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Cherry Milkshake
Instructions
I remove the pits from the cherries (or sweet cherries). You can look up online videos showing handy homemade pitting tools, but the old-fashioned method – a small sharp knife – works just as well. The main thing is to try not to spill all the juice.
I turn the berries into a puree. In a blender this takes about five minutes. The aroma of the fresh berries is a pleasure in itself.
I make a syrup – sugar on its own will not dissolve in cold kefir and simply settles at the bottom. I dissolve 1 tbsp of sugar in 1 tbsp of warm water, stirring until completely smooth.
The ingredients for the cherry milkshake are ready. Those watching their figure should choose 1% kefir – though even so the drink turns out many times lighter than shop-bought shakes made with 2.5% or more.
I blend everything with an immersion blender – a couple of pulses are enough. It is the blender and the high speed during mixing that create the airy fluffiness and the tasty pink bubbles.
Voila! For anyone who has not tried it yet – this is perfection! Juicy, full of cherry, moderately sweet and refreshingly cool. Just 67 kcal per 100 ml – we used light, healthy kefir rather than heavy, fatty cream. The cherry milkshake will not burden your liver or pancreas; on the contrary, natural cultured-milk products help normalise your gut microflora and leave you feeling light. Now you can drink it all summer long!Enjoy your drink!
Tips
- 1
DISSOLVE THE SUGAR IN SYRUP – sugar on its own will not dissolve in cold kefir and grits between your teeth. Warm syrup with the sugar = a smooth milkshake.
- 2
1% KEFIR FOR THE FIGURE, 2.5–3.2% FOR THE TASTE – choose according to your goal. The main thing is to use real kefir, not a "kefir product" with vegetable fats.
- 3
REMOVE THE PITS THOROUGHLY – a stray pit will ruin both the blender and the taste. Use a special pitting tool or a sharp knife for this.
- 4
DRINK IT STRAIGHT AWAY – after 30 minutes the milkshake "separates" into puree and kefir. The same principle applies to other berry-and-kefir drinks.
FAQ
What can I use instead of kefir? +
Alternatives: milk (a more neutral taste, the shake becomes sweeter), ryazhenka (a caramel note, more interesting), soured milk / prostokvasha (similar to kefir but sweeter), natural yoghurt (a thick consistency, more "dessert-like"), ayran (a salty note, not the classic choice). Kefir is the "diet classic" – its light tang perfectly balances the sweetness of the cherries. For children, milk will be more neutral. For vegans, coconut or almond milk works (the taste is exotic, but it works).
Can I use frozen cherries? +
Yes, a great option in winter. Put 300 g of pitted frozen cherries straight into the blender and add a little (50 ml) warm water to help with mixing. The shake will be thicker and colder than usual – it gives a "smoothie effect" even without ice. There is no need to thaw the cherries fully – let them stand for 10–15 minutes at room temperature so the blender can cope. From thawed cherries be sure to drain off the juice – you can add it back if you like. Adjust the consistency with the amount of kefir.
How long does the milkshake keep? +
Drink it straight away – a maximum of 1–2 hours in the fridge. Any longer and it separates into a solid part (puree at the bottom) and a liquid part (kefir on top). Before drinking, shake it or "whisk" it again with the blender. At room temperature it keeps for 30 minutes at most, after which it loses its refreshing effect. You can freeze it in ice-cube trays to get "cherry cubes" that you add to drinks for decoration. Make the milkshakes themselves in small portions – one or two glasses at a time.
For weight loss – when should I drink it? +
Ideally as a snack between meals or as a second breakfast. A calorie count of 67 kcal per 100 g plus a volume of 250–300 ml works out to roughly 170–200 kcal per glass. That is less than a biscuit or a croissant, but more filling thanks to the kefir (protein plus the fibre from the cherries). I would not recommend it at night (the berries add bulk in the stomach). Before or after a workout it is a good fit: kefir provides amino acids for recovery, and cherries contain antioxidants.
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