The Upside of Holi - With a Summer Treat

The sun was rippling all over the amphitheatre from above the palm trees circling it and beyond the skyline of our high-rise building.  I dreamily watched Peaches playing in the pleasant heat, swaying to the cool summer breeze, her curly locks glistening gold in the mellow sunshine.

Taking a deep breath and thinking to myself, " Why can't Mumbai be like this all year around?"

This is the state I want to be in, the pre-Holi one. The one in which everything about living in Mumbai is a blessing, even being stuck in traffic. Where the heat's not moved up to the point of being oppressive and you can actually float around for a while in the daytime, feeling a clean sort of summer glow radiating from your skin. (As opposed to greasy T-zone and under-arm patches and all sorts of gunk showing up on the best of your face.)

And then we come to Holi. I try my best to put on a brave face for Holi, not just cos the weather starts taking a pretty ugly turn from here on till pre-monsoons. Don't get me wrong. I like Holi. I like the visual effect of air puffs breaking into a kaleidoscope of colors. I like seeing bright happy faces with stained teeth, moving around with the awkward gait of damp kittens. I like getting wet in the rain dance - for a while. But then it just gets monotonous. I like thandai too. Never had the bhaang variety though.

Peaches's First Holi

But hey, don't even get me started on the premature Holi celebrations. I mean you just step out for a walk and a dirty balloon chooses to piss all over your perfectly done-up hair. And no, you can't say WTF cos first of all, we need to watch our language in front of kids and second of all, what are you, a spoilt sport? And then some people just happen to pretend they're in some ridiculous life-threatening warfare and that you, an innocent passerby humming a sweet melody, are in fact a vicious Pakistani soldier in an apocalyptic state of mind. A little over-the-top, I'd say.

Anyway, I won't go on rambling about what I don't like about Holi and how I think some people take the "Bura Na Maano Holi Hai" clause to sleazy heights. Let's just stop at saying that I can't stand the aftermath, since, as a mum, I spend most of time dealing with mess.

But I've decided that there are some things that I am going to look forward to this Holi, food and refreshment wise. Among which, I'd love to share with you a heady summer delight, the perfect antidote to the imminent, intolerable cruelty of Mumbai heat.

Two words that shout out a staple summer craving. Watermelon and Ice-cream. A combination of it would really have to struggle to go wrong, I suppose. Ripe watermelons seeping all their generous juicy goodnesses into a light sorbet laced with the sweet, earthy hint of basil. And who can resist hues of pop-candy colors in summer?

Image Source: www.food52.com

While I prepare the Holi must-eats, a.ka. gujjias and mathri, I look forward to tomorrow cos apart from all the despicable madness, I get to usher in summer with this sorbet cup, relished with the hubby and kid.

Et voila! Here's an inventive watermelon make-over that'll bring the joy of summer to your homes. Not to mention, it's light on the calories.

Watermelon and Basil Sorbetto (Serves 2)
[If you're wondering about not having an ice-cream maker, this recipe doesn't use one. Just add some extra effort and ducking your face in the freezer on your part but I promise, it's worth it!]

You need:
1 cup of  sugar
1 cup of water
Half a watermelon - deseeded and broken into large chunks
1 tablespoon of freshly squeezed lime juice (the juice of 1 standard lime)
1/4 cup of fresh basil, minced

Prepare the sugar syrup:

• In a medium saucepan, bring the sugar and water to a boil without stirring.
• Let it boil on low flame until the sugar has completely dissolved. Remove from heat and keep aside.
• After it cools down, refrigerate while you make the rest of the sorbet.

Puree the watermelon:

• While the syrup is cooling, puree the watermelon chunks with lime juice in a blender.
• Strain it through a mesh strainer for some unadulaterated watermelon-y goodness.

Combine:

• Fold in the sugar syrup with the puree. Add some minced basil with this mixture. There you have it. Candy pink sorbet mix with little specks of green pixie dust.
• Chill it in the refrigerator for an hour.

Achieving a Smooth Sorbet:

• Use a deep baking tray or something durable that can be popped in the freezer for long. Pour your sorbet mix onto it.
• After 30-45 minutes, open the freezer. If it's freezing around the edges, take a spatula and just ruin everything. Your kid will be happy to oblige. You need to stir it violently so that it breaks down. Alternatively, use a hand blender. Like really...beat the shit out of it.
• Re-freeze and repeat. Do it every half hour for about two-three hours. Once you get a smooth icy texture, your sorbet is ready.

Quenelle it on to your ice-cream cups and enjoy it in all its vibrant glory!

Recipe Source: http://strawberrymint.org/2012/07/14/watermelon-sorbet-with-basil/