Summer is here, which means it’s time to grab water, juice or whatever that can save you from the sun abuse. Today I am here with a drink that perhaps you have had, at least once especially if you are from India.
Masala Chaas or Flavoured Buttermilk is one of the most loved drinks of India. Coming to chaas or buttermilk, it is a churned yogurt and masala chaas is made by mixing a few condiments into it. As the summer heat hits, we are always reaching on to soft drinks and juices, but the best drink to beat the heat and also healthy one has to be the chaas. It is not only tasty but refreshing drink for everyone.
Health benefits of buttermilk:
- As it is made of cool and watered down curd, it is a perfect drink to soothe the stomach.
- It can also relieve any irritation in the stomach.
- It aids in digestion: Ginger and jeera are excellent digestive agents.
- Buttermilk is helpful in washing down the fat or oil that coats the inner walls of your food pipe and stomach and makes you feel lighter.
- Hydrates the body: This drink contains salt, water, buttermilk and spices! This makes a great drink. It is packed with electrolytes along with water. A great combo to hydrate the body! This helps in fighting dehydration.
How to make buttermilk? Take homemade yogurt and add water into it and keep on churning it until there are no lumps and you get a runny white thin liquid. The consistency to be attained is watery and thin. This is the easiest way to make buttermilk if you do not have it at home.
Ingredients
- Buttermilk: 1/2 litre
- Cumin seeds – 1/2 teaspoon
- Grated ginger- 1 inch
- Green chillies- 1 or 2
- Fresh curry leaves- 2 sprigs
- Fresh chopped coriander leaves- 1 teaspoon
- Salt- As per taste
Instructions:
Chop the ginger, coriander leaves and slit the green chillies. Muddle these ingredients in the muddler or blender. Put the ingredients into the buttermilk and add salt.Mix it all well with a spoon. Take cumin seeds and roast it in a pan. Powder it and add just a bit into the chaas for that extra flavor. That’s it, tasty and refreshing masala chaas is ready. Serve it chilled.
Note:
- You can also either serve masala chaas with the ingredients or you can strain it and then serve with a garnish of roasted cumin powder and coriander leaves.
- You can try a variation of this recipe by adding rock salt instead of salt to give a different flavor.
- Mint leaves can also be added to this recipe however I avoid adding mint leaves as it has a very strong flavor and by using it the other flavors get subdued.
- Chat masala can also be added if you like.