Shikanjvi or shikanji is lemon drink made with spices available in our pantry. It is a traditional Punjabi drink sweet, salty and tangy, with pepper. I added ginger and mint just like I had in a restaurant.
I saw shikanjvi in Punjab grill menu here in Singapore. For a change from jal jeera, Vj ordered shikanjvi. He loved it and asked me to taste it. I tasted a sip and it was really good. I had just made aam panna then and posted in my blog too. This drink was also similarly tasting for me. From then I wanted to try at home. Later once had chance to taste in another restaurant, it had ginger in it. So I too tried with ginger.
Basically it is lemon drink sweet, sour, salty with black pepper. Ginger and mint are just added for a twist. I doubt if Punjab grill shikanjvi had ginger, but the other restaurant had ginger for sure. I love kala namak and roasted jeera combo. So I slightly roasted my cumin (jeera) and added in the drink. I am out of kala namak so added chaat masala, but strongly recommend kala namak.

Step by step preparation:

1. Take black salt, sugar, crushed ginger, mint leaves, cumin seeds, black pepper in a jar.



2. Muddle with back of a wooden ladle or similar stick. Squeeze in the lemon.



3. Add chilled water (2 cups) and mix well.