Mango Mint Lemonade

Mangoes always brings fond memories of summer vacations. After breakfast, we gather around in the backyard of my mother's house where grandmother had ready for us the mangoes. We called the bigger slices mettha (malayalam for mattress) and the smaller slices talayana (malayalam for pillow). Back home in Udupi, summers began with us racing out to drive away the monkeys from taste testing the mangoes on our tree! The monkeys are ever present around the house during summers jumping from roof to tree and the dogs run under the tree hoping to catch hold of one monkey ( if only one would fall) . The monkeys are very choosy, hard to please group! They taste test several mangoes and drop them to the ground with just a single bite. Obviously that renders the mango ill suited for consumption and leaves a broken hearted mom and two children staring at the useless mangoes underneath the tree. If not consuming the mango as is the other popular use of mango were the milkshakes we made in the evening! Summers also saw us making jar full of lemonade - I remember telling my Dad years back that I am going to start a lemonade business - he laughed it off!

This summer in Dubai is killing. Despite being indoors most of the time, the heat seems to be getting the better of us. For the first time since moving here, we have started drinking refrigerated water. So it is invariable that we try out some cold drinks. So this time I combined the mango with lemonade and there we have the Mango mint lemonade.

Ingredients

1. Mango - 2 medium sized sliced
2. Lemon juice - 2 tbsp
3. Mint Leaves - a handful
4. Ice cubes
5. Sugar - 2 tbsp

Method

• Blend together the sliced mango along with mint leaves, lemon juice and sugar. (add or reduce sugar as per the sweetness of the mango)
• Pour into glass and serve chilled with ice cubes.

Check out other summer thirst quenchers on the blog - 

Orange Iced Tea

Green gram Cooler

Water - 'lemon mint cooler'

Water-'lemon' Mint Cooler

It is scorching summer in Dubai and everyone is out to find ways to escape the heat. From being holed up at homes and offices to cooler recipes to bring down the heat.

Watermelon is probably the best summer fruit. I remember the times when my mom used to serve us freshly cut watermelon when we were back from our evening games or when our father was back from his badminton games. Watermelon was the delicacy at our summer coaching camps as well.

I was on the lookout for a new cooler recipe when my cousin suggested this combination which she constantly uses to beat the Delhi heat.

As to the name of this cooler, my husband suggested it and I found it quite unique too:)

There you are - The Water-'lemon' Mint Cooler:

Ingredients

1. Watermelon - 2 cups de-seeded and diced
2. Cucumber - 1 cup diced
3. Lemon - 1 small size
4. Mint Leaves - 2 sprigs
5. Sugar - 2 tsp
6. Salt - 1/2 tsp
7. Ice cubes

Method

Add the diced watermelon, cucumber and mint leaves into a juicer and blend it.

Stir in the sugar, salt and add lemon juice.

Pour into two glasses and serve with ice cubes and garnish of mint.

You may also note - 

• Increase or decrease the sugar and salt quantity as per your choice.
• Remember to serve it fresh.
• Alternatively, you can just crush all the ingredients together using a fork or spoon instead of using a blender.