masala chaas recipe

Chaas Recipe (Indian Buttermilk)

By Swasthi on February 6, 2023, Comments, Jump to Recipe

Chaas is India’s popular summer drink made with yogurt, spices and herbs. Also known as buttermilk in English, chaas is the ubiquitous Indian beverage, often served with meals. It is a cooling, refreshing and low calorie drink, free of additives and sugar. Also known as chaach, moru, majjige, majiga and mattha, it is made in households throughout the country.

masala chaas recipe

It is also available in other parts of the world: in Bangladesh it is called Borhani, in Nepal it is mattha or mohi, in the Middle East it is Ayran. Like in India, each region has its own flavors. In North India, buttermilk may be flavored with cumin or mint. Down in South India, it is more likely to be flavored using curry leaves and perhaps mustard seeds that are fried in oil or ghee.

In Bengal, it is typically flavored with a variety of lemon available in the state (called gondhoraj lebu, locally). The western Indian version has a number of different spices added to it. So there are plenty of ways a chaas is made and enjoyed.

About Chaas

So if you are wondering What is chaas? It is simply Indian spiced buttermilk!! Traditionally, buttermilk was the whey that was left over after churning butter from cultured full-cream milk. Hence the name buttermilk, the cultured milk from which butter has been removed.

But traditionally in India, it was made from cultured cream, curd or yogurt. So here, Indian chaas is the same, a mix of yogurt and water. It has some spices & herbs added for their digestive and cooling properties. These ingredients also make the drink more delicious and palatable.

To make chaas, yogurt or curd as it is called in India, can be of any type: made of full cream milk, low fat milk or even fat-free milk. You can even use ready-made plain and unsweetened curd or yoghurt for this drink.

Different ways of making

While it would seem simple enough to mix together curd with water and add spices, there are many different ways of making chaas so that you get a more homogenous blend. In this post I share 2 ways to make it with and without a blender.

In traditional households and even today, in Indian villages, the old-fashioned madhani is used. This is typically a wooden or metal whisk with blunt blades used to churn the mixture using both hands. It blends the two ingredients and also adds froth.

Now, you are more likely to use a hand-held whisk, an electric beater or a blender to make the chaas. Obviously, the electric equipment make the job easier if you are making in larger quantities. However usually I make chaas the most simplest way using a whisk which I have shared below.

More drinks
Lassi recipe
Barley water
Cold coffee
Almond milk

Chaas recipe made with yogurt and spices

How to make Chaas (Stepwise Photos)

When you make chaas, do keep in the mind that the proportions of yogurt and water differ according to the consistency of the yogurt you use and your own taste. You may want your chaas to be thicker, in which case reduce the water. Also note that chaas is thinner than lassi.

So for a thinner consistency, as you whisk or blend, dilute it with more water as desired. For the same reason, you may want to add more or less salt & spices to your taste.

using a blender

1. To a blender jar add plain yogurt (curd). I used ¾ cup homemade curd /yogurt made from whole milk.

yogurt in a blender

2. Next add

  • ¼ cup fresh mint leaves (without stalks) 4 to 5 grams. (you can reduce if you don’t like)
  • 1 tablespoon coriander leaves
  • small green chilli or ¼ to ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ to ¾ inch fresh peeled ginger (you can also reduce if you prefer)
  • â…“ teaspoon black salt & ¼ teaspoon regular salt (adjust to taste)
  • ¾ teaspoon roasted cumin powder
mint leaves ginger and chili in a blender

3. Blend until smooth. Pour water. I used about 1¾ cups water. You can use ice, do keep in mind that ice will dilute the drink. In that case, replace some of the water used here with ice.

pour water to spiced yogurt to make pudina chaas

4. Blend until frothy.

frothy chaas in a blender

Transfer to serving glasses. Garnish with cumin powder, chaat masala and 1 to 2 mint or coriander leaves.

pudina chaas in a matka

Masala chaas without blender

For this version I just whisk all the ingredients in a bowl with a whisk and then add water. Also I use black pepper instead of green chilli & dry ginger or chaat masala in place of fresh ginger. This kind of chaas has the leaves in it since they are not blended.

Mint and coriander leaves are mouth fresheners so we personally don’t mind chewing off the leaves when we drink the chaas. If you don’t like them then make it the other way by blending, like I have shown in the earlier pictures.

1. To a large mixing bowl or a pitcher add the following:

  • ¾ cup chilled yogurt
  • ½ teaspoon chaat masala (or ¼ teaspoon dry ginger powder, adjust to taste)
  • ¾ teaspoon roasted cumin powder
  • ¼ to ½ teaspoon crushed black pepper
  • ¼ black salt + ¼ to ½ regular salt (adjust to taste)
  • ¾ tablespoon fine chopped coriander leaves
  • ¾ tablespoon fine chopped mint leaves
yogurt spices and herbs in a bowl

2. Whisk them together until smooth.

whisk them very well

3. Then add 1¾ cups chilled water to bring to consistency. I also add some lemon juice at this stage for a more refreshing flavor and it is optional. Do not add if your yogurt is sour.

pour water to bring masala chaas to consistency

4. Whisk well until frothy.

whisking chaas in a bowl until frothy

Pour to serving glasses.

frothy spiced buttermilk in a bowl

Sprinkle chaat masala & roasted cumin powder as required. Enjoy your chaas often, more especially in summer. Make it a point to include it in your meals.

chaas

Storing chaas

In traditional households, matka, an earthen pot is used to keep the chaas cool, at a pleasant temperature, so it tastes more refreshing for longer. Storing curd & chaas in earthen pots is believed to rehydrate and keep us cool during summers. You can easily store chaas in the refrigerator for a day beyond that the flavors will begin to be lost.

