The weather is warming up… it’s time to cool down with a healthy drink.
A lassi (pronounced luhs-ee) is simply a yogurt drink, sweet or salty, popular throughout India. The Gujarati version of a salty lassi is called chaas and is nothing more than a more diluted version of a salty lassi.
Chaas is often referred to as buttermilk. But it’s not buttermilk, nor is it traditionally made with buttermilk. Instead, in the days before refrigeration, it was more likely made using aged yogurt that was starting to go sour (as a means to use it up before it went bad). I normally don’t have yogurt that’s about to expire on me but have found that using buttermilk will boost up the sourness and give a more authentic taste. That said, I normally just use water though.
Traditionally, chaas is served at the end of a meal to aid digestion but it is also consumed as a hot weather refreshment.
Gujarati Salty Lassi (or Chaas)
(serves 1)
- 150 g yogurt (homemade is preferable)
- 1/2 cup cold water (or buttermilk for a more sour taste)
- 1/4 tsp roasted cumin seeds
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- a few fresh mint (or coriander) leaves (optional)
- Using a mortar and pestle, grind the cumin and salt to a fine powder.
- Combine yogurt, water and cumin-salt mixture and vigorously whisk together using a wooden whisk (traditional method) or use an immersion blender (my method). Alternatively, you can also place everything in a jar with a cap and shake it vigorously.
- Pour into a glass and garnish with finely minced mint (or coriander).
conifères & feuillus 
Refreshing! Love drinking chaas. Your photography is just amazing!!
Thank you!
Sounds wonderful Annika. I love the idea of a salty refreshing drink. Would be perfect here today as we are having a super hot day which is unusual for Scotland.xxx
Wonderful… I wish you many more gorgeous summer days! Thank you!
I can imagine how refreshing this would be on a hot day. Lovely, Annika. I will now have to start stashing away your summer recipes until our hot weather rolls around again.
🙂 And I will be looking through yours from your last summer. I know there were a few I wanted to try!
Very nice, Annika. And just in time for the nice weather. 🙂
Thank you Rini. We drink this all year round.. but it is especially appreciated during hot weather for sure!
Ah but I love chaas. Now that I am moving to NY/NJ where I believe the summers are hot, I think I shall be making myself a fair bit of chaas 😉
Oh so you are coming to this side of the Atlantic. Super!
I am 😀 It shall be a new adventure! x
Interesting to read about the original special yogurt for this drink. It reminds me of a Turkish yogurt drink “Ayran”. I love such yogurt drinks in the summer! 🙂
I also vouch for this. Yum!
This sounds so delicious and healthy. I’ll have to try this at the end of my meal next time. It must be nice and refreshing too ☺
Do give it a try… it may take some getting used to (it’s pretty much like drinking yogurt!) but really good for you.
Looks great!
It is interesting to know that buttermilk is consumed by people all over India and they add different spices according to their taste.
Yes, there are a few variations that I make with spices and fruit… I left that for a future post!
I absolutely love chhas. I can drink cup after cup, till I’m lulled into sleep! The masala variation is also lovely, or even with baghaar 🙂
Us too! Though I have never made one with baghaar… must try this!
Do that, I assure you it’s pretty good