---
title: "Chaas masala"
description: "Chaas masala or spiced buttermilk is a light and tasty drink to accompany your Indian food feasts but you can have it any time of the day...."
url: https://laindiaentusmanos.com/en/chaas-masala/
date: 2025-02-15
modified: 2025-02-15
author: "Isabel"
image: https://laindiaentusmanos.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/chaas-masala.png
categories: ["Recipes"]]
type: post
lang: en
---

# Chaas masala

Spiced ***chaas masala* **or *buttermilk* is a light and tasty drink to accompany your Indian food feasts but you can have it at any time of the day.

## The *buttermilk* in India

In Indian households spiced *buttermilk* or ***Chaas* **(Hindi term) is consumed to combat the hot season as this **drink is refreshing and helps lower body temperature**. It also has a very light consistency compared to other lactic drinks in India.

This drink is popular all over the country but especially in the state of **Rajasthan and Gujarat**.

## How is *chaas* or *buttermilk* made Indian style?

Indian***buttermilk** is made by mixing yogurt or yogurt rennet (usually homemade) and water.

A mixture of spices** can then be added to give it character and personality to **make the chaas or *buttermilk* into a spicy version.

## Ingredients for my recipe for *chass masala*.

!(https://laindiaentusmanos.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/ingredientes-chaas-masala-1024x576.png)

[](https://web.archive.org/web/20241011220829/https://laindiaentusmanos.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/ingredientes-chaas-masala.png)

- Yogurt: it can be whole, semi or skim milk. The yogurt must be cold for the recipe to be perfect.

- Water**: always very cold

- Cumin**: I like to use cumin seeds, toast them in a frying pan to enhance their flavor and then grind them in a mortar and pestle.

- Pepper** **black**: always freshly ground for maximum flavor.

- Chaat masala**: a spice mixture that usually contains cumin, coriander seeds, black pepper, black salt, mango powder and asafoetida. If you do not want to prepare it at home you can buy the mixture (https://amzn.to/3EFRao8) already prepared.

- Salt: I always use Himalayan salt. I particularly like *chass masala* with black salt although it is a bit difficult for the western palate due to its sulfurous taste and intensity.

- Fresh cilantro**: use only the leaves.

## Variants of spiced *chaas* or *buttermilk*.

I think like everything you eat in India, **you will never find two *chaas* the same**. You can add freshly roasted spices like cumin (the star spice for *buttermilk),* ginger, pepper, successful spice blends like *chaat masala*, coriander, mint, fresh chili, curry leaves, (https://amzn.to/4hTP6ag)(*kala* *namak*) with its particular intense sulfurous flavor...

There is a version of smoked **c*haas* that is delicious (I tried it by chance on my last trip to India and I'm counting the days to repeat).

## What utensils do I need to make this recipe?

You can make it with **electric whisk** or **hand whisk**, for this second option you need a bowl and the hand whisk. You also need a frying pan to toast the seeds and a mortar to grind them.

## Chaas Masala Recipe

## Ingredients

- 200 grs cold yogurt

- ¼ teaspoon cumin powder

- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

- ¼ teaspoon chaat masala

- 1 pinch salt or black salt

- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro

- 300 ml very cold water

## Instructions

1. Add all the ingredients in a bowl.
2. Whisk all the ingredients until the mixture is homogeneous.
3. Add water and whisk. The amount of water is to taste depending on whether you want the drink lighter or thicker. (Note that the consistency of the buttermilk should be more diluted than the lassi).
4. You can add a splash of lemon juice (this ingredient is optional).
5. Whisk until the mixture is frothy.
6. Serve and sprinkle with chaat masala, toasted cumin and coriander.

## What can I take spiced *chaas* or *buttermilk* with?

This drink can be taken **to accompany your Indian food** to refresh you and counteract the effect of the spice (surely the food is spicy hehehehe),

## Frequently asked questions

#### Is *chaas* (Hindi term) and *buttermilk* the same?

No, it is not the same. The Indian *chaas* in English is called *buttermilk* but its elaboration is different.

#### So what is *buttermilk?*?

The English term ***buttermilk*** in Spanish translates as **buttermilk or buttermilk**. Buttermilk is a liquid by-product obtained by churning cream to make butter. Today it is produced by adding lactic acid bacteria to skim milk.

#### How to make homemade *buttermilk*?

Making *buttermilk* is very easy! All you need is 250 ml of milk and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar (white or apple). Mix it and let it stand for 10 minutes. The mixture will be a little lumpy as if it were cut, mix it again and it's ready to use in your recipes.

Have you prepared this ***chaas masala*** recipe? You can leave me a comment, rate it, share it or if you want you can upload a photo to Instagram with the hashtag #cocinandoconmiviajealaindia. I will love to see your refreshing ***buttermilk Indian style***!