Kulukki Sarbat (Pineapple Limeade)

Have you heard of Kulukki Sarbat (Pineapple Limeade), the ultimate fresh limeade from Kerala? If you visit during the summer season, especially the months of April and May, you’ll definitely come across the colourful Kulukki Sarbath on display at numerous street-food joints and roadside eateries. Kulukki (meaning “shaken”) sarbat is thus a popular “cool drink” on offer. If you have always resisted the temptation to try it out, wait no more!

Kulukki Sarbat  is a refreshing and healthy limeade (can be a lemonade as well) to rejuvenate you on any hot day! This is the best summer drink!

Here is an easy Kulukki Sarbath recipe that you can try at home. This pineapple limeade is a healthy alternative to the bottled fizzy drinks. It’s all natural, balanced, and a healthy choice to rehydrate your body.

Believed to have originated in Kozhikode (Calicut), kulukki sarbat has found it’s way to most of the popular roadside eateries in Kerala. It’s sweet, tangy, and mildly hot at the same time, making it a treat for your taste buds.

What is Kulukki Sarbat (Pineapple Limeade) made of?

The composition is quite simple – lime juice, water, finely chopped pineapple, green chillies (yes, you read that right), sabja (basil) seeds, a sugar syrup, and a pinch of salt. It’s an interesting mix indeed! For an even healthier version, replace the sugar syrup with honey. For an added fizz, replace water with soda (sparking water).

And remember

Kulukki Sarbath – It’s always shaken, and not stirred!

I have used honey as a healthier alternative to sugar in this recipe. Sabja (basil) seeds, one of the standard ingredients in kulukki sarbat, is a very interesting one as well. These black seeds are antioxidant rich, and nutritious. But, you can’t consume them directly. Soak them in water for a few minutes, and they will swell up to double their size. Using them in drinks adds a new texture without altering the taste of the drink.

Finely chopped pineapple is another standard ingredient, but you can add more fruits of your choice. In this recipe, I have added watermelons. I carved out some melon balls, and added them to the glass just before serving. After drinking the sarbat, it’s fun to scoop out all these fruits with a spoon and eat them, making it a filling mini-meal in itself!

It’s freshly made every single time, and only one serving at once. So get shaking, one serving at a time!

Hope you liked my kulukki sarbath recipe. Looking for ways to cool down this summer? Don’t forget to check out the following delicious, yet easy-to-make recipes.

• Ragi Manni
• Caramel Custard

Print Recipe

kulukki sarbat (pineapple limeade)

Kulukki Sarbat (Pineapple Limeade) is the ultimate fresh limeade from Kerala. It's sweet, tangy, and mildly hot at the same time, making it a refreshing treat for your taste buds.

Prep Time5 mins

Cook Time1 min

Total Time16 mins

Course: drink

Cuisine: Kerala

Keyword: sarbat, sarbath

Servings: 2 people

Ingredients

• 1 lime
• 1/2 cup pineapple finely chopped
• 2 teaspoon sabja seeds basil seeds
• 2 green chillies sliced
• 1/2 litre soda sparkling water
• 2 tablespoon honey
• salt a pinch
• ice plenty
• 1/2 cup watermelon optional
• 4-5 leaves mint leaves optional

Instructions

• Soak the sabja seeds in a cup of lukewarm water for at least 10 minutes.
• Scoop the watermelon to melon balls or cut them into small bite-size chunks (watermelon is an optional ingredient).
• Cut the lime into two, and remove the pips.
  
• I added mint leaves in the tray while making ice. When the water froze, I got these nice ice cubes with a tint of green.
• When the ice melts, the refreshing mint leaves will add a new flavour to your drink. Mint leaves are optional in this recipe.
  
• The sabja seeds would have doubled in volume by now.
• In a jar or bottle, squeeze half a lime, add half the sabja seeds, half of the chopped pineapple, 1 tablespoon honey, a pinch of salt, green chillies.
• Pour 250 ml soda (sparkling water), and shake well.
• Keep in mind that you are shaking an aerated drink. You don't want to ruin your kitchen walls.
  
• It's almost ready! Pour the shaken sarbat to a tall glass. Top it up with ice, and a couple of watermelon balls. Serve fresh!
  

Notes

• If you are allergic to pineapple, replace them with fruits of your choice. Finely chop them so that some of the flavours make it to the sarbat
• Use discretion while adding green chillies. It might be a good idea to remove them before serving to kids (or grownups who have less tolerance to the chilli heat)
• Advice: Add more honey if you have a sweet tooth