<p>For a foodie like me, the jamun fruit, or the Indian blackberry, doesn’t conjure up images of much culinary greatness. <br /><br /></p>.<p>However, as I watched people carrying baskets full of ripe, black jamuns from the tree growing in our courtyard garden, I became curious about the fruit’s appeal. <br /><br />Apparently, the fruit has numerous health benefits, such as controlling blood sugar levels, improving the functioning of the digestive system and lowering blood pressure levels, among others.<br /><br />Here are some recipes to help you incorporate the healthy fruit in your diet in <br />simple yet delicious ways:<br /><br />Jamun juice <br />Ingredients: 10-12 fresh ripe jamuns (washed and de-seeded), ½ cup water or as desired, 1 tsp of sugar; 1 tsp of salt<br /><br />Method: Blend the jamuns using water to a smooth puree-like consistency. Place this jamun puree mixture on a strainer, which should be set over a bowl. Using a flat spatula, gently mash the jamun puree mixture and stir until all the jamun juice <br />separates out. <br /><br />To the juice collected in the bowl, add the sugar as well as salt. Stir well. Pour the juice into glasses and serve.<br /><br />Jamun and pears salad with lemon dressing<br />Ingredients: 1 cup ripe jamuns, (washed, de-seeded and chopped), ½ cup pears (peeled and chopped), 1 tbsp lemon juice<br /><br />Method: Combine the chopped fruits and lemon juice in a small bowl. Mix these salad <br />ingredients well. Subsequently, refrigerate this salad for at least 10-15 minutes so as to blend all the flavours and then serve. <br /><br />Jamun raita <br />Ingredients: 1 cup ripe jamun (de-seeded and finely chopped), 1½ cups yoghurt, ½ tsp roasted cumin seeds powder, salt to taste; few coriander leaves for garnishing<br /><br />Method: Blend all the ingredients until a smooth, creamy consistency is attained. Next, transfer this creamy jamun mixture into a bowl. Add the salt and stir. Then, refrigerate for about 30 minutes. Finally, garnish with a few coriander leaves and then serve. <br /><br />Jamun milkshake<br />Ingredients: 1 cup ripe black jamuns (de-seeded and chopped), ½ cup cold milk, 1 tbsp sugar, 1 tsp vanilla essence<br /><br />Method: In a blender, pour in the milk, jamuns and sugar. Also, add the vanilla essence. Blend these ingredients until a smooth consistency is attained. Finally, pour the healthy milkshake into glasses and serve.<br /><br />Jamun and strawberry smoothie<br />Ingredients: 1 ½ cups jamuns, (finely chopped and de-seeded), strawberries (finely chopped and de-seeded), 1 cup water or as desired<br /><br />Method: Blend all the ingredients to a smooth consistency and then pour the smoothie <br />into glasses. <br /><br /></p>
<p>For a foodie like me, the jamun fruit, or the Indian blackberry, doesn’t conjure up images of much culinary greatness. <br /><br /></p>.<p>However, as I watched people carrying baskets full of ripe, black jamuns from the tree growing in our courtyard garden, I became curious about the fruit’s appeal. <br /><br />Apparently, the fruit has numerous health benefits, such as controlling blood sugar levels, improving the functioning of the digestive system and lowering blood pressure levels, among others.<br /><br />Here are some recipes to help you incorporate the healthy fruit in your diet in <br />simple yet delicious ways:<br /><br />Jamun juice <br />Ingredients: 10-12 fresh ripe jamuns (washed and de-seeded), ½ cup water or as desired, 1 tsp of sugar; 1 tsp of salt<br /><br />Method: Blend the jamuns using water to a smooth puree-like consistency. Place this jamun puree mixture on a strainer, which should be set over a bowl. Using a flat spatula, gently mash the jamun puree mixture and stir until all the jamun juice <br />separates out. <br /><br />To the juice collected in the bowl, add the sugar as well as salt. Stir well. Pour the juice into glasses and serve.<br /><br />Jamun and pears salad with lemon dressing<br />Ingredients: 1 cup ripe jamuns, (washed, de-seeded and chopped), ½ cup pears (peeled and chopped), 1 tbsp lemon juice<br /><br />Method: Combine the chopped fruits and lemon juice in a small bowl. Mix these salad <br />ingredients well. Subsequently, refrigerate this salad for at least 10-15 minutes so as to blend all the flavours and then serve. <br /><br />Jamun raita <br />Ingredients: 1 cup ripe jamun (de-seeded and finely chopped), 1½ cups yoghurt, ½ tsp roasted cumin seeds powder, salt to taste; few coriander leaves for garnishing<br /><br />Method: Blend all the ingredients until a smooth, creamy consistency is attained. Next, transfer this creamy jamun mixture into a bowl. Add the salt and stir. Then, refrigerate for about 30 minutes. Finally, garnish with a few coriander leaves and then serve. <br /><br />Jamun milkshake<br />Ingredients: 1 cup ripe black jamuns (de-seeded and chopped), ½ cup cold milk, 1 tbsp sugar, 1 tsp vanilla essence<br /><br />Method: In a blender, pour in the milk, jamuns and sugar. Also, add the vanilla essence. Blend these ingredients until a smooth consistency is attained. Finally, pour the healthy milkshake into glasses and serve.<br /><br />Jamun and strawberry smoothie<br />Ingredients: 1 ½ cups jamuns, (finely chopped and de-seeded), strawberries (finely chopped and de-seeded), 1 cup water or as desired<br /><br />Method: Blend all the ingredients to a smooth consistency and then pour the smoothie <br />into glasses. <br /><br /></p>
