Summer is quite manageable if you know what your tools are. This season has a plethora of fruits to fight the scorching heat. Wood apple aka bael fruit is one of them. Mythology says it’s a blessing of Lord Shiva to Goddess Laxmi which is incarnated as bael fruit. Thus it is addressed as Shree phal (Shree meaning Laxmi, the goddess of wealth) in various cultures in India. And, who doesn’t know health is wealth? This exclusive fruit has uncountable health benefits along with the topical summer beating power. Today I made a drink with this wonder fruit. You can store the base of the drink in an air-tight container for 2 to 3 days and use it anytime you wish.
Let’s see how you too can prepare it and beat the summer.
Ingredients:
Bael – 1 No. (ripened, large size)
Sugar – 75 g
Milk – 300 ml (chilled)
Salt – A pinch
Ice cube – Adequate
Water – 200 ml (for squeezing out the pulp)
Procedure:
The cleaning:
Break the bael fruit in halves. You will see the seeds are in series. Scoop out the flesh. De-seed it as much as you can and remove the jelly-like slimy substance. Scrape the remaining flesh from the inner shell.
The Preparation:
Now add water to extract the pulp. I got approximately 350 g of bael fruit flesh to which I added 200 ml of water. Don’t add the entire water in one go, rather add it little by little and start crushing it with your hand.
Now strain it through a fine sieve. And, discard the residue.
Take the bael pulp in one bowl. Add the powdered sugar and salt.
Combine them well.
Now your base is ready. You may create two versions of the bael fruit drink with this base.
Drink 1:
Take 200 g of the pulp and add the milk to it. Mix it well.
Take a tall glass.
Pour some ice cubes.
Fill the glass with the milk-bael sherbet.
Serve.
Drink 2:
Take a tall glass and pour 3 tablespoons of bael fruit pulp.
Add some ice cubes.
Now fill the glass with chilled water.
Mix it well.
Serve.
Nutritional Value of 100 g bael juice:
| Calorie | 137 Cal |
| Carbohydrates | 31.8 mg |
| Protein | 1.8 mg |
| Fats | 1.3 mg |
| Minerals | 2 mg |
| Calcium | 85 mg |
| Phosphorous | 50 mg |
| Iron | 1 mg |
| Potassium | 600 mg |
| Fiber | 2.9 mg |
| Vitamin A | 55 mg |
| Vitamin C | 60 mg |
| Vitamin B1 | 0.13 mg |
| Vitamin B2 | 1.19 mg |
| Vitamin B3 | 1.1 mg |
Conclusion:
A wood apple or bael fruit is a super fruit when we talk about its health benefits. It is good for the digestive system and a great source of energy. It’s super effective on ulcers and cures piles too. It has elements, that can cure liver issues, high blood pressure, control diabetes and cholesterol, and even treat heart diseases. It has the power to prevent infections and allergies, and to some extent cancer too. It’s even can combat the after-effects of snake bites and malaria. It can be taken as a blood purifier leading to good kidney health. What more do you need? A regular consumption of bael fruit drink can bless you with great health. But one thing to keep in mind; don’t drink it every day until your body accepts its presence, as the elements may cause some bowel trouble. A consumption with small intervals will prepare your body to absorb its benefits little by little with every shot.
Enjoy!
Read other Recipes here.