Tiranga Popsicle | Republic Day Special

We are going to celebrate our Republic Day this Sunday. Here is a special, kids friendly recipe to celebrate the occasion - Tiranga Popsicle or Tri Color popsicle. Let the kids learn about our Flag and the color significance via this recipe. So before getting into the recipe, let me share some interesting facts about our National Flag.

The present form of Indian Flag was adopted on 22nd July 1947, which means there were couple forms before. Yes, our National Flag got evolved slowly and went through many iterations to arrive at what it is today. The Know India website has the details about this evolution and also Flag Code of India governs the usage of the flag. Our Flag , by law, is to be made of khadi. Now coming to the color,

• Saffron Color : Indicates the strength and courage of the country.

• White Color : Indicates the peace and truth with Dharma Chakra

• Green Color: Indicates the fertility, growth and auspiciousness of the land.

• The Dharma Chakra in the middle band is adopted from Ashoka Chakra which is represented with a 24-spoke wheel, in navy blue at its centre.

We, at IMC designed our logo based on our Indian Flag Color too :-) Now coming back to the recipe, I used orange juice to indicate the saffron color, coconut water for the white and kiwi juice with a drop of green food color to indicate the green color. Tried dropping in some blueberries to represent the chakra, but its not visible in the picture. :-) As its a layered popsicle, the setting time is comparatively longer.



Ingredients:

• Orange - 2 (Medium size) or if you are using store bought juice - 1 cup of juice would do

• Kiwi - 1

• Tender Coconut water - 1 cup (I used store bought one)

• Water for preparing kiwi juice - 1 cup

• Sugar - 2 tbsps

• Blueberries - a handful

• a drop of green food color (optional)

Prep - Work :

• If using using fresh oranges, squeeze the oranges and extract about 1 cup of juice. Mix 1 tbsp of sugar and make sure its dissolved well.

• Peel the kiwi skin and grind it along with 1 cup of water and 1 tbsp of juice. As the green color was not vibrant, I added a drop of food color. But that's completely optional.

Steps:

• In the popsicle mold, fill 1/3 of the mold with orange juice and let it sit in freezer for about 1 hr.

• Now remove the popsicle from the freezer and slowly remove the stick from the popsicle mold and fill the next 1/3 of the mold with coconut water and drop 1 blue berry in each mold and close it.

• Keep this in the freezer again for 1 hour.

• Now remove the popsicle from the freezer and repeat the same as in step 2. Remove the stick slowly and now fill the remaining of the mold with kiwi juice and place the sticks and keep it in the freezer again.

• Let it set for about 3 to 4 hours.

That's it. Yummy popsicle is ready.



Notes:

• Adjust the sugar according to your preference.

• Instead of kiwi, green grapes can be used too.

• As the coconut water is pretty clear, the orange and kiwi juice penetrates. You can go for any milk shakes for middle layer, but as I was bit skeptical about the combination went with coconut water. Lychee juice will work well this combo too.

Put a 4th of July spin on this by using this recipe from The Little Kitchen!