Friday, February 25, 2011

Watermelon Cooler

y hubby is not the biggest fruit lover. He likes (read: can eat) banana, guava and ripe mangoes. I on the other hand love all kinds of fruit (except banana and mangoes, go figure) and can live on the fresh fruit juice and salads for a few days. Also, because of all the goodness of fruit, I try to incorporate them in our meals at-least once a day. Hubby always takes one or two bites and I am the one left to finish his and my plate. Same with my little one. She is even stranger with her fruit habits. She only likes fresh pineapple and orange juice. Her reasoning why she doesn't like a particular fruit is because of the color, watermelon is too red, papaya is too yellow, guava is too green. But then who's to argue with her that my dear pineapple is yellow too, lol!
Anyway, thats a little 'fruity' detail about my family, back to the post. Days are getting hotter by the day in this part of the world. I had this big seedless sweet watermelon sitting in the refrigerator that I recently got from Costco. It was not possible for me alone to finish (although I did finish half of it all by myself). I thought why not make a drink out of it. The thought of adding a little sparkling water came to me, which in my opinion does wonders to any cool drink. Mixed in a few mint leaves and a little lemon juice and served it over some ice. To my surprise both hubby and kiddo loved it. It was refreshing, gorgeous and a great alternative to soft drinks and helps with your daily intake of fruit too.
Ingredients:
Watermelon (seedless) ................................ 2 cups chopped
Sparkling water/chilled water ........................ 1 cup chilled
Crushed ice ............................................. 1/2 cup
Mint leaves ............................................. 6-8 torn
Chaat masala/salt/black salt ....................... 1/4 tsp
Sugar .................................................... 1 tbsp or to taste
Lemon juice  ........................................... 1 tbsp (fresh squeezed)
Method:
1. Mix all the ingredients in a blender, blend until smooth, strain if you like or serve as it it is over ice, Enjoy!

97 comments:

sonu said...

awwww ur daughter is so cute and innocent..juice looks surely very refreshing...my daughter luves fruits and watermelon is one of her favs :)

Satya said...

thanda thanda juice, can I have a glass please

Sushma Mallya said...

My fav thrist cooler ..looks yummy!

Latha said...

Very refreshing and colorful drink.

The Foodie said...

Watermelon juice is looking so refreshing.. you are tempting me to make it now..beautifully presented with wonderful clicks.

Miriam said...

I adore watermelon juice! One of my favorite drinks. I like what you've put in yours :), Miriam@Meatless Meals For Meat Eaters

Sharmilee! :) said...

Colorful refreshing drink....lovely clcks

Priya (elaichii) said...

good thirst quencher!

jeyashrisuresh said...

nice refreshing drink,I llike the addition of mint leaves and chat masala

Torviewtoronto said...

delicious with chaat masala

Spice said...

where did my comment go I hope u got it....drink looks refreshing...

Kurinji said...

Refreshing drink....Beautiful clicks...
kurinjikathambam

Jennifurla said...

I am loving the atermelon mint combo

Deeksha said...

refreshing and colorful! well done

Prathibha said...

Looks very refreshing...love sparkling water..:)

Krithi's Kitchen said...

So Refreshing juice.. Watermelon is all time fav..

http://krithiskitchen.blogspot.com

Prathima Rao said...

Looks fantastic!!!! So refreshing...& loved the fruity detail too..;) You have a way with making a simple recipe into an exotic treat!!! I tried cucumber raita ur way..i.e adding chat masala & every body loved it!! All were trying to figure out what that new ingredient was...lol!
Prathima Rao
Prats Corner

Satya said...

With the summer in chennai this drink looks so inviting..super click too...love it

Super Yummy Recipes

Paaka Shaale said...

Wow Aipi waht a refreshing juice. Love to have a glass. May I? :)

Harini said...

colorful, flavorful and wonderful..Love all fruits I can lay my hands on but juices can be a little too much for me..though my kids can live on juices for days!!

kanthi said...

Wonderful colour of water melon juice with a unique taste,i too love fruit drinks very much,a maniac of melon juice..

Lena Rashmin Raj said...

sAME PINCH... this looks so refrishing... :)

Radhika said...

