Recipe: Vaghareli Chaas
Vaghareli Chaas is chaas or yogurt drink with a tempering. Adding the vaghar or tempering makes basic chaas so flavourful.
What Is Chaas?
Chaas or lassi is a daily healthy yogurt drink. Besides getting your daily dose of calcium and protein, chaas is cooling drink and helps to settle your tummy after an extra hot, I mean chilli meal.Basically, it is made from yogurt, water, salt and cumin powder. Chaas is also known as buttermilk. The liquid left after churning cream to make butter, is usually enjoyed as a drink. I remember enjoying buttermilk whenever I visited my village Umreth before going off to boarding school. Chaas is commonly served during breakfast or as a part of a main meal in India.
Chaas And Me
We have chaas everyday and I don’t consider my meal complete without it. Don’t laugh, but these days I have it with pasta, tacos, basically any meal. Out goes the fizzy damaging soft drinks and in comes the chaas. Haven’t had chaas and pizza yet! The chaas habit has crossed oceans all the way from Mombasa to Magog. Hubby and I enjoy chaas even during winter. Now that I don’t keep any fizzy drinks at home, I sometimes offer it to my guests, but occasionally do get funny looks too…. what serving chaas instead of soda or packet juices! But then its so normal to serve chaas in India especially during summer.
Is There A difference Between Chaas And Lassi?
While both are made from yogurt, the difference comes in where the consistency is concerned. Lassi is like a thick smoothie. It can be sweet or salty. Sometimes fresh fruit is added to it. Lassi originates from the state of Punjab. Chaas is much lighter and has more water content. Chaas is commonly consumed all over the Indian Sub Continent either as a part of a meal or as a refreshing drink. It is known by different names in different parts of India. Some of the names are chaach, mattha, ghol, majjige, majjiga, moru.
Sharing This Recipe With Foodies_Redoing Old Posts
Though I make vaghareli chaas everyday, I am surprised that I had not updated the post with better photos up till now. I am so grateful that Renu who blogs at Cook With Renu started this group. I have actually lost count how many posts I have updated because of this group. And this basic delicious chaas recipe is another one. I first posted the recipe on 07/09/2012. The photos were dark and that didn’t help to make the chaas tempting to my readers. Hopefully the new photos do.
Updated on 09/08/2024
Herbs you may like to add:
- fresh coriander
- fresh mint
- fresh curry leaves
- fresh dill
Spices that you can use:
- pepper
- cumin seeds
- mustard seeds
- cloves
- cinnamon
- ginger
- green chillis
Some flavor options:
- pureed cucumber
- pureed fruits like mango, peaches, berries, banana, etc.
- cooked and pureed carrot, beetroot, spinach, check out my Tricolour Chaas
For a vegan option:
Use vegan yogurt and replace ghee with coconut oil or normal vegetable oil.
Some Chaas | Lassi Recipes You May Like
Ingredients Required For Vaghareli Chaas
Yogurt
Need plain thick yogurt. If the yogurt is watery, use less water.
Water
Plain tap water. If you are going to refrigerate the chaas then use room temperature water. If you are going to serve it immediately, use chilled water. Can add a few ice cubes when serving.
Salt
Be careful how much salt you add. Salty chaas does not taste good. Add a bit at first. Can always add some more if required.
Fresh Coriander | Cilantro
Wash and chop it finely. If the stems are tender, add them but chop them finely.
Curry Leaves
Also known as kari patta, mitho limbdo, limbdi. Adds so much flavour, so don’t skip this ingredient. Can use fresh, frozen or dried.
Green Chilli
Add according to your taste. I usually add ½ a chilli for the flavour. Slice it thinly or chop it finely.
Cumin Seeds
Jeera, Jiru, Jeeru. Add some for flavour.
Ghee Or Oil
I prefer using ghee as it adds a fabulous flavour to the chaas. Can replace it with oil of your choice as we need it for tempering or vaghar.
Watch How To Make Vaghareli Chaas
VAGHARELI CHAAS | SPICY YOGURT DRINK
Ingredients
- 1 cup yogurt plain
- 1 cup chilled water
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 tbsp fresh coriander chopped
- 1 sprig curry leaves
- ½ green chilli finely chopped
- ½ tsp cumin seeds
- 1 tsp oil or ghee
Instructions
- Whisk yogurt, water and salt together in a deep pan or bowl.
- Heat oil or ghee in a small pan.
- Add cumin seeds and curry leaves.
- Add chopped coriander and chilli. Stir fry the mixture till the curry leaves become slightly crispy.
- Add the tempered mixture into the yogurt and water mixture.
- Mix and serve chaas immediately. Or leave it in the fridge till required.
Notes
For a different flavour add 2 to 3 cloves to the oil when it is hot.
Serve with ice cubes if you like.
Chaas can be kept in the fridge for 2 days without it going really sour.
For a thicker chaas add ½ a cup more of yogurt
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A Small Request:
If you do try this recipe then please either
- add a comment below,
- send a picture to my email mayuri.ajay.patel62@gmail.com
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