If you want to keep it at room temperature without refrigerating, then do use cold water, ice and cold yoghurt to make it. Also note that blending will warm the beverage slightly.

Benefits of spiced buttermilk

If you think about it, yoghurt is made from milk, and has all the health benefits that milk has. So you get more calcium. Then it is fermented and cultured. So it has probiotics (gut-friendly bacteria) that improve gut health. Some of the health benefits of chaas include:

  • Cooling and refreshing drink – it cools the system in summer and prevents dehydration.
  • Improves electrolyte balance – since it has potassium, added salt and other spices in it, it keeps the electrolytes in balance, preventing problems associated with heat and sweat.
  • Adds nutrition – chaas has calcium, B vitamins, is rich in proteins and all the nutrients present in milk, so helps with bones and teeth.
  • Helps with digestion – thanks to the probiotic effect, buttermilk helps with the digestive process. When you add cumin powder and ginger to it, this also aids in digestion.
  • Reduces acidity – though it is somewhat tangy, the buttermilk actually helps counter acidity in the stomach, caused by heavy and spicy food.
  • Helps manage high blood pressure – studies have shown that drinking chaas regularly helps manage high blood pressure in those who suffer from hypertension.

Apart from these, when you add other spices and ingredients to chaas, you get health benefits from those as well.

Related Recipes

Recipe Card

Chaas recipe

Chaas Recipe (Indian Buttermilk)

Chaas is spiced buttermilk, a popular Indian summer drink made with yogurt, spices and herbs. This cooling & rehydrating drink is low in calories & is gut friendly.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Jump to Comments

For best results follow the step-by-step photos above the recipe card

Prep Time4 minutes
Total Time4 minutes
Servings2
AuthorSwasthi
Diet : Gluten Free, Vegetarian

Ingredients (US cup = 240ml )

  • ¾ cup curd (Plain yogurt)
  • ¼ cup mint leaves (pudina, 4 to 5 grams)
  • 1 tablespoon coriander leaves (more for garnish, fine chopped)
  • 1 small green chilli (or ½ teaspoon crushed black pepper, adjust to taste)
  • ½ to ¾ inch ginger (peeled, adjust to taste)
  • â…“ teaspoon black salt
  • ¼ teaspoon regular salt (adjust to taste)
  • ¾ teaspoon roasted cumin powder (adjust to taste, more for serving)
  • cups chilled water (adjust to taste)
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons lemon juice (optional, skip if yogurt is sour)
  • ½ teaspoon chaat masala (optional)


Instructions

Masala chaas in a blender

  • Add yogurt, mint leaves, coriander leaves, green chili, ginger, cumin powder and salt to a blender.
  • Blend until smooth. Then pour water and lemon juice. Blend until frothy. Taste test and add more salt or spices to taste. You can add more water if you prefer a thinner consistency.
  • Pour to serving glasses. Garnish masala chaas with chaat masala, roasted cumin powder and coriander leaves.

How to make Chaas without blender

  • To a mixing bowl, add ¾ cup chilled yogurt, ¾ teaspoon roasted cumin powder, ½ teaspoon chaat masala or ¼ teaspoon dry ginger powder, salt, ¼ teaspoon black salt, ½ teaspoon crushed black pepper, ¾ tablespoon fine chopped mint leaves, ¾ tablespoon coriander leaves and 1 to 2 tbsps lemon juice (optional).
  • Whisk all of them until smooth using a whisk. Pour 1¾ cups water and whisk until frothy. Taste test and add more salt or spice.
  • Pour chaas to serving cups and garnish with more chaat masala and coriander powder.


Notes

  • When I make pudina masala chaas in blender, I usually add a lot of mint leaves, about 1/3 cup for 2 servings. If you don’t prefer you may just add a few leaves.
  • I also squeeze some fresh lemon in the chaas as it makes it more refreshing. You may skip that if your yogurt is sour.

Alternative quantities provided in the recipe card are for 1x only, original recipe.

For best results follow my detailed step-by-step photo instructions and tips above the recipe card.

Video

NUTRITION INFO (estimation only)

Nutrition Facts
Chaas Recipe (Indian Buttermilk)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 61 Calories from Fat 9
% Daily Value*
Fat 1g2%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Trans Fat 1g
Cholesterol 4mg1%
Sodium 697mg30%
Potassium 194mg6%
Carbohydrates 6g2%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 3g3%
Protein 8g16%
Vitamin A 311IU6%
Vitamin C 10mg12%
Calcium 115mg12%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Tried this recipe?Mention @SwasthisRecipes or tag #swasthisrecipes!

© Swasthi’s Recipes

Chaas Recipe (Indian Buttermilk)

About Swasthi

I’m Swasthi Shreekanth, the recipe developer, food photographer & food writer behind Swasthi’s Recipes. My aim is to help you cook great Indian food with my time-tested recipes. After 2 decades of experience in practical Indian cooking I started this blog to help people cook better & more often at home. Whether you are a novice or an experienced cook I am sure Swasthi’s Recipes will assist you to enhance your cooking skills. More about me

Follow Swasthi’s Recipes

Comments

Recipe Rating




5 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

5 stars
Used plant yogurt and followed the recipe. It turned out delicious. My family loves it

Hi Swasthi. Your website is my go-to when I crave Indian dishes. Thank you for the delicious recipes. They have a “buttermilk” container here in the US groceries. I am wondering if I can use that. Thank you once again.

5 stars
Hello Swasthi,
I tried your masala mint chaas with homegrown mint. It was a real evening treat with some snacks. Please show us how to make ulava chaaru. My husband loves it. Thank you