Neer More (South Indian-Style Spiced Buttermilk) Recipe

By Max Falkowitz
Updated May. 10, 2019
Neer More (South Indian-Style Spiced Buttermilk)
Photographs: Max Falkowitz

A slightly spicy, grassy palate cleanser popular in South India for its cooling properties, this drink is just the thing to get you back on your feet after a heavy meal.

Note: Most of the ingredients for this drink can be found in any supermarket, but you'll likely have to seek out asafoetida and curry leaves at an Indian grocery. Asafoetida, also known as hing, will last for years in your pantry, but fresh curry leaves are far more perishable, so pat your extras dry, seal them up in a ziploc bag, suck out the air, and keep them in the freezer until you need them again.

Recipe Details

Neer More (South Indian-Style Spiced Buttermilk) Recipe

Active 5 mins
Total 5 mins
Serves 2 servings
Makes 2 1/2 cups

Ingredients

  • 1 cup buttermilk, chilled

  • 1 cup cold water

  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice from 1 to 2 lemons

  • 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger

  • 1/2 fresh jalapeño, seeded and minced (about 2 teaspoons)

  • 1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves, roughly chopped

  • 1/2 teaspoon asafoetida (see note)

  • Kosher salt

  • 1 teaspoon vegetable oil

  • 1 teaspoon yellow or black mustard seeds

  • 4 curry leaves (see note)

Directions

  1. In a blender combine buttermilk, water, lemon juice, ginger, jalapeno, cilantro, asafoetida, and a pinch of salt. Cover and blend on high speed until mixture takes on a greenish tint, about 10 seconds. Taste and adjust for salt, then set aside.

  2. Heat oil in a medium skillet over medium high heat until shimmering. Add mustard seeds and curry leaves, coat with oil, and cook until the mustard seeds begin to crackle and pop, 1 minute or less. Immediately remove from heat and add to blender. Stir mixture together until well combined, then serve immediately.

Special equipment

Blender

This Recipe Appears In

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
94 Calories
4g Fat
11g Carbs
5g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 2
Amount per serving
Calories 94
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 4g 5%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Cholesterol 5mg 2%
Sodium 281mg 12%
Total Carbohydrate 11g 4%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Total Sugars 7g
Protein 5g
Vitamin C 18mg 91%
Calcium 162mg 12%
Iron 1mg 5%
Potassium 335mg 7%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)