MINT & GINGER SHIKANJI

A sweet & salty Indian limeade that's refreshing & delicious and a healthy drink to reach for on a hot summer day.

Shikanji is a limeade that's made prominently in the Northern states in India to beat the arid summer heat.

Refreshing & bright the drink is perfectly balanced. With the tang from the limes, the freshness from the mint, the sweet pungency of the ginger, the funky flavors of the Indian sulphur salt, & the sweet floral notes of the honey, it hits all the notes perfectly!

Here’s my Shikanji recipe that I truly enjoy making any time of the year!

Ingredients

• juice of 1 lemon

• 1 - 2 tbsp of water, if needed

• 1/8 tsp salt

• 1/2 tsp Indian chaat masala, plus more to garnish

• 1/4 tsp kala namak (Indian sulfur salt)

• a pinch of black pepper, optional

• 1 tbsp honey or sweetener of your choice

• 2 tbsp mint leaves, plus a few more for garnish

• ice cubes as needed

• 1 tsp grated ginger

• soda, about 1 - 2 cans

Utensils 

• mortar & pestle • cocktail shaker • whiskey/cocktail glasses

Directions

In the mortar & pestle add in the honey, mint leaves, ginger, salt & black salt and grind to a smooth paste.

In your cocktail shaker add in lots of ice cubes, the prepared paste, chaat masala, lemon juice, and the water and shake until the outside of your shaker is cold.

Add in ice and the mixture from the shaker & top with soda (about 3/4 - 1 can, depending on the size of your glass).

Garnish with a pinch of chaat masala & a few sprigs of mint.

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Extra Tip

• Replace the soda with either a lemon/lime soda or ginger ale. The sweetness from the soda is a good balance for the salt. If you do replace the plain soda with a sweetened one, leave out the honey to not make the drink overly sweet.

• You can dip the rim in lemon juice and rim the glass with some chaat masala as well

• You can make this an adult version very easily by adding in Vodka. Add in 1.5 US fl oz or 1 shot of Vodka into your cocktail shaker with your prepared spice mixture.