serve.
Tips:
While straining watermelon juice do not push it with a spoon against the strainer otherwise you will get a muddy juice. Lightly tap the edge of the strainer instead. This way you will get a clear juice.
If you are making many drinks at a time, it is always better to use“simple sugar syrup” instead of sugar. It dissolves immediately in the drink. The drink tastes smoother and it easier for people to help themselves. To make a syrup. Mix equal quantity of water to sugar. Bring the mixture to boil, remove from heat, let cool. Do not keep boiling for a long time.
IF you do not have a cocktail shaker, you can use any vessel to make the drink. Just remember to strain it before serving.
Variations:
You can add 1 oz. of any liquor like Tequila, Vodka or Rum to this drink.
You can also add a pinch of “Chaat masala”. Chaat masala is easily available in Indian grocery stores. It is a mixture of spices like dry mango powder, pepper, salt, cumin etc. Just omit the salt in the recipe.
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