A good refreshing and chilled summer drink is what I love best about summers. I love trying out the new summer drinks that the local coffee shops and juice shops comes up with during summer and I try them all. Manish loves chilled drinks, specially with lots of crushed ice in them. I prefer with less ice, but whichever way it's served, my lil'Appu can gulp them all down ;-) We are a bunch of juice lovers in the house.
Lemonade tops the chart of all our favorite summer drinks. Who doesn't love Lemonade?
I love sweet lemonade, Manish doesn't mind the salty version either. Lemonade brings back so many memories of my college days when on hot and humid days after class, my friends and I would go down to the college canteen and drinks glass after glass of sweetened cold lemonade. It was bliss and we could literally feel the cool drink pass down our throat!
The first time when Manish and I met also we had a lemonade, so you see it brings back romantic memories as well...have I shared too much? Lol!! ;-)
Another summer item I'm crazy about are mangoes. I've lots count of how many mangoes we've eaten this summer and I love to see my lil'Appu literally relish it. I have been wanting to try a Mango Lemonade from long and finally decided to make it for lil'Appu's 3 rd birthday party. I made a small batch just enough for myself and Manish and we loved it.
I like to make a simple sugar syrup while making any fruit drinks. It makes sure there are no undissolved sugar crystals in your drink and any leftovers can be refrigerated and used later on for another drink.
I often flavor the sugar syrup with either vanilla, mint or orange/lemon rinds for a mild yet pleasant flavor which is imparted to the main drink.
You'll need
2 cups fresh Lemon juice
2 cups Mango pulp
6 cups Water
2 cups simple Sugar syrup
Plenty of Ice
Raspberries and Mint leaves for garnish
For sugar syrup
2 cups sugar
2 cups water
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
Directions
Make simple sugar syrup
In a saucepan, add sugar and water and heat it until sugar completely dissolves. Add vanilla extract and turn off the heat. Allow the sugar syrup to cool.
Mango Lemonade
In a large pitcher, pour the fresh squeezed lemon juice, mango pulp and water.
Add 1 cup sugar syrup and mix well. Stir well and refrigerate for few hours.
(Taste and add more sugar syrup if needed else more lemon juice/water)
(Taste and add more sugar syrup if needed else more lemon juice/water)
Before serving add ice, garnish with raspberries and mint leaves and serve chilled!
Notes
1. I've used store-bought sweetened Mango pulp (Swad brand), so I didn't have to use too much sugar syrup as the drink was sweet enough to my taste.
2. If using fresh mangoes, then peel the mango, scoop out the flesh, grind it into a pulp along with the lemon juice. Strain and add the remaining ingredients. In this case you may need more sugar syrup to balance the sweetness depending upon how sweet the mango is.
3. Try adding sparkling water or club soda for a fizzy drink ;-)
4. You can also add mango cubes in the lemonade along with raspberries.
3. Try adding sparkling water or club soda for a fizzy drink ;-)
4. You can also add mango cubes in the lemonade along with raspberries.
I'm sure you'll love this Mango Lemonade as mush as how we do. Try it out and let me also know how you liked it :-)
Wow lovely clicks . Refreshing drink
ReplyDeleteBeautiful drink..hard to take my eyes from ur clicks.
ReplyDeleteloved the raspberry touch,lovely :)
ReplyDeleteIts perfect for picnics and parties Manju!!! Loved the color too :)
ReplyDeleteRefreshing and delicious looking mango lemonade. Excellent preparation.
ReplyDeleteDeepa
First time here....... Looks refreshing and soothing !! Visit my space too .
ReplyDeleteooh wish it was hot enough here to justify having a glass of lemonade.. looks delicious! wish it wasn't winter in australia!
ReplyDeleteThis looks so refreshing and tasty! I love mangos :)
ReplyDeletewow refreshing and inviting lemonade...
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pictures and yes such a refreshing drink Manju :-)
ReplyDeleteRefreshing lemonade..
ReplyDeleteManju, you have managed to tempt me beyond imagination! I have fallen in love with this lemonade. So full of flavors and so unusual. Brilliant!
ReplyDeleteWhat a gorgeous looking drink! You have put together two of my favorite juices and made a beautiful lip-smacking beverage. :)
ReplyDeleteHi I like your blog and wanted to invite you to join www.recipebyday.com a directory of recipes where you just have to register your blog and appear links to your recipes for you to increase your visits. Regards and Thanks.
ReplyDelete