Sharjah Shake is a popular milkshake originating from the southern state of Kerala, India. It is a favorite treat often found in local juice shops and cafes. The key ingredients of this beverage include bananas, milk, cashews, Bournvita/Boost/Horlicks and sugar. Renowned for its smooth, creamy texture and nutty taste, the shake is a popular choice among both locals and tourists.
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.
This is what I did. Simply keep the milk in a covered bowl or container in the freezer for up to an hour or two until its semi-frozen.
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, I used Bournvita as it was readily available.
Step-by-Step Guide
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.
I have used the smaller variety of bananas called apple banana. 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, Milo, etc.
If using regular banana varieties like Cavendish or Robust, opt to add 1 or 1½ banana.
2. Blend to a semi-fine or semi-coarse consistency.
Make Sharjah Milkshake
3. Remove 2 cups milk that is frozen or semi-frozen, from the freezer.
To freeze, pour 2 cups 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 in 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.
More Drinks To Try!
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Sharjah Shake Recipe
Sharjah Shake is a popular milkshake originating from the southern state of Kerala, India. Made with bananas, frozen milk, cashews or peanuts, Bournvita/Boost/Horlicks/Milo and sugar, this drink is a refreshing treat found in the local shops and cafes of this state.
Prevent your screen from going dark while making the recipe
First add sliced or chopped bananas, bournvita, sugar and cashews in a blender.
Blend to a semi-fine or semi-coarse consistency.
Add the frozen or semi-frozen milk.
Blend for 2 to 3 minutes until all the ingredients are evenly mixed and blended.
Pour the prepared Sharjah Shake in glasses.
Sprinkle chopped cashews and bournvita and serve the Sharjah Milkshake straightway.
- If out of cashews, you can add roasted peanuts (without their skins). Another option is to add blanched sliced almond or even nuts like pistachios.
- If using regular bananas, use 1 or 1½ banana. If using the very small variety of elachi bananas (yelakki banana) add 3 to 4 of them.
- To make a sugar free drink, add dates while blending. You could also add blanched peeled almonds while blending.
- The amount of sugar can be varied by adding more or less according to your preferences. You could add your preferred sweetener like honey, agave syrup, maple syrup, coconut sugar etc.
- To get a a coffee flavor in the shake, add a bit of instant coffee. You could also add add vanilla extract for a unique flavor. Cardamom powder is another option to include for a nice aroma.
- To make ice cream shake, blend vanilla ice cream with the frozen milk or choose to top ice cream with vanilla.
- The recipe can be scaled up to make for more servings.
- To make a chocolate sharjah shake, add some drinking chocolate or cocoa powder or blend with 1 or 2 scoops of chocolate ice cream.
- Plant based options are to use a plant based milk like oats milk or almond milk.
Nutrition Facts
Sharjah Shake Recipe
Amount Per Serving
Calories 351 Calories from Fat 135
% Daily Value*
Fat 15g23%
Saturated Fat 6g38%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 5g
Cholesterol 29mg10%
Sodium 103mg4%
Potassium 694mg20%
Carbohydrates 46g15%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 36g40%
Protein 12g24%
Vitamin A 433IU9%
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) 0.2mg13%
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) 0.4mg24%
Vitamin B3 (Niacin) 1mg5%
Vitamin B6 0.5mg25%
Vitamin B12 1µg17%
Vitamin C 7mg8%
Vitamin D 3µg20%
Vitamin E 0.3mg2%
Vitamin K 6µg6%
Calcium 334mg33%
Vitamin B9 (Folate) 16µg4%
Iron 1mg6%
Magnesium 92mg23%
Phosphorus 353mg35%
Zinc 2mg13%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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