Buttermilk/ Chaas/ Neer Mor

Summer Vacation is something spent at grandmother or aunt's place. Every year we re-group as family during summer. The minute i think about Summer and Madurai, the first thing comes to my mind is Chithirai Thriuvizha - It lasts for one month of which the first 15 days mark the celebrations of the coronation of Goddess Meenakshi and the Marriage of Lord Sundareswara and Goddess Meenakshi, and the next 15 days mark the celebrations of the Journey of Lord Alagar from Kallazhagar temple in Alagar Koyil to Madurai.

When Alagar continues his journey through the streets of Madurai, he pit stops now and then at many mandapams to take rest (which also gave the priests travelling with him to rest, eat and freshen up while giving the devotees a good darshan of the god). Since throusands of people come to watch this from all around Madurai, having Mor(Buttermilk) Pandal was very common. These Pandals are buttermilk/water/panagam spots where anyone can go to grab a glass to quench the thirst. My most favorite drink is the Neer Mor which is called as Chaas in North. Yet another wonder food available on this day is Kovil Puliyodharai - so heavenly with the smell of edible camphor.

I don't have a curd culture at home due to the lockdown. If you have home made curd, i highly recommend you to use that. So i used the store bought Curd for preparing this drink that acts as the best coolant on a very hot day.

Hope you give a try to this very simple refreshing drink. It might sound too simple, but tastes amazing.

Ingredients: (Serves for 2)

Curd - 1 cup

Curry leaves - 4 leaves

Green chilli - 1 small

Ginger - 1 tsp thinly sliced

Coriander leaves - few chopped

Mint leaves - few chopped

Salt as needed

Raw Mango - few small pieces (if available)

Water - 2 cups

How to prepare:

1.Add curd to a narrow container with slight long neck.

2.Add water to the curd.

3.Using an egg/butter beater, beat the curd in water for 5 mins until you see froth appearing on top.

4.Add salt, Curry leaves, Green chilli, Ginger, Corinader leaves, Mint leaves to this mix.

5.I try to use the tea kadai kaarar technique where the tea vendor pours the tea from one glass to another with a long pour. Make sure you aim right at the cup and not anywhere else. If it is in cup is becomes Neer Mor otherwise it will be a more wasted Mor ;).

I love adding raw mango pieces to buttermilk. It gives the drink a nice sourness and aroma contrasting the spice from the ginger.

Buttermilk is a great combo while consuming any deep fried dish. I served it with Poori, Split Green Lentil Dhaba Style along with Cucumber-Carrot Salad.

Guten Apetit!

Cheers to Mor(e)!!!