The color has come out very well. The season is just beginning here and the temp has just abt started soaring. Awesome clicks

Umm Mymoonah said...

I once had this in Dubai airport, I loved the minty watermelon flavour. It gave me instant energy and I felt so fresh, your juice looks just like that, so fresh and lovely

Faith said...

Wow Aipi. Waterlemon juice? it's perefect for the winter to avoid getting sick. It's a great idea.

Have a great weekend.

Suman Singh said...

Now that looks refreshing! Love the beautiful red color.

An Open Book said...

sigh..cant wait for summer

Shanavi said...

Ohh hoo ...It's already spring there :) .. The colour makes me think of spring , birds chirping around, flowers blooming everywhere,..Thatz an awesome and an aromatic juice with those mint leaves and twisty with chaat masala ... very distinctive ..Very lovely

Suja Sugathan said...

Refreshing drink,minty and delicious.

SheenaBabu said...

Wonderful color and healthy Drink

Sensible Vegetarian said...

Wow this looks so good. Love the way you present things with those cute umbrella in the background.

Malli said...

Awesome! Awesome! Awesome! So colorful, healthy and tempting...wonderful drink

Gulmohar said...

A great cooler...Glad that Spring is around the corner :-)

savitha ramesh said...

wonderful juice and cool presentatio..

Vimitha Anand said...

Perfect cooler Aipi... Nice click

Hema Mahen said...

Looks refreshing and love the bright color.

Kairali sisters said...

Awesome watermelon drink Aipi :-)

Kankana said...

I am fruit lover .. mangoes and bananas are my fav :D and Arvind is moody about them .. sometimes he will eat them like a proper meal and sometime not even a bite !! I am waiting for summer to try your watermelon juice

Priya said...

I can have this juice rite now even its 10.30pm, damn tempting and refreshing juice..

sowmya said...

This looks so colorful..wanna grab one :)

My attempt at The Julie/Julia project said...

Wow.. thats truly delicious :) love the color... me and my hubby both are like ur husband.. we try to eat but are not very fond of fruit :)
Love the presentation aipi...u are a perfectionist :)

Reshmi Mahesh said...

Just love this drink...Tasted it before but never with chaat masala...will try some time..

divya said...

Omg, wat a beautiful jucie, soooo refreshing and wonderful click tooo....

Simply Life said...

oooh this makes me think of summer - so refreshing!

Smitha said...

its surely the best summer drink!
very refreshing with mint!
Smitha
http://smithasspicyflavors.blogspot.com/

Nancy and Vijay said...

Aipi your pictures are spectacular. Watermelon is one of my favorites and this really sounds like a refreshing drink.

Manasi said...

My husband is not a fruit lover either.. whereas I LOVE fruit! Jodiya aisi hi banti hain!!!
Love the watermelon juice, i'd call it a watermelon sparkler!

SravsCulinaryConcepts said...

Very refreshing and colorful drink !!!!

Mahi said...

juice looks lovely! But here its still cold! Gimme a cup of hot coffee please!:) :)

Kamakshi Prasanna said...

Aipi, I am drooling over here...very nicely pictured!!!

Viki's Kitchen said...

Watermelon juice is always my favorite. Looks so cute ....wanna grab one:)

Vidhya said...

Watermelon juice looks so pretty,ideal for a girls party.

swapna said...

what a refreshing drink....i can have it anytime!!

Hamaree Rasoi said...

Watermelon juice looks so wonderfully refreshing. Excellent preparation.

Deepa
Hamaree Rasoi

Soumya said...

omg! its making me thirsty now...can I have a glass?... very refreshing juice...love to have it at any time...
http://traditional-indian-cooking.blogspot.com/p/eventsgiveaway.html

Soumya said...

The most refreshing n truly colorful of juices, love the!

http://entepachakalokam.com

Shyla said...

So pretty and refreshing! I love "calinga" juice! Too bad it's bitterly cold in San Francisco otherwise I'd be trying this today. Thanks for sharing!

Shyla
http://cupcakesandcurry.blogspot.com/

Treat and Trick said...

What a beautiful and refreshing drink! Adding chaat masala to the drink is new to me...

