Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Color Mania #5: Hibiscus Squash

Hibuscus Squash1

Hibiscus squash!!!!! yes, making a flower squash was a very impressive idea which my sis suggested. I was equally thrilled about it too :)

Hibiscus is also called as sorrel, rosemallow, flor de Jamaica and Sembaruthi in Tamil. Its a very beautiful flower and it blooms in various colors like red, pink, white, yellow and so on. Wikipedia says there are around 200 species of these flowers.

I have used the regular red hibiscus flower to make this reddy red squash.

Its simply a yummy, vibrant and attractive drink to welcome your guest. :)

Hibuscus Squash4
Note: Sharp eyesight should definitely catch the second glass seen at the stem of my goblet ;)

color mania

Color Mania #5: Red

Did you know?
  • Red represents beauty in many languages and cultures, including Russia.
  • In India, a red mark on the forehead is said to bring good luck.
  • Islamic, Hindu, and Chinese brides traditionally wear red.
  • In England, red phone booths and red double decker buses are national icons. Standard British pillar boxes (mail boxes) have been painted red since 1874.
  • Chinese New Year is celebrated by wearing red clothing and decorating the house with red. Red envelopes with "luck money" are given to unmarried children to bring good fortune to them for the rest of the year.
  • The longest wavelength of light is red.
  • Red is the highest arc of the rainbow.
  • Bees can't see the color red, but they can see all other bright colors. Red flowers are usually pollinated by birds, butterflies, bats, and wind, rather than bees.
I have a favorite red t.shirt that I love to wear. I don't care if the bulls get attracted ;)

Hibuscus Squash2


Ingredients:

Hibiscus flowers - 20
Water - 1/2 liter
Sugar - 2 cups
Lemon - 1

Hibuscus Squash
Method:

Collect hibiscus(Sembaruthi) flowers and take the petals alone. Wash them cleanly and soak them in 1/2 liter of hot water overnight.

Strain them and remove the petals from the water. Now the water would have turned red. Take the water in a pan and add sugar to it. Boil until the sugar dissolves and bubbles well. Remove from flame and add juice of one lemon and mix well.

The squash would be really red enough. So you dont need to add any extra food color to it.

Hibiscus squash is ready to use. :)

Add 1/3 glass of squash and mix in plain soda or water to it and serve chill :)

You can store the hibiscus squash in refrigerator for 6 months.

Happy making :) Enjoy drinking :)

Hibuscus Squash3
Method 2:

Soak the flower petals in lemon juice of two lemons over night. Remove the petals and pour in one liter of water to it and boil until it becomes nearly half the quantity.

Pour in 1/3 glass of syrup and mix soda or water to it. Add sugar or honey to get the desired sweetness.

Serve chill :)

Hibuscus Squash5

Written by:
Nithya
Send in your queries by clicking here.

42 comments:

Anu Nandu said...

Gorgeous red Nits! Love Love Love the concept and the drink!

USA Trip said...

Yahooooo!! Lovely lovely recipe and lovely lovely pics nithi... Great Job!

Srivalli said...

Pictures are extremely good!..so much work I know..:)

Priya dharshini said...

Best clicks and great work..I have tasted hibiscus,go crazy on buying it in stores...will try this recipe....

Unknown said...

Interesting recipe and beautiful pic.nithya

Jeyashris Kitchen said...

gorgeous pictures nithya. New drink to me.

Kanchan said...

Oh .. this is new ... I had no idea that hibiscus is edible ! Need to try this .. and what a wonderful presentation ... loved it !

Parita said...

Fantastic nits! I am so proud of u sweetie..gorgeous clicks and the second one is just amazing! Hibiscus squash sounds truly refreshing..bookmarked!

Menaga Sathia said...

super pics n healthy recipe...

Priya Suresh said...

Wat a beautiful squash Nithya, i prepared similar squash with dried hibiscus flower, looks sooo cute..

My Kitchen Antics said...

oh my what an eye catching colour...brilliant idea

Aruna Manikandan said...

