Jigarthanda

Jigarthanda, a unique Madurai cool drink is very nice and healthy to have in summer.
Jigar in Hindi language means heart and Thanda means cold. So we can make out it’s meaning as the cooler of heart. It is a type of falooda (faluda), which gives pleasure. Jigar Thanda means Manam kulir panam (Ullaththaik kuliravaikkum panam) in Tamil.

Many attractive names like jil jil jigarthanda, jum jum jigarthanda can be heard in Madurai.


Ingredients:

• Milk: 600 ml
• Almond pisin (Badam pisin): 3 tbsp
• Rose syrub: 2 tbsp (or nannari syrup 60 ml)
• Ice cream: 1 small size
  

Method of preparation:

• Soak badam pisin in water for about eight hours to convert it from gum form into enlarged jelly form.
• Boil milk in low flame. Continue boiling so as to reduce the quantity to 300 ml (half of 600 ml).
• Allow for cooling and keep it in refrigerator.
• Fill half of a glass tumbler with this chilled milk.
• Add soaked badam pisin, rose / nannari syrup and ice cream.
• Tasty, healthy and cool Jigarthanda is ready.

Nannari is a natural coolant. It is called sarsaparilla.
Edible alga / algae (Kadal pasi) can also be used instead of badam pisin.

Badam Halwa: A delicious sweet / dessert

• Soak 1 cup of almonds in a bowl of boiling water.
• Remove and discard skin.
• Grind to make a fine paste.
• Boil 2 1/2 cups sugar with 1 cup of water to get syrup.
• Add the paste of almond to the boiling syrup and stir well.
• Dissolve 1 pinch of saffron in a little water and add to the syrup.
• Add 1 cup of ghee and stir.
• Wait for the contents to become like paste and add one more cup of ghee gradually.
• Maintain medium flame. Remove from flame when we get a batter like result.
• This tasty Badam Halwa, can be served hot or cold.