After breaking the fast, we not just need lots of water and juices to hydrate us in this summer heat, we also need drinks that are nutritious and natural. All the juices and colas bought from the store only give you sugar and calories.

So here is a very easy and soothing drink that is full of the natural goodness of watermelon, lemon, cucumber and basil seeds (tuukh malanga).

Each ingredient is a powerhouse of goodness and nutrients, and very tasty too. It’s more of a slushy drink that can be enjoyed with a spoon too. You can modify the recipe by adding or removing any of the ingredients, depending on your taste.

Ingredients

• A small bowl of watermelon pieces, frozen

• 4 teaspoons sugar

• Juice of 1-2 lemons (depending on how strong you want the taste of lemon to be)

• 1/4 cucumber, sliced into small pieces

• 1-2 teaspoon basil seeds (tuukh malanga)

• Chilled water

Method

First soak the basil seeds in a small bowl or glass, and keep aside for 10 minutes or so. Now squeeze out the juice of lemons in a bowl and discard the seeds. Add sugar and about one class of water and, with a hand whisk, blend it until the sugar is dissolved.

Put the frozen watermelon pieces in a plastic bag and seal it or use a zip lock bag. Crush the watermelon chunks coarsely with a rolling pin. This step can be done in a blender, but I didn’t do that because it’s a hassle setting up machines and cleaning it before putting them away, while a rolling bin can do the job because we want some watermelon chunks to be there.

Take two glasses and add half the soaked tuukh malanga along with its water in each glass. Add about two tablespoons of cucumber in each glass, and then divide the watermelon chunks between the two glasses. Lastly add the lemonade mixture and garnish with mint and serve chilled.

Do not take out the watermelon chunks from the freezer too early before making this drink or it will lose its icy crunch and won’t taste so divine.

Published in Dawn, Young World, May 19th, 2018