Sharjah Shake: Step by Step Recipe
Sharjah shakes were all the rage when I was in college. Although it feels like just yesterday that I was in college, sadly, its been a while.
That's the time when milk shake parlors sprang up all over town and people of all ages dropped by for a quick relief from the heat and humidity that's almost always present in Kerala.
Amma and I have shared countless number of sharjah shakes in these parlors during our almost-everyday town visits, leaving with a full stomach and numb tongues. Ah, the good old days.
As if having a Sharjah shake almost every time we stepped out of the house wasn't enough, we used to make it at home too. "Packet milk" was bought and chilled especially for this purpose as the milk we used normally came from a neighbour with a cow (this milk was boiled in a milk cooker, cream extracted and stored away for churning butter that would later be made into ghee.. phew!)
Back to Sharjah Shake. Here's how we used to make it. I am sure there are countless variations out there trying to mimic the milk shake parlour versions. This is ours and its very flexible.
Sharjah Shake Recipe
Serves 2
1. Chop up one ripe banana straight into your blender.
2. Throw in 4-5 whole raw cashewnuts or almonds.
3. Add 1 tbsp bournvita / maltova / chocolate horlicks / ovaltine to this. We have tried even regular horlicks and that tastes good too.
4. Top up with about 2 cups frozen chunks of milk. I used chilled milk here because I was having this for breakfast. To get the authentic milk shake parlour version, freeze milk (in ice trays if you can) and break it up with a strong knife into chunks and then add it in. This will give a crushed ice texture to the drink. Also, using whole milk will enhance the taste (but of course!).
5. Pour and... go on! Bottoms Up!
Note:
Adding sugar is optional since the chocolate drink powder and banana will lend some sweetness to the drink. You can add one date or 2tsp honey if you like the flavour. We usually stick with sugar if needed but taste first.
This goes to the "Serve me Some…Juices, Shakes, Smoothies" event at Cook Curry Nook.
That's the time when milk shake parlors sprang up all over town and people of all ages dropped by for a quick relief from the heat and humidity that's almost always present in Kerala.
Amma and I have shared countless number of sharjah shakes in these parlors during our almost-everyday town visits, leaving with a full stomach and numb tongues. Ah, the good old days.
As if having a Sharjah shake almost every time we stepped out of the house wasn't enough, we used to make it at home too. "Packet milk" was bought and chilled especially for this purpose as the milk we used normally came from a neighbour with a cow (this milk was boiled in a milk cooker, cream extracted and stored away for churning butter that would later be made into ghee.. phew!)
Back to Sharjah Shake. Here's how we used to make it. I am sure there are countless variations out there trying to mimic the milk shake parlour versions. This is ours and its very flexible.
Sharjah Shake Recipe
Serves 2
1. Chop up one ripe banana straight into your blender.
2. Throw in 4-5 whole raw cashewnuts or almonds.
3. Add 1 tbsp bournvita / maltova / chocolate horlicks / ovaltine to this. We have tried even regular horlicks and that tastes good too.
4. Top up with about 2 cups frozen chunks of milk. I used chilled milk here because I was having this for breakfast. To get the authentic milk shake parlour version, freeze milk (in ice trays if you can) and break it up with a strong knife into chunks and then add it in. This will give a crushed ice texture to the drink. Also, using whole milk will enhance the taste (but of course!).
5. Pour and... go on! Bottoms Up!
Note:
Adding sugar is optional since the chocolate drink powder and banana will lend some sweetness to the drink. You can add one date or 2tsp honey if you like the flavour. We usually stick with sugar if needed but taste first.
This goes to the "Serve me Some…Juices, Shakes, Smoothies" event at Cook Curry Nook.
Posts
Ummm..I love Sharjah shake too and used to have countless glasses of the same during my college days too..:).In Ekm,we have a Juice parlor bang opposite our house and whenever I am there I used to take a steel 'thookkupathram' and get about 4-5 of those,for the whole family..:).Now of course,they have disposable parcel cups:),saves me the embarrasment!!.The ones I have had are those where the chocolate powder and nuts are used as garnish,rather than mixed with the shake..any which way,this is one sooooper cool cummer drink!!
ReplyDeleteAwesomeness! I'm so glad you made this Nags :) Thanks so much for sending this over. Will try this soon.
ReplyDeletethat's a lovely shake...mmm..delicious
ReplyDeleteimedietely tried this.My daughter who hates bananas loved this very much.Great hit at my home.both my kids loved this.Great way to make her eat bananas.
ReplyDeleteI forgot this for a while,thanks for remembering
ReplyDeleteI never tried grinding cashews,just add powdered one for garnishing,will try this too!
jeyashri! wow!! that must be the quickest anyone has tried my recipe :) thanks for trying the sharjah shake!
ReplyDeleteWonderful drink,i first tasted this in vijaywada when i went for my sister's marriage reception,loved it so much.Thanx for the recipe will try this soonnnnnnnn.
ReplyDeleteawesome shake....
ReplyDeleteNaaaaaaaaaaguuu......Tried & loved it. Thanks for this wonderful post.Going to be regular in the mornings!!!
ReplyDeleteThis looks delicious. I love to make different shakes and smoothies, but I have never combined bananas with cashew nuts. I can just imagine that this will taste real nice.
