Bello Pana - Odiya New Year Sankranti
Ripe Bael Fruit Smoothie
Ingredients:
Bael Fruit Pulp ( Maredu Pandu)– 100gms
Curdled Milk (Chenna)
– 50gms
Artificial Sweetener – 7 Measures
Sugar Or Jaggery may be substituted
for Artificial Sweetener
Cardamoms – 2
Black Salt – 2Pinches
Water – 700ml (Divided Into Two Portions
of 350ml Each)
Method:
Break Bael fruit as one breaks a
coconut. Break bael fruit by hitting on the ground. It breaks easily. Separate
the broken bael fruit into two parts.
Break open and take out the pulp with a spoon. When serving for two
people use half of the bael fruit—that would be sufficient. When fresh fruit is
not available use dried bael fruit which is available in shops selling
ayurvedic products. Soak the dried fruit overnight and boil till soft before
extracting juice.
Fix a dough kneading blade to the
food processor bowl. Add the bael fruit pulp and 350ml water to the processor
bowl and run it. After making the juice we need to strain it to remove seeds
and pith. For this use a large holed strainer to strain the juice. It is important
to remove the seeds and pith but not the fiber—so strain it with a large holed
strainer. Run the processor till the seeds separate from the pulp. Strain the
prepared juice into the large holed strainer and press with the back of a ladle
to extract juice. The residue remaining in the strainer, need to be processed
again to extract the remaining juice. So take the residue back into the
processor bowl and add the remaining 350ml water and run the processor. Strain
the juice into the large holed strainer. Observe that the consistency of the
juice is thin compared to the juice extracted earlier. As nothing remains in
the residue left in the strainer, discard it. Taste the juice to find its own
unique flavor and taste.
Crush & remove peels of
cardamoms. Make powder of cardamom seeds in a mortar & pestle. Add black
salt to the cardamom powder and crush to make a fine powder.
Fix acrylic jar to the processor
and add curdled milk, prepared bael fruit juice, crushed cardamom-black salt
powder, artificial sweetener (or sweetener of your choice) and blend. Blend
till the juice is frothy. Pour the juice into a jug and chill in refrigerator.
Stir well before serving. Pour in
attractive glasses and serve.
Bael fruit has many health
benefits. It gives relief for those suffering from stomach disorders like
gastric problems. For those suffering from constipation it works as a natural
laxative. Enjoy the fruit, its juice and the health benefits it provide in the
natural form.
Points to
Remember:
Bael fruit is generally available
from February (During the festival Shivaratri) till
April end. It is rarely available in the market. When it is available use and get the health benefits along with the unique taste.
The pulp will be sticky to touch.
For those who do not have food processor, take the pulp and water in a large
deep bowl and press between fingers to separate the seeds and soften the pulp
to extract juice. It is a tedious work.
To ease the work I have used a food
processor with dough kneading blade. Using a dough kneading blade will not
crush the seeds there by changing the taste.
Use sugar, grated jaggery or
artificial sweetener to sweeten the juice.
Enjoy !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Caution: During Festive Revelry in public gatherings at times Bhang (Cannabi Plant preparation) is mixed in this smoothie. When strangers offer this smoothie, inquire about ingredients before tasting it.
P.S .In traditional method we add ripe Banana, Apple pieces etc and put Honey instead of Sugar. The ingredients are mixed with hand for pouring consistency but not blended.
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