▶ Watch Siddhi make it
Indian Lemonade Concentrate, step by step on video
See how long to cook the sugar syrup, when to add the black salt and pepper, and how to finish and store the concentrate.
6:21 · Recipe video · Cooking with Siddhi
Shikanji concentrate, or nimbu shikanji, is a favourite Indian summer drink. Sugar is cooked into a syrup, seasoned with black salt and black pepper, and finished with fresh lemon juice to make a lemonade concentrate.
Make this concentrate once and you can enjoy shikanji all summer in just one minute. You can store it for up to 4 to 5 months in the refrigerator.
Every recipe on Cooking with Siddhi is cooked in my own kitchen before it goes live.
Why you will love this lemonade concentrate
- Make once, enjoy all summer: shikanji in a minute whenever you want it.
- Keeps for months: up to 4 to 5 months in the refrigerator.
- Indian flavours: black salt and black pepper give it the classic shikanji taste.
- Four ingredients: sugar, lemon juice, black salt and black pepper.
Ingredient notes
- Sugar: 1 kg, cooked with 2 cups of water until it melts.
- Lemon juice: 1 cup, added only after the syrup has cooled.
- Black salt and black pepper: 2 tsp black salt and 1/3 tsp black pepper give the shikanji taste.
- Storage: strain into a container and keep it in the refrigerator for up to 4 to 5 months.
Indian Lemonade Concentrate Recipe
A homemade nimbu shikanji concentrate of sugar syrup, lemon juice, black salt and black pepper. Make it once and enjoy Indian lemonade all summer.
Ingredients
- 1 kg sugar
- 2 cups water
- 1 cup lemon juice
- 2 tsp black salt
- 1/3 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Add sugar and water. In a steel vessel, add the sugar and 2 cups of water.
- Melt the sugar. Place it on the gas stove on a medium-high flame and cook, stirring continuously, until the sugar melts.
- Cook. Once the sugar melts, cook for another 2 minutes.
- Season. Add the black pepper and black salt and mix well.
- Cool. Switch off the flame and set it aside to cool.
- Add lemon juice. Pour the lemon juice into the concentrate and stir well.
- Strain and store. Strain and pour the concentrate into a container to store it.
Nutrition Facts
Values for the whole batch of concentrate
Serving sizeWhole batch
| Nutrient | % Daily Value* |
|---|---|
| Total Fat 1 g | 1% |
| Saturated Fat 1 g | 5% |
| Sodium 4664 mg | 203% |
| Total Carbohydrate 1017 g | 370% |
| Dietary Fibre 1 g | 4% |
| Total Sugars 1004 g | |
| Protein 1 g | |
| Vitamin C 94 mg | 104% |
| Calcium 15 mg | 1% |
| Iron 1 mg | 6% |
| Potassium 251 mg | 5% |
* The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Values are approximate and calculated from the ingredients listed. They are for the full batch of concentrate, not one glass.
Recipe by Siddhi Panchal.
Tips for perfect lemonade concentrate
- Stir continuously while the sugar melts.
- Let the syrup cool before you add the lemon juice.
- Strain the concentrate before storing it in the refrigerator.
What to serve with Indian Lemonade Concentrate
Keep the concentrate in the refrigerator and make shikanji in a minute whenever you want a cool summer drink. For more summer drinks, try my Mango Iced Tea and Cold Coco.
Indian Lemonade Concentrate FAQs
How long does lemonade concentrate last?
You can store it for up to 4 to 5 months in the refrigerator.
When do I add the lemon juice?
After the syrup has cooled. Switch off the flame, let it cool, then pour in the lemon juice and stir well.
What gives it the shikanji flavour?
Black salt and black pepper, added to the sugar syrup.
How long should I cook the sugar syrup?
Cook until the sugar melts, stirring continuously, then for another 2 minutes.
Are the nutrition values per glass?
No. They are for the whole batch of concentrate.
More recipes
Find more drinks in our Beverages collection, or browse every recipe.