If you ask me about the easiest yet extremely satisfying drink, I would always say, it’s none other than Indian Lemonade, aka Nimbu Pani. What a marvelous drink to offer someone on the hottest days of summer! It’s tangy, it’s sweet, and above all, it’s so so so refreshing. Lemons have been in use for centuries in India. During British colonial rule in India, Indians got to know about lemonade; hence they adopted this concept of lemonade and mixed some local spices to Indianize its taste, and this is how Nimbu Pani was invented.
Let’s see how you too may prepare this.
Ingredients:
Lemons – 2 Nos. (Large size)
Cold water – 4 Cups
Sugar – ¼ Cup (adjust to taste)
Black salt – ½ Teaspoon
Cumin powder – ¼ Teaspoon (roasted)
Fresh mint leaves – 8 – 10 Nos. (optional, for garnish)
Ice cubes (optional)
Procedure:
Juice the Lemons:
Roll the lemons on the countertop to release more juice.
Cut the lemons in half and squeeze out the juice into a bowl.
Remove the seeds.
Prepare the Nimbu Pani:
Take a large pitcher. Take lemon juice, sugar, black salt, and roasted cumin powder in it.
Stir well until the sugar completely dissolves.
Add water:
Pour the cold water into this mix.
Stir well to mix them thoroughly.
Taste and adjust:
Taste the mixture and adjust the sweetness or seasoning as it needed.
You can add more sugar, black salt, or cumin powder according to your own taste buds.
Chill and serve:
Chill the Nimbu Pani in the refrigerator for at least an hour.
Take a tall glass.
Take some ice cubes if you wish to.
Pour the Nimbu Pani.
Garnish with fresh mint leaves for extra freshness.
Serve.
Nutritional Value of Nimbu Pani per cup
| Calories | 38 Cal | |
| Total Fat | 0.2 g | 0% of the Daily Value |
| Saturated Fat | 0 g | 0% of the Daily Value |
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% of the Daily Value |
| Sodium | 4849 mg | 211% of the Daily Value |
| Total Carbohydrates | 10.9 g | 4% of the Daily Value |
| Dietary Fiber | 1.4 g | 5% of the Daily Value |
| Total sugars | 7.5 g | |
| Protein | 0.6 g | |
| Calcium | 19mg | 1% of the Daily Value |
| Iron | 2 % of the Daily Value | |
| Potassium | 71 mg | 2% of the Daily Value |
The percentage of the Daily Value is based on a 2000-calorie diet.
Conclusion:
I am absolutely in love with Nimbu Pani. Frankly speaking, being brought up in the Indian subcontinent, summer was never a pleasant season. And stuffing my stomach with artificial drinks is just not my kinda thing. Nimbu pani is not just a drink to beat the heat, rather it’s an emotion, which we foster from childhood. It’s the first recipe many of us must have tried in our moms’ kitchen. And now we continue the legacy. Every drop of Nimbu Pani not only quenches our thirst but takes us to the time when our moms used to make this whenever we wanted. It’s a childhood memory to be cherished for a lifetime.
Read other Recipes here.