If you’ve grown up in North India, your summers likely felt incomplete without gorging on phalsa. This sweet-sour berry, found growing in the wild across Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh, has been a seasonal staple in these states. Bringing back childhood memories, chef Vikas Khanna has shared a simple phalsa lemonade recipe, one he’s even adding as a summer special at his restaurant, Bungalow.
Phalsa: A Taste Of Summer Nostalgia In India
Cultivated across North India as a filler crop in orchards, phalsa is a fruit many people in the region know and love. It is also grown in parts of Gujarat, Maharashtra (especially around Mumbai), Bihar, and West Bengal, but is scarcely available.
This small, round, pea-sized berry has a distinctly tangy, sweet-sour flavour, with soft, juicy pulp wrapped around a large seed. Its taste varies with ripeness and is often enjoyed fresh, sprinkled with chaat masala or black salt. Another popular way to consume it is as a cooling summer sherbet, thanks to its refreshing properties.
Tapping into this nostalgia, chef Vikas Khanna recently shared a simple phalsa lemonade recipe on Instagram, and you won’t want to miss it this summer.
Also Read: Vikas Khanna Shares How A Visit To Udupi’s Krishna Temple Made Him A Patriot Of Indian Cuisine
Make Vikas Khanna’s Phalsa Lemonade At Home
To celebrate and relive the childhood memories associated with this berry, Vikas Khanna shared his Phalsa Lemonade recipe. He has also introduced this summer special drink at his New York restaurant and named it ‘Mysha’. The recipe is simple and requires only a handful of ingredients, so make sure you try it this summer!
Ingredients
2 cups phalsas
1 cup lemon/lime juice
1 cup sugar/jaggery powder
1 teaspoon black salt
1 teaspoon Kewra
2 cups water
Method
1. Add all the ingredients to a blender jar.
2. Pulse until you get a smooth mixture.
3. Strain the juice.
4. Serve chilled over ice and garnish with mint leaves.
So, are you making this lemonade this summer? Let us know in the comments.
Cover Image Courtesy: Instagram/vikaskhannagroup
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FAQs
What is phalsa?
Phalsa is a small, tangy-sweet summer berry commonly found in North India.
Why is phalsa popular in summers?
Phalsa is known for its cooling properties, making it a go-to fruit during hot Indian summers. It’s refreshing, hydrating, and often used in sherbets and drinks.
How is phalsa usually consumed?
It is often eaten fresh with a sprinkle of black salt or chaat masala, or turned into refreshing drinks like sherbet and lemonade.