Spiced Buttermilk or Masala Chaas is a popular curd based Indian drink. It is a mildly spiced drink with seasoning that makes it super refreshing to drink & cool off during the hot Indian summers.

This spiced buttermilk is not at all heavy, but is light on the stomach and is a great body coolant.
Masala chaas is a low calorie and low-carb drink that is also great for weight loss, as it will keep you full and satiated for longer periods.
It is always better to drink a homemade low cal drink instead of drinking sugar-laden, high-calorie carbonated drinks that are not good for you.
Buttermilk being a rich source of probiotics is good for your gut health and is also low in fat.
Table of Contents:
About
Buttermilk is a great palate cleanser. So you can serve this masala chaas as a non-alcoholic apéritif or as a welcome drink to help stimulate the appetite before a big meal.
You can also serve this to finish off a meal, as it helps to digest whatever you had eaten because of the digestive property of the ingredients used to make this spiced buttermilk.
Whether you serve this as a pre-meal or as a post-meal drink, it is a low-calorie drink that is light on the stomach.
Being a no onion no garlic recipe, this is perfect to be had on fasting days
Ingredients
Buttermilk: It is also called Mor or Moru in Tamil. We get this by adding water to curd and whisking it with either a wired whisk or with a traditional wooden maththu. I have used homemade curd made from toned milk.
Seasoning: roasted cumin powder & chaat masala powder
Other ingredients: ginger, green chilli, coriander or mint leaves
Salt to taste and black salt
Instructions
Add all the ingredients to a blender & blend till smooth & serve.
You can also add all the ingredients to a large vessel and whisk it with a wooden maththu or wired whisk by hand till it is frothy & serve it immediately.
Recipe Notes
The buttermilk will split after a while after blending. The milk solids will settle at the bottom, and the water added separates and stands on top.
In that case, stir well with a spoon or swish the buttermilk between 2 tumblers and serve for the perfect taste.
Nutrition Profile
This spiced buttermilk recipe is
- Diabetic-Friendly
- Egg-Free
- Gluten-Free
- High Fibre
- Low Calorie
- Low Carb
- Nut Free
- Soy-Free
- Vegetarian
Substitutions
If you do not have chaat masala powder or black salt at hand, add 1 tablespoon lemon juice to get the same tangy taste.
You can use unflavoured Greek yoghurt in the place of regular yoghurt as well.
Variation
You can add a tadka or tempering to the spiced buttermilk before you serve.
Heat a teaspoon of oil in a tempering pan. When hot, add ½ teaspoon mustard seeds and let them crackle. Add ⅛ teaspoon asafoetida or hing to it, add in a few curry leaves and stir well. Add this tempering to the blended buttermilk, mix well & serve.
You can also try this Oats Spiced Buttermilk for more added fibre.
Shelf Life
This spiced buttermilk stays well for 2 days in the refrigerator. As the buttermilk will split after a few mins of blending, always stir well before serving.
Storage
Always keep it refrigerated. The buttermilk will taste very sour in the summer heat even after a few hours because of the salts added when kept at room temperature.
FAQs
Buttermilk is the fermented liquid that is left behind when you churn the cream or curd to get butter.
It tastes tangy, slightly sour & mildly spicy too from the seasoning added to the buttermilk.
Though both are made with curd & served cold, to describe it better, chaas is a savoury drink whereas lassi is a sweet drink either made plain or by adding fruits to it like this mango lassi.
We only use the curd made from cow’s milk to make this spiced buttermilk.
But if you wish to make this a vegan drink, then use any plant-based yoghurt and follow the recipe.
Yes, you can hing also called asafetida along with other ingredients while blending.
I personally do not like its flavour when added without roasting it in oil. So I add roasted cumin powder in its place.
