"Chilled Amla (Avalo/ Gooseberry/ Nellikayi) Panak (Spiced Coolant)" along with some Bajjile Ghare Happolu (Roasted Jackfruit papad) to munch on ... Today all mothers are busy doing goodies for their children and children are busy pleasing their mothers .., the heat is too much both outside and in the kitchen ... So, take a break and enjoy this chilled panak to get energized ... Yummilicious ……
** Panak is a delicious khatHa meetHa teekHa ie tangy sweet spicy drink prepared with jaggery/goda and spices with addition of lemon/nimbu juice and served chilled during festive times in temples or pendals where Idols are installed marking any festive celebrations. I have added both traditional and a few variations of the same done by me before here in my blog. This is a drink I grew up drinking at festivals in temples and I simply loved its spicy and tangy taste. After marriage and settling in Thane, outskirts of Mumbai, Panak was rarely savored as here they serve the same only during Ganeshotsav Celebrations at Kings Circle, which was not the same as that served in Mangalore. So I learned to prepare this delicious drink called panak from scratch as Naivedyam to God on festive days and I written about it in my different post many times. As I mentioned before too, traditionally it was prepared only with jaggery, spices, lemon with a strong dose of dry ginger, but I began my own variations by addition of fruit juices to make it healthier and also to add on varities. I will be sharing a common link to panak below at the bottom of this recipe where in you will find them all and you may choose that which appeals to you.
** A few weeks back I had posted the one I prepared with Betel Leaves (Podipana)~Cashew Apple Fruit (Kaju) which was very tasty. Today I have prepared using Amla ie Gooseberry/Nellikayi and it tastes really awesome. I had lots of Amla in fridge which were getting discolored and that which I had to consume fast, so I prepared panak out of the whole lot, keeping the consistency thick and relished it week long by adding on some chilled water while serving. Amla is loaded with Vitamin C which is essential for our body specially during summer season, when due to increase in the temperature you tend to sweat out a lot. Addition of lemon also increases its level of Vitamin C and on the whole the drink turns out to be one healthy drink that is sure to replace lost nutrients of the body. Its holidays for children now and they are always hopping around indoors and outdoors playing out in the sun and coming home drenched in sweat and tired. They are habituated to cold aerated drinks which is absolutely disastrous for growing children. Keep drinks like these ready and make them and also their friends drink it and develop in them good habits for lifetime.
** Here is my simple recipe for "Chilled Amla (Avalo/ Gooseberry/ Nellikayi) Panak (Spiced Coolant)" …. My own style …
** Clean, wash about 12-15 large sized Amla/Avalo/Gooseberry/Nellikayi. Put them into a pressure cooker pan with about 2 cups and pressure cook on medium heat for 3-4 whistles. Keep it aside and let it come to room temperature. Remove and let cool completely, before removing all fleshy portion out of the amlas, discarding the seed.
** Put the edible portion into a mixer grinder along with 300-400 gms of grated jaggery (goda/bella), 2-3 tblsp of pepper (miri) powder, 2 tblsp of dry ginger (shunti) powder and grind to a very smooth paste with water. Use the cooked amla water for grinding and see to it that it has been ground to a very smooth paste.
** Once done add in about 2-3 cups of water and using the pulse mode mix all again together in mixer. Remove and strain the juice through a muslin/cotton cloth. Put the remaining residue collected in the cloth back into the mixer grinder again and grind with another cup or two of water, then add in another 2 cups of water and pulse all together.
** Remove and once again strain in similar way as above adding it to the previous strained juice. In all you will get about 1 to 1.5 litres of juice out of this. Now add in about 4-5 freshly squeezed lemon juice along with ½ to 1 tsp of cardamom (yellu/ellaichi) powder and mix well. Put the prepared panak in fridge overnight to chill.
** "Chilled Amla (Avalo/ Gooseberry/ Nellikayi) Panak (Spiced Coolant)" is done and ready to be served. This can be offered as Naivedyam to God also, specially so during Rama Navami and Krishna Janamshtami as per the tradition and then distributed among family and friends. Tastes best when served chilled in tall glasses with a few ice cubes added on.
** Definitely a lovely coolant that is healthy too with addition amla which is a source of Vitamin C having lots of healthy properties. Do try this out as amla are available almost everywhere in India and in outside countries too. Do make it a habit of consuming homemade drinks than serving the colas as they are very harmful for health especially with growing children.
** Note : Again, check the consistency and the sweetness level of the panak and add in water if needed. At times I make panak into very thick consistency as storing in refrigerator becomes easier and add on some ice cubes or some chilled water while serving. The above measurements is assured to give you a very tasty-spicy panak which is sure to be loved by one and all.
** Note : Addition of jaggery depends on individual taste, you can increase or decrease the same. You can also add in a pinch of salt to enhance the taste, I have not as I am all for consumption of less salt as it is not good for overall health. Same is also the case of pepper powder and dry ginger powder, you can adjust as per your liking. But this drink is strong in taste and should sting the tongue when relishing to enjoy it the best, so do try it in the given measurements and then make changes as per your desire.
** Given below is the common link for several recipes of “Panak”, please go through the link and choose that which you would love to try and enjoy with your family and friends …
** An Earnest Request : There are many more recipes of different types in the blog. For all my Recipes, use the search option or the label section in the Blog. If you are still not able to find it or have a query, please leave a message in comment section or mail me the same. I will try my best to get back to you as soon as possible. Do try out various types of dishes included in the Blog and Enjoy them with your family and friends and do give me a feedback if possible.
** I am happy to inform you that I have also started a food group for by the name "KONKANI DELICACIES" which is over and year old, with about 19K strong members. It is a pleasure to inform that you will find in the group many more recipes posted by our expert members and you too can share some of your own. The link to the group is posted on the left side of the blog page. Do join us in our culinary journey. I strongly believe in Sharing and always endorse that "Sharing Is Caring" … Thank You ….
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