Masala chaas (also known as spiced Indian buttermilk) is a summertime staple! It is so refreshing and timeless. All you need is a glass of chilled chaas on a hot summer day, so cooling!!
❤️Why I Love This Recipe
- It requires only 7 ingredients and 5 minutes.
- It is cooling. Whenever you come home from outside’s boiling heat, drink a glass of this chilled masala chaas. It will give you very refreshing and cool feelings.
- It also helps in good digestion.
- Chaas usually served along with the meal. So after having a spicy curry meal, drink a glass of it. It’s a great way to cool off the stomach and helps to stay away from acidity.
🧾Ingredients Required
Here is the pic of the ingredients required to make a simple, easy masala chaas recipe.
Ingredient Notes
- Yogurt: I prefer to use whole milk yogurt. But if you’re considering the fat intake, you can use fat-free or low-fat yogurt. Use homemade yogurt or store-bought.
- Cilantro: Use only leaves, avoid stems.
- Green chili: Seeds are removed to control the heat level. Just a half-inch piece is required. If you do not prefer the spicy taste or do not like to bite into the raw chili then skip.
- Curry leaves: It is optional. But if you can get your hands on, please do add. It adds nice flavor and aroma.
- Roasted cumin powder: I usually make a small batch of own roasted cumin powder.
How to make at home: dry roast the cumin seeds on medium-low heat till they are golden brown and aromatic. Remove it to a plate and let it cool down completely. Then grind into a spice grinder (or use mortar and pestle if making small quantity).
- Black salt: It is called kala namak in Hindi. It gives the right zing and taste to masala chaas. In the absence of it, you can use regular salt.
- Chaat masala: It is easily available in any Indian grocery store. If you do not have then you can skip it.
- Water: Not shown in the pic. But please use chilled water if serving right away.
🎥Watch The Recipe Video
🍳Step By Step Photo Instructions
- Take all the ingredients in a bowl.
- Blend it till it is frothy. Use a hand blender or a regular blender. Pour into the serving glass.
💭Expert Tips:
- Keep in mind that it tastes best when served chilled.
- If serving chaas right away, then always use chilled yogurt and chilled water.
- If not serving right away then store it in the refrigerator, so it stays nice and cold. At the time of serving, stir first and then pour into the glass.
- You can add a few ice cubes while serving, but be aware that it dilutes the flavor.
📖Variations:
Plain chaas: Skip cilantro, green chili, curry leaves, and chaat masala. So in short, you’ll need only 4 ingredients to make plain chaas (Yogurt, water, black salt, and roasted cumin powder).
Pudina chaas: Mint leaves are added. I have already shared the detailed recipe.
Tadka chaas (vaghareli chaas): a tempering is made at the end. Heat a teaspoon of oil in a small pan on medium heat. Once hot add ¼ teaspoon of cumin seeds and a pinch of hing (asafetida). Add this to the prepared buttermilk.
FAQs
NO. Actually, both are different. But in India, chaas is known as buttermilk in English. So what is buttermilk? When we churn the malai (cream) to make butter, the liquid oozes out during the last stage of churning. That liquid is called buttermilk.
Yes. It is very good for your gut health. Not only cooling, but it also aids in digestion. Plus, it is full of vitamins and low in fat.
You should drink a glass of chilled chaas right after having a spicy Indian meal. It helps to stay away from the acidity and cool of your stomach from the heat. You can drink it any time of the day (but the effect is different). Drinking in the morning gives you energy. But the same drinking at the night can promote calcium absorption and promotes better sleep.
Yes, you can. Whether it’s summer or winter, it is safe to have it daily. BUT, it is not advisable to drink if you have a cold, flu, or runny nose.
Check out more Indian Summer Drinks
- Aam panna
- Shikanji (spiced lemonade)
- Mint Juice
- Rooh afza milkshake
- Nimbu pani (Indian lemonade)
PS Tried this recipe? Please leave a star rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comment section. I always appreciate your feedback!
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📋 Recipe Card
Masala Chaas
Ingredients
- 1 cup Plain yogurt (dahi or curd)
- ½ inch piece Green chili Seeds removed & chopped (Skip if do not like spicy taste skip)
- 1 tablespoon Cilantro or coriander leaves chopped
- 2 Curry leaves chopped
- ¾ teaspoon Black salt (Kala namak)
- ½ teaspoon Roasted cumin powder
- ¾ teaspoon Chaat masala optional
- 2 cups Chilled water
Instructions
- Take all the ingredients in a bowl.
- Using a hand blender, blend everything till it becomes frothy.
- Pour into serving glass and enjoy it.
Notes
- Roasted cumin powder: How to make at home:- dry roast the cumin seeds on medium-low heat till they are golden brown and aromatic. Remove it to a plate and let it cool down completely. Then grind into a spice grinder (or use mortar and pestle if small quantity).
- Chaas tastes best when served chilled. So always use chilled yogurt and chilled water.
- If not serving right away then store it in the refrigerator, so it stays nice and cold. At the time of serving, stir first and then pour into the glass.
- You can add few ice cubes while serving, but it sure dilutes the flavor
Can rehydrated curry leaves be used in this recipe? We drink buttermilk in this region of America (think Dollywood area, where it is served in restaurants). This sounds great!
No need to re-hydrate. Just add dry curry leaves.
very nice and refreshing. I loved the glasses.
thanks for sharing.
thanks
Thank U