Street style watermelon juice

I conceived this recipe not from anything original but rather from the way my Goan family thinks the best way to drink/eat a watermelon is. I can imagine people from around here (U>S>A) jaw hanging down to the ground watching my father sprinkle salt on a watermelon before serving it to us to eat. It’s the Indian way to take in-season fruit and vegetables and add seasonings to it. Not because they lack flavour but because after a while, you will easily tire of the same old same juice-dripping-down-your-chin-deep-burp-from-excessive-fruit-intake. The salt, chaat masala and chilli powder are the merry brigade of fruit flavour enhancers. They provide variety for your every fruit-eating experience all through the year. And in a country where there are more than one seasons for the same fruit, you need it. Trust. Even though I live in a one-summer place now, I don’t think twice about shuffling for my dabba of chaat masala. You should too.

You can make this recipe two ways: One with a blender and one without. I have you covered blenderless people. We are a team!

Street style watermelon juice

You can make this a day or 4 ahead and leave it in a giant pitcher in your fridge. The pulp tends to separate from the juice when it stored so stir it up before drinking. This drink is also very accommodating to sparkling water and alcohol.

Ingredients

Serves 4

• 4 lb watermelon, cut into small cubes
• 2 stalks of fresh mint
• Juice of 1 lime
• 1/2 inch piece ginger, grated
• 1 tsp chaat masala
• Ice

To make this recipe in a blender: Add the watermelon to a blender jar and blend until smooth. You might have to do this is two parts (and that’s okay!) Add the chaat masala, ginger, mint and lime juice to the blender jar and blend for 10 seconds until the mint is shredded into smaller pieces and everything is mixed through. Serve over ice and top with whole mint leaves for garnish.

To make this without a blender: Arrange the watermelon cube on a plate and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Tear the mint into smaller pieces. Add the lime juice and ginger to a cup and stir to combine. Pour the lime juice mixture over the chilled watermelon and garnish with the mint. Sprinkle the chaat masala over the top. If you need more than a teaspoon for this version, have at it.