Surabhi Bhandari has shared some fantastic recipes for healthy summer coolers that are perfect for beating the heat. These refreshing drinks are not only delicious but also packed with nutrients to keep you hydrated and energized throughout the day. 
 

1. Kesar Keri Pani

Summer cooler

 
My mom-in-law used to make delicious kesar keri paak in the summer. The tartness of raw mangoes, combined with the delicate flavors of cardamom and saffron, would make a delicious relish. This Kesar Keri pani is inspired by that Keri paak. You will be surprised by the flavors. They are so simple, and yet they do wonders! It’s a welcome change from the usual jeera powder and chaat masala, and you get to try it! I am sure you will fall in love with it too!
The recipe is super simple; I don’t boil or steam the raw mangoes for this since I don’t store the pulp, and I like the fresh color. One grated raw mango should give you about 5–6 glasses.
  • Just grate one raw mango, blend it with some fresh mint and chilled water, and strain it.
  • Using chilled or cold water with mint will retain its color and won’t get dark.
  • Add sugar, jaggery powder, or bura shakkar, along with some cardamom powder and a few saffron strands.
  • Mix and chill in the fridge for some time.
  • If you add jaggery powder , the color might change to brown.
 

2. Sattu Ki Chaach

sattu

 
There are chai lovers, there are coffee lovers, and there’s me—a chaach lover! And my favorite is this sattu ki chaach, which is not only delicious but super healthy too! It keeps us full and energetic, acts as a cooling agent for the body in the summer, and provides an excellent amount of protein, iron, and magnesium.

There’s a particular measurement to the recipe:

  • Just add one or two spoonfuls of sattu flour to buttermilk every day, along with some chopped onions, mint leaves, red chili powder, roasted jeera powder, and salt.
  • Enjoy this perfect drink at breakfast or as a mid-meal snack.

And before you ask, sattu powder is easily available at any local grocery store. You can also buy from Amazon. I also have a delicious recipe for ragi and sattu paratha in my videos. I hope you check that out too! Enjoy 

 

3. Ragi Ki Raab

summer cooler

Raab, or maadi, is an integral part of the summer diet in Jodhpur. An excellent probiotic, it helps to beat the heat, cools the gut, and prevents heatwaves. It can be made with wheat, barley, or bajra flour. I have used ragi flour this time. 

This particular ragi ki raab is also called ragi ambli in Karnataka and is so delicious to consume in the summer. The ragi slurry used to make the raab can be stored in the fridge for 2–3 days. 

Here’s the simple recipe for it: 

  • Dahi: 1 cup plus one cup of water
  • Ragi flour, 1/4 cup
  • Water for ragi paste: 1 cup
  • Salt to taste
  • Roasted jeera powder, fresh coriander, and salt to taste.

Method –

  • Take curd (1 cup water and 1 cup dahi, approx.) and make a thick buttermilk.
  • Take ragi flour and add 1/2 cup water to it to make a paste.
  •  Heat 1 cup of water and add the ragi paste to it.
  •  Cook for 5-7 minutes till it is thick. You can add a little water while cooking if it becomes too thick and difficult to stir.
  •  Let it cool down completely before serving.

4. Gond Katira for Summers

Summer cooler

 

Cooling for the gut, good digestion , inflammation, and cooling the body in the summer .Gond Katira is a very good thing you should add to your summer diet. It is different from the gond or gum that we generally use. 

Gond Katira is a desi jelly that was used in falooda and drinks in old times. I have recently started using it in the summer and am loving the jelly-like texture. 

How to use Gond Katira: 
It comes like small pebbles that you can soak in water overnight. 2-3 pieces soaked in a good amount of water will swell into a beautiful jelly. 
You can use this jelly in: 

  • Lemonade
  • Sherbat
  • Falooda
  • Puddings
  • Juices
  • Cold milk 

Some ways to use it: 

  • In rose milk, this is my favorite since I don’t drink tea or coffee. I love to have it every morning with my chilled glass of rose milk.
  • You can also add it to mango milk.
  • Use it in lemonade, water, or melon juice.
  • Blend it with coconut water, some fresh coconut malai, lemon, and mint, and enjoy chilled!
  • Use it in falooda; it tastes so good!

5.  Lemonade Sangria  

Summer cooler

Lemonade sangria is so easy to make and tastes so refreshing! Kids will love it too!

Here’s how I made it: 

  • 4-5 cups of nimbu pani
  • Chopped fruits like apples, pear, watermelon, anar, and some mint leaves!
  • Mix all of them together and chill them for some time.
  • You can either serve it as is or fill the glass 3/4 full and top it with some soda or ginger ale! 
    Enjoy!

 

6.  Cucumber Chaach

Summer cooler

First is this cucumber chaach, which is actually as cool as a cucumber!! It’s made in just under 5 minutes, and the deliciousness quotient is extremely high! 

Here’s the super quick recipe:For 4-5 glasses:
Ingredients – 

  • 1 peeled and chopped cucumber
  • 3/4 cup dahi
  • 3-4 cups chilled water
  • 1 tsp. grated ginger
  • A handful of fresh pudina
  • Fresh corriander
  • Salt to taste
  • Bhuna jeera to sprinkle 

For tempering: 

  • 1/2 tsp. oil
  • 6-7 curry leaves
  • 1/2 tsp. rai 

Method – 

  • In a mixer jar, mix all the ingredients for chaach and blend nicely.
  • Take it out in a bowl.
  • Heat oil in a small tadka pan and temper the rai and curry leaves.
  • Add this tadka to the chaach.
  • Serve chilled.

7. Watermelon Gazpacho 

Summer cooler

It’s summer, and what better than having cold soup in hot weather? Gazpacho is a cold soup made with raw vegetables. 

This watermelon gazpacho is not only refreshing, but also delicious and filling to eat. You can have it as your lunch or mid-meal snack. Serve it to your guests or kids, and they will love it! 
You can also serve toasted sourdough or any crusty bread alongside it. 
Here’s the easy recipe for it: 

  • Chopped watermelon, 4 cups
  • Chopped cucumber: 2
  • Chopped onion: 1
  • Chopped red bell pepper: 1
  • Chopped tomatoes: 3–4
  • Finely chopped watermelon, 1/2 cup
  • Fresh mint leaves, 1/4 cup
  • Green chili, 1/2 small
  • Lemon juice: 2–3 tbsp.
  • Black salt to taste 

Method – 

  • Blend together watermelon, tomatoes, and a and a small piece of ginger in a blender. There is no need to add water or sugar.
  • Strain if there are any seeds; otherwise, don’t strain.
  • Take it in a bowl and add chopped cucumber, onion, remaining red bell pepper, and some cubes of watermelon.
  • Add lemon juice, mint, and coriander leaves, and mix.

These recipes are by our memberand founder of 365kitchentales, Surabhi Bhandari 

Surabhi is a homemaker by profession and a chef by heart. The kitchen is her play area, and cooking is her  stress buster. 
She loves to try out different recipes using local and seasonal ingredients. Being a marwadi, she always wanted to show people about her cuisine and culture and bring out the lost recipes of my region to the world. 
Hence, she started hosting marwadi pop-ups at her home and farm in Gurgaon last year, and her husband and she enjoys doing this every month. 
Apart from food, she loves reading, coloring, and going for walks. Her farm house is her happy place, where you can find her unwinding from the hustle bustle of the city.