Masala Chaas | Spiced Buttermilk

If you are looking for something refreshing to drink that is healthy and aids digestion, then this Masala Chaas or Spiced Buttermilk is something you have to try.

Buttermilk, a super drink was a very common drink in every Indian household. As the times have changed, people are shifting toward more modern drinks which are not necessarily always healthy.

Buttermilk is one of the oldest forms of healthy drink that is known by many different names in different parts of India. Today, I am going to be blogging about Masala Chaas or Spiced Buttermilk, which is a cold refrigerated drink that is spiced with basic ingredients such as green chili, ginger, cilantro, cumin powder, and chaat masala.

My theme for this week's Blogging Marathon is 'How about Elevenses'? When I read the theme, I had no idea what an elevenses was. When I read further, I learned that it is the English practice of a short break taken at around mid-morning (after breakfast and before lunch) to consume a snack or a drink.

This practice immediately reminded me of my grandmother. She always had a glass of Mor (buttermilk) after all her morning work and before her lunch. This thought gave me the idea to blog about this simple recipe.

What is Buttermilk

There are different kinds of buttermilk and the Traditional Buttermilk is the liquid left behind after churning butter from cultured milk or cream. When the milk is cultured, it becomes acidic because of the lactic acid.

This increases the shelf life of the milk (as there was no refrigeration available in the olden days). Once the butter is churned and separated, the liquid left behind is very healthy and full of essential nutrients.

Traditional buttermilk is wonderful as a digestion aid since it contains more lactic acid than milk. It is also lower in calories than milk and hence easily digested.

Apart from this, buttermilk is rich in potassium, vitamin B12, calcium, riboflavin, and phosphorus. Apart from this, buttermilk is loaded with probiotics which is very important for a healthy gut.

Cultured Buttermilk is a buttermilk that is made from yogurt. It is basically just thinned yogurt. This is the most common form of buttermilk these days and has the same beneficial quality as traditional buttermilk.

Because it is thinned, the calories are lower than in yogurt or milk. Check my detailed post on 'How to make Yogurt' at home. Homemade yogurts are the best in flavor as well as it has no added ingredients.

Acidified Buttermilk is something that is used as a quick resort to buttermilk in baking. It is just quickly acidified using lemon juice or vinegar instead of the natural fermenting process. I use this as a quick fix to make buttermilk for baking when I run out of the regular ones.

How can we flavor the Buttermilk?

I do love buttermilk just as is with just a pinch of salt, but flavoring it further makes it even more delicious. There are different ways we can flavor the buttermilk.

It can be made sweet as in this Lassi Patiala or flavored with fruit like this Papaya Lassi. I am yet to make my boy's ever-favorite Mango Lassi and that is on my to-do list.

Salted buttermilk is called Neer Mor in Tamil Nadu and is an offering to God Rama during Rama Navami. This is also one of the most refreshing drinks one could consume during the summer months.

Chaas is popular in Northern India and is spiced based on the region. It is more dilute than lassi and the flavoring can be as basic as just salt or something a little more interesting like this one.

Preparation time - 5 minutes
Cooking time - None
Difficulty level - Easy

Ingredients to make Masala Chaas - Serves 2

• Yogurt - 1 cup
• Cold Water - 1 ½ cups
• Green chili - 2 (adjust based on your liking)
• Cilantro - ½ cup
• Ginger - ½ inch piece
• Roasted Cumin powder - ½ tsp
• Chaat Masala - ½ tsp
• Salt - as needed

Procedure to make Spiced Buttermilk -

• Combine all the ingredients mentioned above in a blender and blend to a smooth consistency.

• Serve right away sprinkled with a little bit more cumin powder or chill until ready to serve.

• You can make a large quantity of this and refrigerate it to consume throughout the day.

Expert Tips and FAQs

• Start with fresh homemade yogurt for the best-flavored buttermilk. 
• Make a large batch to use throughout the day. It is very healthy and lower in calories than many commercial drinks. 
• The flavorings can be adjusted based on your preference. 

Similar Drinks & Beverages

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