Taal Shash / Ice Apple / Nungu Smoothie: Taal Shash (in Bangla) or jelly like sweet sap kernel of the Palmyra are hot favorites. Loaded cartful of these summer coolants are found being sold at every nook and corner of our city. Though I fondly remember having it from the trees at my grandma's backyard, Kolkata. It has many names Toddy Palm Fruit / Sugar Palm/ Tala Saja in Odiya/ Taati Munjalu in Andhra, Tadgole in Marathi, Taale Ningu in Kannada, Taal Shash in Bengal, With the abundance of Taal Shash in Chennai, we are fortunate enough to have it so often either as a fruit or as refreshing drink. Today's recipe is a very simple drink made with Ice Apple, milk, sugar and few pistachios. Palm fruit has tons of health benefits hence it is widely consumed during summers.
Ingredients:
4 Palm Kernels
2 cups cold Milk
2 tsp Sugar
2 tsp Rose water
Pinch of Roasted Cumin Powder
2-3 Sprigs of mint leaves
Few ice cubes
Chopped pistachios
Method:
Peel the brownish skin from the palm kernels and cut into small pieces. Add milk, Taal Shash, rose water, sugar and few ice cubes in a blender and blend till you get a smooth consistency. Adjust the sugar quantity according to your taste. Pour the liquid in tall glasses and garnish with a small pinch of roasted cumin powder. You may add pudina on top and serve chilled.
Notes:
- While buying Taal shash / Nungu, ask for tender and soft ones.
- You may add small chunks of Ice Apple while serving the drink for extra bites in between.
