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If you are looking for the ultimate way to cool down, these jal jeera lime paletas are it! Jal jeera has always been one of my favorite summer drinks! Jal jeera is a refreshing Indian summer drink made with cumin, black salt, mint, ginger, and citrus like lime or lemon. It is tangy, salty, slightly sweet, and hydrating!
The jal jeera masala I use here is from my cookbook, Desi Bakes, but you can also find premade jal jeera masala at your local Indian grocery store or even online if you want a shortcut. I poured my masala into tea bags to steep them in the syrup, but you can add it directly into the pot as well.
Growing up, we never spent money on sports drinks or Gatorade when it was hot outside. My family made jal jeera instead! It was our OG electrolyte booster, hydrating, cooling, and so flavorful! Cumin is seen as a cooling spice in Ayurveda, and black salt helps replenish the body’s salt levels. Turning it into a paleta makes it even more fun and refreshing, especially on those hot summer afternoons!
If you grew up in India, you probably remember chuskas! Shaved ice drenched in tangy, salty, sweet syrups that kids and adults ran to in the summer heat! Chuska means “to suck,” and people would suck the flavors out of the ice before enjoying it. These jal jeera lime paletas bring back that same playful vibe, except here the jal jeera flavor is frozen right into the ice!
I love how the tart lime juice, a touch of sugar, and the savory hit of jal jeera masala come together in these paletas. They are sweet, salty, sour, and so refreshing! Honestly, you will want to keep a whole stash in your freezer and pull one out every time the sun gets too strong.
So skip the neon sports drinks and try these jal jeera lime paletas instead! Once you taste that salty tart sweet combo in frozen form, you will be hooked!
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Jal Jeera Lime Paletas (Chuska)
- Total Time: 15
- Yield: makes 2 dozen ice pops depending on mold size 1x
Description
Cool off with these tangy, salty, and sweet jal jeera lime paletas! Made with jal jeera masala, lime, and sugar, they’re the perfect refreshing summer treat.
Ingredients
- 3 cups water
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- the peel of one lime
- 2 tbsp jal jeera masala
- 1/2 tsp black salt
- 1 cup lime juice
Instructions
- Into a pot add water, sugar, lime peel, jal jeera masala, and black salt. Bring to a simmer and cover and let this steep for 10 minutes. Strain the syrup into a bowl with a spout. Add lime juice and stir well.
- Fill your ice pop molds and freeze overnight or until solid.
Notes
I added my jal jeera masala into a tea bag before adding it into the pot, but you can also add it directly and then strain it out after.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Frozen Dessert