WOW!!!!!!!
No words dear!!!!!!
awesome clicks :-)

Pari Vasisht said...

Hi Nithya, lovely colour. Hibiscus drink is extremely healthy for women, builds up haemoglobin and it's leaves are good for hair.

Hamaree Rasoi said...

I love your foodography ;-)I mean I love your second click very much where I can see the second glass also through the stem !!!Hibiscus squash sounds so refreshing. Lovely color...

Deepa
Hamaree Rasoi

FH said...

Beautiful pictures, good job. Drink is refreshing.

divya said...

Beautiful pictures, good job. Drink is refreshing.

Shabs.. said...

wow....i love the fourth shot the best..... where u captured the squash pouring halfway among ...how did u do it?!!!....amazing..

Sailaja Damodaran said...

I have heard a lot about this drink in Mexico.....very refreshing.Love the colour.

Suji said...

Had this once, and we loved it, We dont get hibiscus here though, otherwise would have def made..

Pics are simply superb, way to go!!!

Love
Kairali sisters

Jayanthy Kumaran said...

Fantastic innovative thinking dear. Needless to mention the beauuuuuuuuutiful clicks. Hats off...!

Panchpakwan said...

Wooowww Lovely color..this is new drink to me dear.

Unknown said...

Nithya, this looks so refreshing. I love color red too, not in everything but, yes, I love it :)

I am guessing I need to use fresh flowers, right? or does it have to be dried ones? Please email or leave comment on my blog. Thanks in advance :)

Suja Manoj said...

Oh my looks so lovely..gorgeous pic nithya.

kbr said...

nice pics, yet to try and taste

Shanthi Krishnakumar said...

The drink is very common, but your pictures..... Ah!!! awesome and wonderful clicks

Nitha said...

Lovely pics.. I never knew that we could make such wonderful drinks out of hibiscus..

Unknown said...

Brilliant pics!! Love the 2nd click a lot..Never tasted this before. Will try it on our next India trip..

Pavithra Elangovan said...

I too love this drink nithi.. Very healthy and good for hair too.. Lovely color and clicks.. Atamma will make fresh juice itself no boiling. Just petals, sugar and water put it in the blender and drain and drink...with some ice cubes.

Preeti Kashyap said...

Awesome pics and lovely recipe, Bookmarked!

Swathi said...

Nithya,
Nice one this recipe i can make a pink hibiscus squash i that one in my garden.

Suganya said...

Lovely pictures. Nice recipe... YUM!

Nammaruchi.blogspt.com said...

Lovely red colour!Nice healthy drink..Love the vibrant pics!

AvanthiRao said...

lovely pics asusual amd its very gud for health especially for ladies :)

GayathriRaj said...

Thats an awesome presentation....i think i have a sharp eye....i can see the second glass from first... Thats a gr8 photography i think...really very talented....that color of the squash is really nice and gr8.....

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Cool Lassi(e) said...

Awww...lost all the typed comments, i think. Sorry dear, missed all of your color mania posts. Busy schedule and all. This drink is so vibrant that it would stop me in my tracks and make me do a beeline for one or two glasses of it. Love 4 of these CM posts. Which one didn't win me over? The Chocolaty Mocchachino cause its not dark enough for me. All others rock!

Shifa AbduRehman said...

woderful and colorful blog dear :)

Pushpa said...

First time on your blog just loving it.Pease followmy blog I am a new blogger from San Diego,I have some simple and healthy dishes on my blog.

http://www.simplehomefood.com

Torviewtoronto said...

glad you linked this so perfect for the theme
a favourite healthy drink
lovely pictures

mamtc said...

Simply artistic!

PreeOccupied said...

You have a new fan now. Love these photographs. We call the hibiscus flowers - jabakusum. I last had a hibiscus drink in Bangalore. Its very good for the hair, apparently.

Tahemeem said...

Lovely description and wonderful pics... Never ever thought this could be done... excellent...

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