ReplyDeleteWowww..Looks perfect and delicious dear..Ippo ee choodathu kitiyirunnel oru glass adikkamayirunnu..
ReplyDeleteYummyyyyyyyyyyyyy :) looks so good and simple. The cashew is making it really rich
ReplyDeleteWow thats a delicious shake...its has been ages i prepared it...makes me drool..
ReplyDeleteTotally new shake to me!
ReplyDeleteI thought they added dates as well
ReplyDeleteAwesome shake.. looks simple and delicious.. will try dis soon..
ReplyDeleteThat sounds delicious... cant wait for the warm weather to try this.
ReplyDeleteThat looks delicious, adding nuts or boost to a shake, will try this soon.
ReplyDeleteLooks so yumm! I have tried a similar version with hersheys syrup. Will try adding maltova/boost next time!
ReplyDeleteMy RSS feed is slow - I see your post and want to jump in to comment - and there are already 19 comments!
ReplyDeleteSharjah shake is fit for a sharjah king. But I know I can drink it too and of course with low fat milk :(
yummmyyyy!!! Thanks for posting this!!
ReplyDeleteNag,
ReplyDeleteSharjah shake looks good, bring back lot of memories.
This looks Yumm and a perfect shake for summer
ReplyDeleteDeesha, like I have mentioned in the 'note' section, you can add dates or even honey to sweeten the sharjah shake. at home, we just add sugar if necessary because usually we are quite happy with the sweetness of the chocolate drink powder :)
ReplyDeleteOh yes, I completely missed the 'note' section :)
ReplyDeleteWow, looks delicious! I have never tasted this, but my hubby keeps telling how they loved it... I thank you for this easy recipe, gotta try this! and surely let you know!
ReplyDeleteoh yeah i remember sharjah shake, but didn;t know you add ovaltine, horlicks et al. Good one.
ReplyDeletewowww..superb snap..njaan ivide daahichirikkuvaanu..so tempting.. :)
ReplyDeleteNags..i tried your sakkarapongal yesterday... it was so tasty..shall upload soon.. :)
ReplyDeleteI didnt know banana and chocolate combo is called Sharjah shake... I have made this before minus the cashews and love it... I add hot cocoa pouch because tht is what I usually have at home...
ReplyDeletethe sharjah shake which I used to drink with friends in our clg contained peanuts also I think . but i think the recipe varies a bit from place to place rt.
ReplyDeleteanyway thanks for bringing back some old memories
I didnt know banana and chocolate combo is called Sharjah shake... I have made this before minus the cashews and love it... I add hot cocoa pouch because tht is what I usually have at home...
ReplyDeleteWow, looks delicious! I have never tasted this, but my hubby keeps telling how they loved it... I thank you for this easy recipe, gotta try this! and surely let you know!
ReplyDeleteNag,
ReplyDeleteSharjah shake looks good, bring back lot of memories.
yummmyyyy!!! Thanks for posting this!!
ReplyDeleteThat looks delicious, adding nuts or boost to a shake, will try this soon.
ReplyDeleteAwesome shake.. looks simple and delicious.. will try dis soon..
ReplyDeleteYummyyyyyyyyyyyyy :) looks so good and simple. The cashew is making it really rich
ReplyDeleteNaaaaaaaaaaguuu......Tried & loved it. Thanks for this wonderful post.Going to be regular in the mornings!!!
ReplyDeleteI forgot this for a while,thanks for remembering
ReplyDeleteI never tried grinding cashews,just add powdered one for garnishing,will try this too!
imedietely tried this.My daughter who hates bananas loved this very much.Great hit at my home.both my kids loved this.Great way to make her eat bananas.
ReplyDeleteAwesomeness! I'm so glad you made this Nags :) Thanks so much for sending this over. Will try this soon.
ReplyDeleteoh yumm.. this was heaven back as a kid...
ReplyDeleteI know!! I was transported to Sharjah Shake memories when I took a sip too :)
ReplyDeleteAdding peanuts would be a great variation to Sharjah Shake, actually..
ReplyDeleteThat's great!! Thanks for trying the sakkarai pongal, Lena :)
ReplyDelete:)
ReplyDeleteAwesome.... first time i have tasted this and my hubby who never likes milk shakes of any kind liked it too :). Would like to include this in my blog and link it to yours. If thats ok with you?
ReplyDeleteOf course niva :)
ReplyDeleteHey, this is totally new to me.. i lov the name sounds diff .. hope 2 try it out..cheers!
ReplyDeleteWahee
Hi Nags. Humm ...Sharjah shake, had never heard of it! Just recently got to know from a friend who owns a food joint in Kerala that Arabian cuisine is well loved there. But will one get such a shake in Sharjah?
ReplyDeletehahaha i don't think so Anjali :)
ReplyDeleteLoved the post.Yours was the first that turned when googling 'make sharjah shake'. Used to love when back home expecially in the humid climate there.
ReplyDeleteWe I have experimented with it with bananas and icecream but it always missed the real SS taste, maybe bournvita was the missing ingredient.
Thanks for the post.
can't we have a try with almond instead of cashew?
ReplyDeletewhy not? :) go ahead and try it!
ReplyDeleteUsed to be crazy about Sharjah & Chickoo shakes in college...! Will definitely try your recipe...been a while since I have had a Sharjah shake :)
ReplyDelete