Aam Panna is a refreshing Indian summer cooler.Come summers and I keep a jar of this concentrate in the frig.I just have to add some chilled water , roasted cumin and mint and the drink is ready.The drink is made with raw mangoes and is a good digestive.The Indian summer heat is terrible and in case one has to step out in the afternoon, the panna saves you from getting a heat stroke.
For the month of July we at Groovy Gourmets have decided to choose a non alcholic, non dairy and no lemonade from Food Gawker. This site is a treat to the eyes, mind and soul.I must have thought of 10-15 recipes, but due to some or the other reason dropped them.Finally I chose Aam Panna from Shailaja’s blog.This is a popular blog with some wonderful recipes.
I have made two versions of the Aam Panna.The first one is salty and the second one is sweet.
All these years I have had the salty version, it is recently that a friend served this sweet version and I quite relished it.Both the versions can be made from one concentrate.All I would say is do not follow the recipe blindly, as a lot depends on the variety of the mango that you use.If the mango is really sour you shall require more sugar .Do adjust the sugar accordingly.
250 gms mangoes, peeled , cubed
Sugar as required
Boil the peeled , cubed mango in a pressure cooker with minimum water.
One the pressure drops, open the cooker and add sugar.
Cook for a while till the sugar has melted and there is no water content .
This will be a mushy pulp.
Check the sugar, it should be on the sweeter side.
Cool and store in a jar.
Serving style 1
For 250 ml or 1 glass
2 tbsp panna concentrate
¼ tsp black salt
¼ tsp roasted cumin seed pwd
Few mint leaves finely chopped
Ice cubes
Water
Blend the ingredients lightly.
Garnish with mint.
Serving Style 2
For 250 ml or 1 glass
3 tbsp panna concentrate
Few strands saffron
Pinch cardamom pwd
Soak the saffron in 1tsp luke warm water
Add cardamom pwd.
Using a mortar scrub the saffron well and add to the concentrate.
Add ice and water and lightly blend.
This is a little thicker and heavier juice than the cumin one.
Both the versions are absolutely gorgeous and it is hard to decide which one to have first.Perhaps this is the reason for posting both the versions.Choose your favorite version, but make sure the drink is chilled.
Oh and I just realized that this is my 400th post!!
Oh and I just realized that this is my 400th post!!