Anshu said...

Lovely presentation...cool refreshing drink..adding sparkling water makes it a perfect summer mocktail...

Priya (Yallapantula) Mitharwal said...

Very nicely done dear. Love your idea of adding chat masala in it. You know what in my family it is opposite. I only like few specific fruits and my husband can survive on fruits, go figure :)

Beautiful props used for pic, amazing.

Saras said...

Your click automatically made me to drool..looks so good & taste tangy with chaat masala..

Varunavi said...

Beautiful clicks....

Shobha said...

Love your presentation...and the drink is ofcourse refreshing !

Biny Anoop said...

there is a surprise waiting for u in my space....do check it out
dats looking fab...very refreshg drink.
biny

Rani acharyulu said...

Hi aipi
Nice picture and lovely and cool fruit juice.
Same story in our house also. I like fruits. But your idea of making juice is great,I will try...
cheers

Now Serving said...

Truly refreshing - love the colors!!!

The Mistress of Spices said...

This sounds and looks delicious! I love fresh fruit drinks like this one...I can't wait for the summer when watermelons will be plentiful. I will so be making this then!

Chow and Chatter said...

hopefully your little one will expand on her fruits this is a fab drink would love a glass right now

Katerina said...

Your smoothie made me crave summer even more! Looks beautiful.

garlutti said...

Beautiful photos and delicious recipe .. greetings MARIMI

Mary said...

This looks absolutely delicious. I hope you have a great day. Blessings...Mary

Archana said...

Trust you to come up with something interesting with something as routine as watermelon juice.

I make this juice regularly but never dressed it up thus. Will do next time. Thanks for sharing.

nivedita said...

HI Aipi,
how are you?
Long time, not seen.
Keep visiting when you have time.
And perfect juice.

pigpigscorner said...

This looks so refreshing!

Plateful said...

Ah, such a refreshing blend! Watermelon is one of my family's best thirst-quencher all round the year. I bet your idea of adding chat masala with mint and lemon juice added extra pizzazz to the drink.

Nourhan @ Miss Anthropist's Kitchen said...

This looks SO refreshing!! Thanks for sharing :)

ila said...

very refreshing and colourful drink :) Very Innovatie :) Chat masala in it :)

Mrs K said...

Sounds like the perefct drink for one of those hot summer days and I am more than eager to get there :( I enjoyed the zing with the chaat masala and sparkling water :)

Sowmya said...

Great drink and lovely pics!

Vegetarian Cultural Creatives

alison said...

i miss summer and watermelon!here is snowing...

Angie's Recipes said...

I am ready for the warm weather! This looks fresh and good.

Kitchen Flavours said...

Tempting click....i love watermelon juice....perfect to beat heat....

Joanne said...

I LOVE fruit and this watermelon juice sounds so very refreshing!

Rachu said...

Oh your daughter is gonna love love everything you make.. just make her look at your blog, the pictures and the write ups.. :P
Chaat and watermelon.. great combo
ammaandbaby.blogspot.com/

G.Pavani said...

delicious drink.n grt clicks Aipi dear..let me know the secert behind the taking pics so grtly.

honeybeecooksjackfruit said...

Watermelon is one of my fav fruits, but after getting so many disappointing ones, I often make juice from them. Love the color too!

Nitha said...

This looks so refreshing.... And thanks for the quick comment...

Home Cooked Oriya Food said...

looks so yum! lovely click!

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Valarmathi Sanjeev said...

Nice click, juice looks refrshing and colorful.

MaryMoh said...

mmm...love this...so refreshing especially in hot wether. I bet I will be making lots of this when summer comes.

Priya's Feast said...

My fav drink as ever...Luv the color too..

alwayswinner786 said...

Super delicious drink to welcome summer! Water melon with chat masala great!

Pavithra said...

Way too tempting clicks and refreshing drink... love love love it.

Authenticoriyafood said...

Cool and refreshing !!!! Perfect for the summer months!!

Alicia@ eco friendly homemaking said...

Wow this looks so delicious and refreshing.I really look forward to making this when the weather gets warmer here. Thanks for the recipe!!

Krishnaveni said...

my fav fruit too, looks great

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