Komal (Gujarati Coconut-flavoured Chaas) (Coconut-flavoured Buttermilk)

A refreshing and soothing summer drink , prepared in almost all Gujarati Homes. Aids digestion after a meal. It is prepared with home-set curd, whisked along with freshly extracted coconut milk, chopped coriander leaves, slit green chillies, sugar , salt to taste and chilled water, tempered with refined oil, cumin seeds, asafoetida and curry leaves. Refrigerated and Served Chilled.

Preparation Time: 5 minutes

Setting of Curd- Overnight

Tempering Time: 1 minute

Refrigeration Time- 1 hour / or more

Serves: 6

Ingredients and quantity:

For the preparation of Komal:

Home-set Curd ,whisked-1 cup

Coconut milk, freshly-extracted-1 cup

Fresh coriander leaves, finely chopped-1 1/2 tbsp

Green chillies, slit-2 / or more, as desired

Sugar – to taste

Salt -to taste

Water, chilled- 1 1/2 cup

For the Tempering:

Refined oil-1 tbsp

Cumin seeds-1/2 tsp.

Curry leaves-1 sprig

Asafoetida-1/4th tsp.

Method:

To prepare Komal, In a clean and dry large glass bowl combine the curds, coconut milk, coriander, green chillies and sugar along with 1½ cup of chilled water and mix well till the sugar dissolves completely

Add the salt, mix well and keep aside.

Heat the oil in a small tempering pan, add the cumin seeds, asafoetida and curry leaves.

When the seeds crackle, pour the tempering over the drink.

Remove and discard the green chillies ,before serving.

Refrigerate it for at least an hour, one reason being that it gets chilled and another important reason is that the flavours of the ingredients infuse in the chaas.

Pour into glasses and serve chilled.