Raw Mango Squash / Kairi Panha

My children look forward to the summer season as they get to eat mangoes :).   Dhiraj and Ria loves to eat mangoes in any form :)

When we were kids, we used to visit our grandmother in Kerala... We looked forward to the summer season.  The best part of being in Kerala was we had ample open space to run around and play and also enjoy eating mangoes and cashews and having plenty of tender coconut.

We were around 5 to 10 children (including cousins & friends) who used to form teams and each team used to get up early in the morning around 5:00 am, pick up a torch and a big plastic bag and head towards the mango trees.  The entire land was covered with dried leaves.  With the help of a big stick, and the light of the torch we used to search for mangoes that are fallen on the ground.  We used to collect several raw and ripe mangoes.. on certain days we got hardly 2 or 3 mangoes as we would have reached the place late and the other groups carried away the mangoes :(.   

We used to cut the raw mangoes and add salt and chilli powder and ate them... rest of the mangoes were handed over to grandma and she prepared amazing Pickles!

We used to skip our meals as we ate so many ripe mangoes... By the end of the vacation, we put on weight eating loads of mangoes :)

The best way to cool off during the summer season is to have a refreshing cold drink... Mango is a seasonal fruit which is available during summer and hence raw mango drink is the best to beat the heat :)

Made from boiled raw mangoes and flavoured with cardamom and saffron, this cooling summer drink  protects the body from dehydration. The best part is that I prepare the squash in advance and stock it in the refrigerator.  I whip up a glassful whenever I have guests or carry some to office and share with friends :)

I wish I had a bungalow where I could plant the mango tree in my backyard so that I can just pluck them raw or ripe and enjoy them.

So follow my recipe and make this excellent and instant thirst quencher for your family and friends!

Ingredients :

1 raw mango

1 1/2 cups sugar

1/4 tsp saffron strands

1/2 tsp cardamom powder 

Pinch of Rock salt   

Lemon Juice (optional)

Water

Method :

Peel the mango. Chop mango into one inch chunks. Place the mango, sugar and 1/2 a cup of water and pressure cook upto 3 whistles in a cooker. The mango will be soft after cooking. Cool this..Blend in a blender till smooth. Sieve this mixture. Add the cardamom, saffron and pinch of salt and bring to boil, stirring continuously.  Take it off the heat. Cool. Check if the mixture is sour enough for you. If not add a little lemon juice according to your taste.

This is a concentrated form of the drink to make the drink follow the directions :

The pulp may be stored in the freezer for over a month.  To make a glass of refreshing "Panha", take a tablespoon of the mixture. Add it to a  glass of chilled water and mix well.  Enjoy your drink!