A brag-worthy trait in any good host is how well he or she can whip up a good beverage. While cocktails are all the rage, we’re here to tell you that mocktails aren’t far behind. Despite missing the lure of alcohol, there’s something quite wonderful a good concoction of fresh fruit juices, delectable syrups, and a whirlpool of flavour can do to quench thirst and liven one’s mood without intoxication. There’s a widely-held misconception that mocktails are loaded with sugar and calories. On the contrary, mixing fresh fruit juices with natural sweeteners like sugar cane juice or honey is a great substitute for high-calorie drinks.
Find below a few simple and lip-smacking mocktail recipes that use seasonal fruits and syrups that are readily available. One need not have fancy equipment to blend these up, just an eye for precision and good taste.
1. Berry blush
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Serves: 4 people
Ingredients:
Dried Strawberries: 200 grams
Sugar or Honey: As per taste
Mint leaves: a handful
Black salt: 1 tsp.
Lemon: 1
Soda water and ice cubes
Method:
i. Take strawberries and rehydrate them. For this, take dried strawberries in a pan, add enough water to cover them, and simmer them for a couple of minutes.
ii. Add sugar or honey and let them simmer for another minute or two, till the strawberries are mushy. Blend them well and pass them through a sieve.
iii. Take a mortar and pestle and crush mint leaves with black salt and juice of a lemon.
iv. Mix the strawberry pulp along with the mint and lemon juice mix.
v. Divide this into four portions and top it up with soda and ice.
2. Tart in a glass
Prep Time: 45 minutes
Serves: 4 people
Ingredients:
Apples: 1
Sugar: ½ cup
Cinnamon: ½ inch stick
Apple juice: 4 cups
Lemon: 1
Salt: a pinch
Ginger ale and ice cubes
Method:
i. Wash, peel and chop the apple finely.
ii. Take sugar in a pan and put it on low flame to caramelise.
iii. Add in the stick of cinnamon. Throw in the finely chopped apple and toss well.
iv. Let this sit for about half an hour or so, till it is completely cool.
v. Blend this into a smooth paste/puree along with the cinnamon. Some water can be added if the sugar has solidified.
vi. Add in the apple juice and give it a twirl.
vii. Add the lemon juice and a pinch of salt.
viii. Pass it through a sieve. Divide into 4 portions and top it up with ginger ale and ice cubes.
ix. Serve chilled.
3. Iced tea mojito
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Serves: 4 people
Ingredients:
Lemon flavoured iced tea: 4 x 300 ml
Mint leaves: a handful
Lemon: 2
Fennel seeds: 2 tsp.
Ginger: ½ inch
Salt: ½ tsp.
Method:
i. In a bowl, crush mint leaves, fennel seeds and ginger along with lemon juice and salt. Crush them coarsely.
ii. Pour in the lemon-flavoured iced tea.
iii. Pour the iced tea along with the mint leaves into a jar. Add lots of ice and shake well.
iv. Pour the mixture into tall glasses and serve chilled.
4. Chilled rasam
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Serves: 4 people
Ingredients:
Tamarind: a small lemon-sized piece
Toor dal: 2 tbsps.
Tomato: 2 (small)
Rasam powder: 1 tsp.
Turmeric: ½ tsp.
Salt to taste
Coriander leaves: a small sprig
Asafoetida: ¼ tsp.
Ginger ale: 300 ml
Method:
i. Soak the tamarind in warm water for about half an hour.
ii. Boil the toor dal till it is soft and mushy.
iii. Grind together cooked dal and tomatoes into a smooth paste.
iv. Extract the juice of the tamarind.
v. Take a bowl and pour in the tamarind juice. Add in the dal, tomato paste, rasam powder, turmeric powder, and salt. Bring this concoction to a boil. The rasam should be watery enough. So add more water, if needed.
vi. Add in asafoetida and finely chopped coriander leaves. Simmer for a couple of minutes. After it cools, pass it through a fine sieve.
vii. Add ginger ale to the sieved rasam and serve it chilled with some ice.
5. Guava delight
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Serves: 4 people
Ingredients:
Chilli guava juice: 4 x 200 ml
Sugar cane juice: 250 ml
Soda and ice cubes to serve
Method:
i. This super easy Mocktail requires just a couple of juices. Shake 1 part of chilli guava juice with ¼ part of sugarcane juice.
ii. Top this up with soda and loads of ice to serve chilled.
Mocktails are quite simple and easy to make. One just needs the perfect blend, the right measure of ingredients, and a tad bit of creativity. So take stock of what juices you have and get blending to enjoy these refreshing and satisfying beverages!
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