Fresh Lemon grass drink

Oh! Its been more than 2 years ... that i had posted any recipe.

Well, while I was travelling to Singapore in April this year, and since i love Thai Food, so went to this restaurant, where I used to go quite often, when i used to live there, it’s called Lerk Thai (in Bugis). It has many branches in couple of food courts in Singapore; but there, they don’t really offer veg. dishes, so i have to go to Bugis. So here, we ordered our standard dishes (Deep Fried Tofu with sweet n chilli sauce, Raw papaya/mango Salad, Green curry (in Red Curry they use shrimp paste) and steamed/ pineapple rice and water chestnut with coconut cream in dessert. I also ordered this Fresh Lemon Grass drink. which was so refreshing..... the most refreshing drink i had ever had.

So, when i came back to Delhi, thought to make some Green Curry for my Parents n my dear Sis in law. I headed to INA

market, where I get all the international food stuff. I got all stuff that i wanted, Galanjal (thai ginger), Lemon Grass, Lime leaves, curry paste (there are two kinds of pastes available, one with shrimp paste and other one is pure veg.(which comes in a bottle), you can get that in any supermarket as well.) and Green baby Brinjals as well. Wow!

So i headed back n prepared the green curry. Then realised, i was left with an Inch of Galangal; few lime leaves, and a stick of lemon grass. Thought to try to make that drink out of it. When i was cutting these for my curry ... these ingredients had reminded me of that freshness.. and the aroma is so refreshing.. i am unable to describe that in words.

Here is how i made that drink.(Makes for 4)

1. Stick of lemon grass (cut them into pieces)
2. Few Lime leaves
3. An Inch of Galangal
4. Few Basil leaves (optional)5. 3 tbsp (or to taste) of Sugar/ honey
6. 1 lt. Water7.Mint/Basil leaves for garnishing.

Method:

Boil the water and add sugar.Meanwhile muddle all the other ingredients.

Cool the mixture, till it reaches the room temp and refrigerate it.

While serving strain it and add just one or max 2 ice cube in the glass (i avoid ice as it further diluted

with water on the melting of the ice, i recommend to prepare the drink in advance, chill it in the refrigerator)

You may garnish the drink wit

h Mint/basil leaves and Serve!!

Quick version

of the recipe: I Boil water in the kettle and in a jug i put all the other ingredients.

Pour the boiling water into the jug and let it cool, then refrigerate.

(these Pics were taken when i made this drink out of quick version of the recipe)

But definitely, the original recipe tastes better as all the aroma n flavour is infused in the water well as its boiling.

Salud!

Water melon VodKa

Deseed the 1 small(1 kg) Water Melon. Pour 170 ML VodKa ... and Churn!

Refrigerate for atleast an hour!

Makes a Pitcher!!

Gazpacho!

Hey Its Summer!!!!!

Its Summer in India right now and i just need some cool soothing yet nutritious. And what comes on my mind is just GAZPACHO!!! (A Spanish Cold Soup). Aah I love tomatoes .. tomato juices .. virgin merry, bloody merry.... well my no curry goes without tomatoes but only white curries miss tomatoes... in my cooking :( .. Why don't we have White Tomatoes???? WISH !!!

Anyways! how i learnt Gazpacho! well interesting story behind it! i was off alcohol when we went to a restaurant @ Clark quay in Singapore. While everyone else who went with me sipping Sangria (My Most Fav. cocktail) and i was waiting for my cold soup to come! i had no clue at that time what gazpacho is my fellow friend just said order it! its nice cold tomato juice! i was thinking, what the hell? they would just serve me a tomato juice out of a can! but when it came ... i was impressed! it was Fresh!! and the Garnishing was looking so yummy! it was Chilled!!! And the word came out of my mouth when i had my first sip was any guess?? "WOW" (m decent:P)and i ordered for second one!

Well, it was expensive! so i thought y not to search the recipe n make it on my own. googled for it! in some sites the the recipe was complicated ( I'm not criticizing what i meant that either ingredients were not available with me at that time or i had not even heard of any particular ingredient!) so, i took the basic idea and thought to improvise it on my own way! so here it is!

Tomatoes in large numbers.(12 makes for 3 glasses but again depends on the size of tomatoes. judge it yourself)

Onion - 1 small (1/2 if u have big onion)

cucumber - 1/3 of whole.

capsicum - 1 if small (half if big)

red bell pepper - 1 if small (half if big)

vinegar 3 tsp

salt to taste

sugar - 1tsp

For Garnishing finely chop the cucumber, red and green bell-peppers, spring onion, croutons (optional)

Blend the above ingredients in a blender and stain it with fine soup stainer. and put in refrigerate it 2 hours.

Garnish it small amount of finely chopped the cucumber,onion & capsicum and a small stick of celery .

ENJOY it in this Summer!!!! well all the summers! :) its a bliss!