On warm summer days, Seattle mom Guneet Kaur Rekhi likes to make kachi lassi (aka chabeel), a rose-flavored drink popular in northern India.
Traditionally, Sikhs set up roadside stands on the hottest day of the year and serve the refreshing beverage for free to all passersby as an act of goodwill in honor of the Sikh guru, Guru Arjan Dev Ji (think lemonade stand, but without the profit motive).
To make the drink for her family and community, Guneet combines ½ cup rose syrup (Rooh Afza), 2 cups whole milk, 4-5 cups water, and 1 to 2 cups ice cubes.
The final product should have the consistency of a diluted milkshake and can be sweetened to taste with sugar. Chill in the fridge until ready to serve. Guneet buys her rose syrup at Mayuri Foods, an Indian grocery with locations in Redmond and Bothell.
