Nimbu Pani
Nimbu Pani is an Indian lemonade made with lemon, cumin, and salt. This refreshing summer drink can easily be made into a cocktail by adding gin or vodka the your glass.
Ingredients
Simple Syrup
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup water
Nimbu Pani
- simple syrup , to taste
- 1 cup lemon or lime juice , freshly squeezed
- 4 cups cold water
- cumin seeds , toasted and crushed (optional)
- sea salt flakes , for rimming glass (optional)
Garnishes
- Fresh mint , optional
- Fresh lemon verbena , optional
- Fresh basil , optional
Instructions
Make Simple Syrup
- Combine 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Add a squeeze of lemon juice to prevent the mixture from crystallizing. Stir and let cook just until sugar dissolves. Let cool.
Make Nimbu Pani
- Combine lime or lemon juice and water. Stir in simple syrup to taste.
- Run a lime or lemon wedge around rim of a glass, rim with salt and pour nimbu pani over ice cubes in glass. Serve cold and garnish with fresh mint, lemon verbena, or basil leaves, if desired.
Notes
- Variations: Add cardamom seeds or fresh lemon verbena leaves to the simple syrup.
- For hard Nimbu Pani: Add gin or vodka, and a cucumber slice as garnish.
- For popsicles: Pour lemonade into popsicle molds or paper cups. Freeze for at least 1 hour 30 minutes before placing sticks in the mixture. Place back in freezer until frozen.