Related Recipes
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Recipe
Spiced Buttermilk Recipe - Masala Chaas Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup curd or yoghurt chilled
- 2 cups cold water
- 1 green chilli deseeded
- ½ inch ginger
- 1 tablespoon chopped coriander or mint leaves
- ¼ teaspoon black salt or kala namak
- ½ teaspoon roasted cumin powder
- ½ teaspoon chaat masala powder
- salt to taste
- coriander or mint leaves for garnish
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients except the garnish to a blender.
- Blend till well combined and smooth.
- Pour into tall glasses and serve immediately, garnished with coriander or mint.
Now Serving
perfect presentation of the best drink in the universe -two thumbs up, Radhika 🙂
Nandini
I'm quite fond of this buttermilk! So yummy and lovely!
Sunanda
Wow! such a cool and refreshing drink...
cook from doha
what a visual treat...
Rathi
Thanks Radhika 🙂 . Oh how i love buttermilk!!, this is simply yummy, following you!!
Swathi
Spicy buttermilk is my grandma special, she makes more often. looks awesome.
Sobha Shyam
Spicy buttermilk sure looks yummy...very refreshing..much healthier than any other soda drink..thanx for visiting my blog..glad to follow u 🙂
Sukanya Ramkumar
Nice to know abt ur blog. U have a nice set of recipes... Buttermilk looks so cool and refreshing... YUM!
Plateful
That's one of my favorite thirst quencher and so, sooo refreshing!
Prathima Shivraj
My favourite refreshment for summer..nice presntation..
Thanks a lot for stopping by my blog, me too glad to follow you..
Shanavi
following u dear
Shanavi
Very refreshing neermor...I can have this even on a rainy day !!!!
Priya (Yallapantula) Mitharwal
Love it Radhika, specially the class in which it is served 🙂
Suja
Refreshing yummy drink,lovely
Thanks for stopping by at my blog,you have a wonderful space here and lots of yummy recipes..Happy following u dear:)
Biny Anoop
My palate is surely tickling with the variety of recipes u have given here......love the collection
CinnamonNChillies
Hey..thanks for dropping by and leaving a lovely comment 🙂 Me following u too!
Babli
Buttermilk looks yummy, tempting and refreshing. Perfect for summer season.
ChitraKrishna
Interesting blog with innovative recipes. Thanks for ur visit and comment.... count me too 144+1 🙂
Priya
Feel like having this wonderful thirsty quencher,yumm!
RAKS KITCHEN
Buttermilk looks perfect thirst quencher and body cooler,nice click!
Pasta and Paratha
Really like the name and format of your blog..lovely colors too.
sangee vijay
My fav cool n refreshing drink...thanx for leading me to this wonderful n yummy delight space n i m glad to follow u...thanx for visiting mine 🙂
Vardhini
I love spiced buttermilk. Looks yummy.
Kalyani
refreshing drink for the summer .... i too posted the same one last week .... lovely clicks ...... glad to follow u ......
deepthi
chill in hot summer..excellent!!!! recipe...lively and lovely blog...happy to follow ur blog..try to stop on my blog too 🙂
Suman Singh
Perfect drink for the summer...looks so refreshing!
Vidhya
Best thirst quencher of all times.
nivedita
I love this butter milk, its regular in our home through out the year.
Vimitha Anand
Perfect chiller to beat the heat...
Sarah
this is the perfect drink to beat the intense Indian summer! looks so refreshing!
Shanthi
Perfect to beat the heat
Prathima Rao
Perfect for this scorching heat in my town!!
Prathima Rao
Prats Corner
jeyashrisuresh
what a perfect summer cooler!!.Love the combo of ingredients,very refreshing.nice clicks
divya
refreshing drink looks yum...
Reshmi Mahesh
A delicious drink and great for summer.
Hamaree Rasoi
really such a cool beverage to beat the heat. Nice clicks
srividhya Ravikumar
refreshing drink looks yum...
Kurinji
Really refreshing drink for this summer.
Prathibha
This is almost regular @ my place too..love it
Raji
Chilled buttermilk will definitely help to cool off...looks very delightful.