We Indians love yogurt! And when peak summer hits, we enjoy yogurt in several different ways, like this light Soya Kadhi. A glass of Mattha or Chaas post lunch and dinner helps to keep the tummy cool and digest your meal. There is no strict recipe for this spiced buttermilk, and we all give our own little twist to suit our taste bud.
Ingredients I used for Mattha
Plain Yogurt - I like to use thick greek yogurt, but regular homemade yogurt will work fine too. Water - You will need water to thin out the texture of the chaas/mattha. Roasted cumin seeds, crushed coarsely - Avoid using store bought cumin powder for this. Freshly roasted cumin seeds will add a fantastic aroma to the drink. Salt & Sugar for seasonin. I don’t add too much sugar, just enough to blend the flavor. Fresh Herb - Fresh herb and fresh cilantro add the refreshing flavor to the drink. I like to add more than usual as it adds a lovely green hue to the drink. Ginger and Green Chili - I love fresh ginger with yogurt, and I will highly recommend grating fresh ginger for this. Fresh green chili is optional. I like to heat fresh green chili adds to chaas, but if you don’t like it spicy, discard it.
Steps to prepare:
The steps are simple and very easy to make! 1- Grate or blend the fresh ginger. Avoid using store bought ginger paste for this. 2- Adding green chili is optional, I like to add because I like the heat it brings to the drink. 3- In a blender, add the yogurt and water. The amount of water you can adjust based on how thick the plain yogurt is. 4- Add all the fresh herbs, spices, salt, sugar, ginger and green chili. 5- Blend until everything incorporates together smoothly. Taste for salt and sugar, add more if needed. 6- Pour it over ice and enjoy cold. You can store mattha in the refrigerator for few days. You will notice that the yogurt portion will settle down at the bottom of the jar. Just before serving, give a quick mix and enjoy! If your blender is not high speed, and you would like a super smooth texture, strain the Chaas before serving.
Storing Chaas or Mattha
In a glass jar or pitcher. Make a big portion and drink a glass every day. Do keep in mind that as it sits in the refrigerator, the yogurt will settle down, separating the water. Just give a good shake or stir and it’s ready. Someday I don’t even mind a plain chaas which is just water yogurt with little salt and sugar for seasoning. I occasionally like to drop a few ice cubes just before serving.
Here are few summer drinks to try
Aam Panna or Aam Poda Shorbot Strawberry lassi Melon Spinach Smoothie Oreo Milkshake
