The litchi season is here, but unfortunately, it is severely short-lived. This is why we like to make the most of it while the season lasts. A sweet and aromatic fruit, litchi (or lychee) grows sometime around the end of summer and the beginning of the monsoon in India and is available almost everywhere in abundance. It is sweet, juicy, and aromatic and is relished as is, but that doesn't limit its consumption! If you scroll through the internet, you will find a range of recipes where the fruit is used to make seasonal dishes. We recently came across one such option, called litchi squash. It is cool, refreshing, and an ideal mocktail to enjoy after a long day of work. Sounds perfect for the season, right? But before jumping into the recipe, let's find out what makes litchi a popular summer-monsoon fruit. Read on.
Also Read: 5 Monsoon Fruits Ideal For Diabetes: Delicious And Nutritious Picks
Photo Credit: iStock
5 Reasons Why Litchi Is A Popular Summer-Monsoon Fruit:
If mango is called the 'king of fruits,' litchi is referred to as the 'queen of fruits.' It is a tropical fruit that is versatile and packed with an abundance of nutrients. Here are some interesting facts that make litchi so special.
1. Aids immune health:
Litchi contains a good amount of antioxidants, anti-inflammatory properties, and vitamin C that help prevent several seasonal diseases. This further helps improve your immune health.
2. Helps lose weight:
Litchi is sweet but has high water and low-calorie content. Hence, it makes for a perfect fruit to add to your weight loss diet to curb sweet cravings, alongside aiding detoxification. These factors further support your weight loss regime.
3. Manages blood pressure:
Litchi has a balanced sodium and potassium content. This helps your blood vessels relax, further keeping the blood pressure level in check.
4. Reduces blemishes from the skin:
The vitamin C, along with antioxidants, makes litchi the perfect fruit to promote healthy skin. It helps reduce marks and blemishes, leaving your skin flawless.
5. Manages heart health:
Litchi contains flavanols that help fight free radical damage and oxidative stress in the body. This further helps your heart function properly, reducing various cardiovascular risks.
DIY Litchi Mocktail Recipe: How To Make Litchi Squash At Home:
This particular recipe is shared by Chef Ajay Chopra on his Instagram handle. Start with deseeding the litchis. Then put them in a pan, add enough water and sugar, and boil well. Next, blend everything in a mixer and strain the juice. You can either store it in an airtight sterilized bottle and keep it for around a month or use it then and there to prepare a refreshing mocktail.
To prepare the mocktail, take a tall glass and add some syrup of your choice. Here, we used cranberry syrup. To it, add the litchi squash and mint leaves and give it a stir. Finally, top it with club soda, and you have a refreshing drink, ready to be relished.
Also Read: 7 Best Drinks To Stay Warm This Monsoon (Easy Recipes Inside)
Watch the litchi squash recipe video below:
Now that you have the recipe handy, prepare it today and unwind! Meanwhile, go through the list of safety measures you should take while eating litchis in the monsoon. Click here to know more.
About Somdatta SahaExplorer- this is what Somdatta likes to call herself. Be it in terms of food, people or places, all she craves for is to know the unknown. A simple aglio olio pasta or daal-chawal and a good movie can make her day.