Shikanji

Ingredients

Homemade Shikanji Masala Powder is made by roasting and grinding some everyday whole spices such as whole coriander seeds (dhaniya beej), cumin seeds (jeera), and whole black peppercorns (kali mirch). It is mixed with Chaat Masala Powder, black salt, and regular salt.

Cumin seeds and chaat masala powder have digestive properties. They also make this drink tangy and refreshing.

Black salt (kala namak, rock salt) gives this drink a very earthy taste, which is very different from regular salt. It is salty and sour at the same time. Try not to replace it with common salt.

You can also add ½ teaspoon of dry ginger powder (sonth) to this masala powder.

I always double or triple this spice mix recipe and store it in my pantry. It comes in handy whenever I want to make this drink.

The measurements in my shikanji recipe will give you shikanji masala to make 15-20 glasses of shikanjvi.

There is a very popular brand of shikanji masala called Jain Shikanji Masala. You can also buy it from an Indian grocery store if you want to save some time.

Lime Juice is the star ingredient of this drink. It adds the perfect amount of tanginess, making it refreshing and delicious. Only freshly squeezed juice works in this recipe. Do not use bottled juice; it will spoil the taste.

You can also use lemon juice instead of lime for a milder taste.

Tip: To get the maximum juice from a lime, roll it on the counter with firm hands before cutting it.

Sugar: Granulated white sugar is added to sweeten the drink. If you want it to dissolve quickly, use powdered white sugar (not confectioner’s).

You can also use powdered jaggery, brown sugar, coconut sugar, or honey instead of sugar if you want a variation. 

Mint Leaves: Fresh mint leaves add a very refreshing flavor to this Indian style lemonade.

Water or Soda: If you like fizzy drinks, top the nimbu shikanjvi with chilled club soda. Otherwise, water is fine, too. Add a few ice cubes to the glasses to make the drink chilled.

You can also use sparkling water, Coca-Cola, Sprite, or ginger ale instead of water or club soda. Water can also be replaced with fruit juices like pomegranate juice, orange juice etc to make fruity flavored shikanjvi.

I sometimes add chia seeds or gond katira soaked in water to this drink.

Pro Tips By Neha

Replace lime juice with lemon juice for a milder taste.

Add a little fresh ginger juice for a spicy kick. To make ginger juice, grate a small piece of ginger using a grater. Squeeze the grated ginger; the juice will drip down.

Replace plain water with coconut water or orange juice for a taste change.

To make an adult version, add a splash of your favorite alcohol, such as vodka, white rum, or gin.

You can add some sabja seeds (falooda, tukmara, basil seeds) to this drink. They swell up like chia seeds when added to a liquid, giving the drink a great texture. You can add ½ teaspoon per glass. Just keep in mind that sabja seeds takes 10-15 minutes to swell up. So, use them accordingly.