Afghan’s Sharbat-E-Rayhan / Basil Seed Shrub

Basil seeds are very healthy as it has lot of fiber, pottasium, magnesium, etc., which helps in weight loss, diabetic, blood control.

This Afghan recipe sharbat is the simplest with basil seeds. Afghans just add rose essence along with basil seeds to sugar water for this recipe. Takes mins to make but the taste lingers for hours together.

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Recipe Cuisine : International / Afghan | Recipe Category: Beverage

Preparation Time: 15 mins | Yields: 3 cups

Sabja Seeds / Basil Seeds	1 tsp
Warm Water	½ cup
Sugar	¼ cup
Cold Water	2 cups
Rose Essence or Rosemilk Essence	1 tsp
Ice Cubes	As required

Procedure:

1. Soak the basil seeds in warm water for 10-15 mins or the seeds become double in its size and become translucent.

2. Meanwhile, Add sugar, cold water and essence in a bowl. Mix them well till the sugar dissolves completely.

3. Add soaked basil seeds with the above mixture. Mix them well.

4. Pour this mixture in tall glasses and add few ice cubes.

     Quick, easy and delicious Afghan’s Sharbat-E-Rayhan is ready to serve.

Note:

1. Adjust the sugar level according to your taste.

2. Add brown sugar or honey instead of white sugar.

3. Rose essence is enough, but rosemilk essence gives attractive color to the shrub.

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Basil Lemonade / Sweet Basil / Thiruneetru Pachilai Lemonade | Summer Recipes

     Sweet Basil (Thiruneetru Pachilai / திருநீற்று பச்சிலை in Tamil) is used as ingredient in recipes like bread dips (chutney). We can use it as an ingredient in Lemonade which we will be having frequently during summer.

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Recipe Cuisine : International | Recipe Category: Summer Recipes

Preparation Time: 10 mins  | | Yields: 1 ½ cup

Ingredients:

Lemon	1
Sweet Basil Leaves / Thiruneetru Pachilai	5
Honey	2 tsbp
Cardamom	1
Ice Cubes	5
Water	1 cup

Procedure:

1. Extract the juice from the lemon without seeds and keep it aside.

2. Crush the cardamom pod and keep it aside.

3. Wash and cut the sweet basil leaves into small pieces.

4. In a jar add lemon juice (from 1), cardamom (from 2), basil leaves (from 3), Ice cubes and honey. Shake them well for 1 min.

5. Then add enough water and mix them well. Serve it chill.

         

                          Healthy and aromatic basil lemonade is ready to sip.

Note:

1. Adjust the water level according to your lemon juice taste.

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Herbal Rasam / Mooligai Rasam

Warm yourself with Herbal Rasam during winter seasons. Herbal Rasam is also a good remedy and precautionary measure for cough and cold.

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Recipe Cuisine : South Indian | Recipe Category: Rasam

Preparation Time: 10 mins  | Cooking Time: 10 mins | Yields: 3 cups

Ingredients:

Tamarind	Small gooseberry size
Big size Tomato	1
Salt	As required
Rasam Powder (Click here for homemade Rasam Powder Recipe)	2 tsp
To Temper:
Oil	1 tsp
Mustard Seeds	¼ tsp
Curry Leaves	2 spring
Crushed Garlic Pods	4
Grated Ginger	1 tsp
Asafoetida / Hing	¼ tsp
Red Chilli	1
Herbs:
Sweet Basil	5 leaves
Ajwain Leaves	3
Solanum Trilobatum	7
To Garnish:
Chopped Coriander Leaves	Handful

Procedure:

1. Wash and soak the tamarind in 1 cup warm water. Leave it for 10 mins.

2. Then extract the juice from the tamarind pulp and keep it aside.

3. Wash and chop the tomato into small pieces.

4. Add this chopped tomato with the tamarind pulp (From 2) and smash them with your hand. Then add 2 cups of water and mix them well. Keep it aside.

5. Heat the oil in a pan, add mustard seeds and wait for popping.

6. Then add curry leaves, broken red chilly, crushed garlic pods and grated ginger. Sauté them for a min.

7. Now add the Rasam Powder and sauté for few seconds.

8. Then add the herbs ( sweet basil, aswain leves, solanum trilobatum) and fry till the raw smell goes off.

9. Now add the tamarind and tomato mixture (from 4), salt and coriander leaves.

10. Keep the flame at simmer and cook till the rasam becomes frothy. Switch off the flame immediately when it starts to boil.

    Healthy and yummy rasam is ready to serve.

Note:

1. Adjust the water level according to your level of sour taste of the rasam.

2. Adjust the red chilly level according to your spice taste. 

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