Happy Sri Rama Navami :)

When I was working in a school (in Bengaluru), I tasted kosambari and Muskmelon (kharbuja) panaka on Sri Rama Navami Day. I liked them and they are quite different from our Rama Navami dishes. I have already posted what we make in Andhra and Telangana on Sri Rama Navami (vada pappu, panakam and pulihora or mango rice). I asked one of my ex-coleagues how to make kosambari and muskmelon panaka to share with you :)
Let's see how to make them..

                                                  


Kosambari                                                                                                                                                                                                                  


                                    

What you need:

Skinned green gram (yellow moong dal)-1 cup
Grated carrot-2 tablespoons
Finely chopped green cucumber-2 tablespoons
Grated raw mango-1tablespoon
Grated fresh coconut-1 tablespoon
Finely chopped green chilly-1
Chopped coriander leaves-1 tablespoon
Salt to taste                                                           

 Preparation:

1. Soak the green gram for half an hour in water and drain it.
2. Take a mixing bowl and add the soaked green gram, grated carrot, chopped cucumber, grated raw mango, chopped chilly and coriander leaves.
3. Add salt to taste before serving and mix them well.

        The colourful and healthy kosambari is ready to serve now which helps to cool our body in summer.

  Note: You can also add lime juice instead of raw mango. If you want, you can season the salad by   adding a few mustard seeds, skinned black gram, a pinch of hing and a few curry leaves to one teaspoon of hot       oil.


Musk Melon Panakam:

Musk melon is rich in fiber, potassium, vitamin A and C. It improves our immune system and is also good for the skin.


                                                 

What you need:
Ripe musk melon-1
Grated jaggery-1/4 a cup
Cardamom powder-a pinch
Water-4 cups
Preparation:

 1. Wash and cut the musk melon. Deseed it and squeese the pulp into juice with your palm in a container. 

 2. Add the grated jaggery (remove the impurities if any), cardamom powder and water to the musk melon        and stir it till the jaggery melts.

     The delicious musk melon panaka is ready to serve now :)

Note: You can also add one tablespoon of lime juice to this drink. You can dry the melon seeds and use them in sweets like motichoor laddoo.