South Indian · 4 glasses

Panakam

Jaggery, dry ginger and cardamom. Ram Navami food, and it takes four minutes.

5 min Easy Vegetarian

Ingredients

  • 100g jaggery, grated
  • 600ml cold water
  • 1/2 tsp dry ginger powder
  • 1/4 tsp cardamom powder
  • A pinch of black pepper, ground
  • Juice of half a lemon
  • A pinch of salt

Method

  1. Dissolve the jaggery in the water completely. It takes longer than you expect.
  2. Strain it — jaggery always carries grit, and this is a drink you cannot chew.
  3. Dry ginger, cardamom, pepper, salt and lemon juice stirred in.
  4. Serve at room temperature rather than iced. That is how it is meant to be, and the ginger reads better warm.

Questions people ask about Panakam

How long does Panakam take?

About 5 minutes from starting to sitting down, and it is straightforward. That is start-to-finish, so it works on a weeknight when you have not planned anything.

What can I use instead of jaggery in Panakam?

Use brown sugar, or white sugar with a spoon of molasses.

Can I make Panakam ahead of time?

You can prepare it a few hours ahead and reheat gently. It keeps two days in the fridge, though it is best on the day.

Is Panakam vegetarian?

Yes, and as written it is vegan too. Check your specific brands if that matters to you.

How long does home-made panakam keep?

Best made and drunk the same day. Anything blended with fruit separates within a couple of hours, so stir or shake it before pouring.

Don't know what to cook? Let it decide →

If you liked this

Mint Coconut Chutney
5 min · Easy
Nannari Sharbat
8 min · Easy
Coconut Chutney Recipe
10 min · Some work
South Indian Filter Coffee
20 min · Some work
Ice Cream Soda
3 min · Easy
Cold Coffee
3 min · Easy