Neer Mor / Spiced Buttermilk / Masala Chaas (Detox Monday Recipe)

(A Big Sorry for being late by a whole day!!!!)

Surprised. How can buttermilk be classified as detox food ???? It is just another dairy product.

But that's the magic of this humdrum ingredient (Don't they say the most common/easy solutions are often the most overlooked ones) . Even though it is derived from milk, it is strong cleansing properties. Much revered in Ayurveda, buttermilk has more of lactic acid than milk and hence it is loaded with gastrointestinal benefits. With the digestion process improving, the excretion or throwing out of toxins from the body is increased. A glass of buttermilk with 1-2 teaspoons of coriander juice serves as a very good detox drink.

Now that you know where to search when looking for a quick detox, making some buttermilk is quite easy. Just add a cup of yogurt with 3 cups of water in your blender and buzz away for a few minutes. Voila....homemade buttermilk is ready. Most Indian homes use a hand churner for making buttermilk. It is a long steel/wooden rod with circular blades at the bottom. But a blender will do as well. (In fact we can make it using our hands too but it takes long time)

Read on for the recipe:

Preparation Time - 10 mins

Ingredients -


2 glass buttermilk
1/2 tsp finely chopped coriander
1/4 tsp finely chopped curry leaves
1/5 of grated ginger
1/4 tsp finely chopped green chilli
a pinch of pepper powder
a pinch of roasted cumin powder
salt to taste


Preparation - Take all the ingredients in a bowl. Mix well.

Pop it into the fridge for 1/2 hour. Remove and mix once again.

Pour into glasses and served chilled.

Note - This can also be consumed by all those who are fasting for Shri Ram Navami .

Panakam/Panagam (Ram Navami Special)

Panakam is special jaggery drink prepared in Andhra and Tamil Nadu on the occasion of Ram Navami. An interesting blend of spices is used in it and that is what gives it such a unique flavor. And it is quite easy to make when you have all the ingredients in your kitchen/pantry. It is prepared a few hours before serving and tastes best when chilled.

Read on for the super easy and very healthy recipe:

Preparation Time - 5 mins

Ingredients -

• 1 glass water (200 ml)
• 2 tsp powdered jaggery
• a pinch of soonth/saunth/dry ginger powder
• a pinch of pepper powder
• a pinch of cardamom powder
• a dash of lemon (this is optional and is not used traditionally)
• a few basil leaves (optional)

Preparation - Dissolve the jaggery in the water with constant stirring. Strain to remove any impurities.

Add the remaining ingredients and stir a little.

Serve chilled.

Note - Panakam along with Vadapappu (a mix of soaked yellow moong with coconut, raw mango, lime juice, salt and chilli powder) is the traditional offering on Ram Navami.