Panakam Recipe | Muskmelon Panakam

Vegan Panakam Recipe

Although it is popularly made for Ramanavami, this drink makes for a good snack on a regular basis.

On the occasion of Ram Navami festival which is celebrated as the birth of Lord Rama in India, a special traditional drink called Panaka is prepared. Temples and community groups get ready with huge vessels to prepare Panaka, Neer majjige (Buttermilk) or Kosambari (Cucumber lentil salad) on the festival day to offer as Naivedya or Prasad(offering) to Lord Rama.

This festival falls in summer and these drinks and salad help beat the summer heat! Panaka is prepared with different fruits, but the main festival one is prepared with Muskmelon.

Although it is popularly made for the festival, this drink makes for a good snack on a regular basis.

Celebrate today with this delicious drink.

Whole Food Plant Based Panakam Recipe

Course: Course 1: Raw, Juice & Smoothie, Ram Navami Festival Dish, Snack
Cuisine: Indian Traditional Festival Recipe
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 4 glasses

INGREDIENTS

1 Muskmelon
1 cup Date Syrup
1 tsp Cardamom Powder / Elaichi Powder

INGREDIENTS

1. Peel musk melon and remove seeds.
2. Grind muskmelon to get musk melon smoothie. Mix with date syrup to get muskmelon panakam.
3. Crush cardamom into a fine powder and mix into muskmelon panakam.
4. Add drinking water if needed to dilute. Keep in mind that sweetness will reduce too!
5. Serve chilled!

Nutrition Science Highlights for WFPB Muskmelon Panakam Recipe

1. Why not honey, sugar or jaggery? Sugar and Jaggery are processed foods. Although jaggery is healthier than brown sugar, which, in turn, is healthier than white sugar, all forms of processed foods are unhealthy when compared to whole plant foods. Honey is healthwise as good as jaggery, which isn't saying much. In addition to not being very healthy, honey production kills millions of bees every year, affecting our environment adversely. The best sweetener alternative is a whole fruit or dry fruit. The easiest method of using these is date syrup, as it does not involve peeling or chopping.