Sharjah Shake is a beloved milkshake that hails from the southern state of Kerala, India. Often found in local juice shops and cafes, this delightful treat features a blend of bananas, milk, cashews, malt-based powders like Bournvita, Boost, or Horlicks, and sugar. Known for its creamy texture and nutty flavor, the Sharjah Shake is a favorite among both locals and visitors.
About Sharjah Shake
The Sharjah Shake is a signature drink of Kerala’s cuisine, celebrated for its creamy texture, refreshing taste, and simplicity. It originated in Kerala’s vibrant juice shops and quickly gained fame as a must-try beverage.
This banana-based milkshake reflects the region’s love for sweet, energizing drinks, often enjoyed as a quick snack or dessert.
The exact origin of the name Sharjah Shake remains somewhat unclear, but it is widely believed to be inspired by the influence of Gulf countries, particularly the UAE, on Kerala’s culture and economy.
The name ‘Sharjah’ likely refers to the emirate in the UAE, reflecting the close ties between Kerala and the Middle East due to decades of migration and trade.
During the late 20th century, Keralites returning from the Gulf brought with them a fascination for new flavors and trends.
Some suggest that the drink’s rich and indulgent nature, resembling the opulence associated with Gulf countries, led to it being named Sharjah Shake.
Its popularity grew in Kerala’s local juice shops, and it became an iconic drink, symbolizing a blend of Kerala’s culinary creativity and Gulf-inspired influences.
Sharjah Shake has a distinct and unique flavor, setting it apart from a typical banana shake. The addition of malt-based powder and nuts significantly enhances its taste.
The drink’s immense popularity showcases Kerala’s knack for combining local ingredients with universal appeal, making it a beloved part of the state’s culinary identity.
About The Recipe
Sharjah Shake is essentially a milkshake made with bananas, malt-based powder (such as Bournvita, Boost, Horlicks, or similar), and nuts like cashews or peanuts.
Its uniqueness lies in using frozen milk and a malt drink powder, which gives it a creamy texture and distinct flavor.
Typically, to make Sharjah Shake, a 500 ml packet of milk is frozen, then crushed using a rolling pin before being added to a blender. Alternatively, if you’re short on time, you can use chilled milk with a few ice cubes.
Another method involves semi-freezing milk in a container for about 1 to 2 hours, making it easy to transfer to the blender.
Variations include blending roasted peanuts with bananas or using them as a topping for the Sharjah Shake. Cashews can also be blended or used as a garnish, and other nuts like almonds or pistachios work well too.
The choice of malt drink powder depends on personal preference, with options like Milo, Horlicks, Ovaltine, Boost, or Bournvita all being suitable. For this recipe of Sharjah Shake, Bournvita was used as it was readily available.
How to Make Sharjah Shake
Blend Ingredients
1. First, add 2 small bananas (peeled and chopped), 1 tablespoon Bournvita, 2 tablespoons sugar, and 2 tablespoons cashews in a blender.
For this recipe, the smaller variety of bananas called apple bananas was used. These smaller-sized bananas have a soft, creamy, and tender texture when ripened.
Feel free to use your preferred malt drink powder like Horlicks, Ovaltine, Maltova, Complan, Boost, or Milo. If using regular banana varieties like Cavendish or Robust, opt to add 1 or 1½ bananas.
2. Blend to a semi-fine or semi-coarse consistency.
Make Sharjah Milkshake
3. Remove 2 cups of milk that is frozen or semi-frozen from the freezer. To freeze, pour 2 cups of milk in a small pan or bowl, cover with a lid, and freeze for an hour or a couple of hours.
4. Add the frozen or semi-frozen milk to the blended ingredients in the blender.
5. Blend for 2 to 3 minutes or until all the ingredients are evenly mixed and blended.
6. Pour the prepared Sharjah Shake into 2 glasses. Sprinkle ½ tablespoon chopped cashews and ½ teaspoon Bournvita in each glass.
Expert Tips
- Variety of banana: For regular bananas, use 1 to 1½ bananas. For smaller varieties like elaichi bananas (Yelakki), use 3 to 4.
- Adding milk & ice cream: Blend vanilla ice cream with frozen milk or use it as a topping. For a plant-based option, substitute with almond milk or oat milk.
- Choice of nuts: Replace cashews with roasted peanuts (skin removed) if preferred. Dates and blanched, peeled almonds can also be blended for added flavor.
- Adding sweetener: Adjust the sugar to taste.
- Extra flavors: Add a touch of instant coffee for a coffee-flavored variation. Incorporate vanilla extract for a distinct twist. Green cardamom powder can be included for an aromatic touch.
- Make chocolate-flavored shake: For a chocolate version, add drinking chocolate, cocoa powder, or blend in 1 to 2 scoops of chocolate ice cream.
- Scalability: The recipe can be easily scaled up or down.
FAQs
Sharjah Shake stands out because it uses frozen milk, giving it a creamy and thick texture. The addition of malt-based powders like Boost or Bournvita, and nuts like cashews or peanuts, further enhances its flavor, making it richer and more indulgent.
Yes, you can use regular bananas or smaller varieties like elachi bananas (Yelakki). Use 1 to 1½ regular bananas or 3 to 4 elachi bananas, depending on their size and sweetness.
Absolutely! You can substitute regular milk with plant-based options like almond milk, oat milk, or coconut milk to create a dairy-free version of Sharjah Shake.
While malt-based powder contributes to the unique flavor of Sharjah Shake, you can skip it or replace it with alternatives like cocoa powder, drinking chocolate, or even protein powder, depending on your preference.
