Digestion8 min
Pudina buttermilk: thin chaas with mint, cumin and rock salt at lunch
Lunch can feel heavy when the drink beside it is a thick sweet lassi. This version stays thin: buttermilk blended with mint, cumin and a pinch of rock salt, taken with the meal.
Why mint buttermilk belongs with lunch
Buttermilk is everyday food, but only when it is thin and fresh. Mint, cumin and rock salt are the same pantry notes many homes already trust with greasy plates. Blended together they make a cool, savoury chaas to drink with lunch, not instead of lunch.
A heavy midday meal is where this sip is meant to sit. It may ease that stuffed feeling for some people. It is not a reason to skip rice and dal, and sour old curd can irritate rather than soothe. Pain or repeated loose stools still need a doctor.
Ingredients
- A small handful of fresh mint
- 1 glass thin buttermilk
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- A pinch of rock salt
How to prepare
- Rinse the mint and crush it lightly with the cumin.
- Blend or whisk that into thin buttermilk with a pinch of rock salt. Add a splash of water if it is still thick.
How to use
- Take one glass with lunch, along with the food.
- Sip it with the meal. Do not use it as the whole lunch.
- Finish it while it is fresh. Do not leave buttermilk out for hours.
Helpful habits
- If the buttermilk is thick, loosen it with water before the mint goes in.
- Dry-roast the cumin for a few seconds if you want a warmer smell.
Precautions
- Keep the buttermilk thin, and take it with lunch rather than as a skipped meal.
- Use only a pinch of rock salt. Do not make it a salty brine.
- Use buttermilk that smells fresh. Stop if it burns, and see a doctor for pain or repeated loose stools.
Frequently asked questions
Can I drink this instead of eating lunch?
- No. Take the thin buttermilk with lunch. It is a side sip, not a meal by itself.
Can I use table salt instead of rock salt?
- This glass uses a pinch of rock salt. Keep that pinch small either way, and do not over-salt it.
Is thick sweet lassi the same?
- No. This stays thin, salted and taken with lunch. A sweet thick lassi is a heavier drink.
