Beat The Heat With These Refreshing Dahi-Based Drinks

It's no surprise that we in India are head over heels in love with dahi. Not only is it good for health, but is also cooling, an excellent probiotic that helps with digestion and provides calcium. It is also rooted in the Hindu religion, in which Lord Krishna loved all dairy, dahi, cream and milk. Naturally, not only are curds served at mealtimes, they are also whipped into various cooling drinks, with each state and community having its own blends and flavours. Everybody knows about chaas and lassi, (which are salty-savoury and sugar-sweet dahi drinks respectively) but no matter how you make it, dahi drinks are guaranteed to be creamy and refreshing.Lassi can be consumed plain or with fruits mixed into them (even plain salted sometimes). Mango lassi is the most popular, of course. All you need is a sweet mango like an alphonso (or at the worst, substitute with a tin of mango pulp) and you're golden. Otherwise, you can even toss in bananas, strawberries, chikoo and figs. Thick, fleshy fruits seem to go best, so no kiwis or mosambis or anything citrusy. Chaas, on the other hand, subsumes a variety of spices-anything from hing (asafoetida) to mint or mustard. Dahi can come together perfectly with any flavour, be it sweet and savoury.Below, I have given recipes for several dahi-based drinks from around the country. Each one has its own unique twist. For instance, Bengal's gondhoraj ghol is sluiced with the tongue-puckering gondhoraj lemon that is native to that state. On the other hand, piyush, a drink beloved of Maharashtrians, is a vivid symphony of shrikhandand buttermilk. The one thing that unites them all is that it takes not more than five minutes to make them! Here's a list of 5 dahi-based drinks, that you can easily prepare at home. Read on to know more about them.
 _{Indians are head over heels in love with dahi}
Masala Chaas (Taak)Chaas is usually thinner than lassi, so keep that in mind when making this. All you need for this healthy cooling drink is curd, water and some spices! Nothing could be simpler.Ingredients:Dahi -400g
Coriander seed powder -1 tsp
Cumin seed powder -1 tsp
Asafoetida -1 tsp
Black salt -1 tsp
Water
Mint leaves a sprig, to garnishMethod:You can throw everything into your blender and have it ready in one minute, or you can whip it all together by hand. If your dahi is very thick and creamy, then add a little water, and stir till all the lumps have smoothed. Mix until its consistency resembles that of a raita, then pour in a glass of water and whip. Garnish with the mint leaves.
  
Ingredients:Dahi -3 cups
Sugar -1 1/2 tbsp
Rose water -2 tbsp
Water -1 cupMethod:Throw everything into a blender and whip, until it is all mixed perfectly. Serve, if you like, with rose petals floating on top.
Neer MorThis is a savoury, dahi-based drink; versions of it are spread across Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, even Kerala. Often, it is made as an offering for Ram Navami, but even otherwise, it is a brilliant digestive aid, thanks to the addition of ginger. This drink is extremely cooling for hot summers.Ingredients:Dahi -1/2 cup
Water -1 1/2 cups
Mustard seeds -1/2 tsp
Green chilli -1/2, chopped
Ginger juice -1/2 tsp
Asafoetida, to taste
Curry leaves - 3-4
Oil to fry
Salt, to tasteMethod:First, beat the dahi well, sprinkling salt into it as you go. Add the water, and blend well in the mixer. Heat a little oil in a small dekchi or skillet, and then add the mustard seeds. Once they start sputtering, add the asafoetida, ginger, chillies and curry leaves. Whisk into the dahi and serve.
 
Gondhoraj GholGondhoraj ghol is a beautiful Bengali twist on a regular sweet lassi; the dahi is spiked with the Bengali gondhoraj lime that gives a further refreshing hit, which is perfect for the summer. The gondhoraj lime is not at all like our lime-it's far bigger and milder, with a flavour almost akin to the Thai kaffir lime.Ingredients:Dahi -500g
Sugar -2 tbsp
Salt a pinch
Gondhoraj lebu - 1
Lime juice -1 tbsp
Water - 500ml, very coldMethod:Add the dahi, salt and sugar into your mixer. Then grate the peel of the entire gondhoraj lebu into the mix, making sure to leave out the pith (the pith brings bitterness). Pour in the lime juice and water as well.
 _{Gondhoraj ghol is a beautiful Bengali twist on a regular sweet lassi}PiyushThis decadent Maharashtrian drink is made from shrikhand and buttermilk or dahi. Piyush translates literally to nectar or ambrosia, and it is a very apt name, especially if you add mango pulp! It's an excellent drink when you're fasting, or even just to perk up on a hot day. In the recipe below, simply substitute mango-flavoured shrikhand for regular shrikhand if you want the even more heavenly-tasting mango piyush.Ingredients:Shrikhand - 1 1/2 cups
Dahi - 2 cups
Sugar - 2 tbsp
Nutmeg powder - 1 tsp
Saffron / kesar - a few strandsMethod:Add dahi and the sugar in a mixer. Blend until fully mixed, then spoon in the shrikhand, nutmeg and saffron. Blend again, then pour into a glass and allow it to chill for at least two hours in the fridge, before serving.
 Now that we've shared with you a refreshing list of curd-based drinks, beat the heat by preparing these in the comforts of your kitchen.About the Author:Meher Mirza is an independent writer and editor, with a focus on food and travel. Formerly with BBC Good Food India, she loves anime, animals and artsy things but also comics, technology and death metal.Disclaimer:The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. NDTV is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, suitability, or validity of any information on this article. All information is provided on an as-is basis. The information, facts or opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of NDTV and NDTV does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.