Watermelon Popsicles

Jai and Bee have chosen a lovely fruit for this month’s AFAM-Watermelon. Due to its high water content (95%), summers are incomplete without watermelons…Atleast for me :) I can have watermelon for breakfast, lunch as well as for dinner in summers… I am one person who doesn’t drink much water regularly (just 2-3 glasses), but eat loads of watermelon n cucumbers in summer.. That’s the reason I can bear the summers. :D I was planning for another watermelon drink or snack, but then thought of some way which would be pleasant and inviting.. Here are lovely watermelon popsicles for AFAM Watermelon!

Watermelon Popsicles

Makes:

6 popsicles (of size of Kulfi/Ice-Candies)

What you need:

1 cup Watermelon Juice
¼ cup Sugar
¼ cup Water
1 tsp Lemon Juice
2 tsp Chaat Masala (Optional)
A pinch of Salt

How to proceed:

1) Deseed watermelon and run through blender to make juice
2) Mix sugar and water. Heat for 2-3 mins
3) Remove from heat and add the remaining ingredients to it
4) Add to kulfi moulds/ ice trays and make popsicles of desired shape n size
5) Freeze for 3-4 hrs!

* Addition of chaat masala gives it a tangy flavour.. Reminded me of the “barf ka gola” sold in India :)

Beat the heat!!!

Can there be a better way to eat watermelon on a Sunday afternoon after returning from a 5 hour long shopping streak on a rather hot day? Chilled watermelon escorted out of the fridge(deseed if you have patience), chopped into chunks of desired shape and add a bit of chaat masala, black pepper powder and black salt over it.. Aaahh… heaven! :)

Watermelon Pancakes

"Summer Fruits" is the theme for WBB#11 hosted by Padmaja. The first fruit that comes to mind thinking of summer fruits is the king of fruits-Mango! But the genuine taste of mango is best enjoyed when eaten as is! So I decided to leave the Mango all alone and move on to the next favourite summer fruit- Watermelon. (Confession: The real reason is that I didnt find Indian mangoes here:( )

Watermelon is famous as a summer fruit for its high water content. I used Watermelon to flavour up the usual pancakes that we make for breakfast. Crisp and tasty watermelon pancakes served as a tasty and appetising breakfast and different than the usual pancakes!

Watermelon Pancakes

What you need:

¼ kg Watermelon pieces (deseeded)
½ cup Plain Flour/Maida
1 Egg
4-5 tbsp Powdered Sugar
2 tbsp Milk
Oil

How to proceed:

1)Blend the watermelon pieces to juice
2)Put flour in a bowl, add sugar, egg (discard the yolk), watermelon juice and milk; mix well
3)Add more milk if required to make the batter consistent and as thick as dosa batter
4)Put oil/butter on hot girdle and pour spoonful of batter over it
5)Spread the batter in circular pattern to form thin pancakes
6)Put oil on sides/corners to make them crispy
7)When cooked on one side, flip and cook on other side.
8)Serve hot with a cuppa of tea!

Quenchy Melon Lemonade

Summer time.. Thirst.. Quench.. Quenchy.. Thats how I discovered the name of today's entry for "Q of Indian Vegetables" for Nupur's A-Z of Indian Vegetables :) Presenting "Quenchy Melon Lemonade" to quench your thirst this summer! :D

This beverage is made from watermelon and lemon juice. The sweet watermelon jucie and the tangy lemon juice gives this drink a distininctive taste!

Quenchy Melon Lemonade

What you need:

1/2 kg Watermelon Pieces
1/2 Lemon
4-5 tsp Sugar
Black Salt for taste2-3 Ice cubes


How to proceed:

1) Deseed the watermelon pieces and crush well in blender
2) Do *not* sieve the juice
3) Add juice of half lemon, salt and sugar to the watermelon juice
4) Serve chilled with ice cubes or crushed ice