Spicy Fruit Juice, Indian Style
Phal ka Ras Masaledar,Taja
Mamta Gupta
Indians often drink their fruit juices spiced. It is quite a refreshing way to drink fruit juices. In India, many street hawkers sell it, which is not really the safest place to drink it, because their juicer is frequently washed with tap water at best. Juice may even be diluted with this tap water. It may give you a "Delhi Belly"! Standards are however so much better now, specially in cities and good restaurants/bars.
It is quite simple to make at home. Type and quantities of fruits used depends on what you have/is in season and how many people you are serving. You can add as many or as few varieties as you wish. You can use even a single fruit. The ingredients below are only a guideline. I have used a blender, but if you have a special juicer, use that. I find it too cumbersome and it (juicer) lives in my kitchen cupboard mostly!
Ingredients
Use one or more of the following fruits
Banana, peeled and sliced roughly
Fresh pineapple, chopped
Guava flesh, seeds removed
Pear, peeled and chopped
Peach
Nectarine
Orange or grapefruit flesh, seeds removed
Water melon flesh, seeds removed
Other ingredients
1/2 tsp. per person/glass Chat Masala. Chat masala is also available from all Indian stores.
If you can't get chaat masala, use freshly ground black pepper, salt, a little garam masala and fresh lemon juice to taste.
1/4 tsp. salt per helping or to taste (black or rock salt is better).
A few mint leaves, if wanted
Instructions
Place everything in a blender and blend for 10- 15 seconds, until all fruits are pulverised.
Strain if necessary, this should not be necessary if you have peeled the fruits and removed seeds.
If it is too thick, dilute with water or a fruit juice like orange or with lemonade. If you dilute with water, you may need to add some sugar.
Adjust seasoning.
Serve chilled in tall glasses.
Optional
A couple of mint leaves per glass, placed on top of the juice.
