Menthi Majjiga is fenugreek flavored buttermilk, a refreshing summer drink in South India.
Summer Coolant
Buttermilk is a great summer cooler. Diluted buttermilk cools and hydrates the body. Since ancient times, it is a popular summer drink. In North India it is called chaas. To make it interesting, there are many flavors of chaas and majjiga. One such flavor is menthi majjiga. Other buttermilk/yogurt based summer coolants are daddojannam and dahi vada.
What is Menthi Majjiga?
In Telugu, a South Indian dialect, majjiga is buttermilk and menthi is fenugreek. Menthi majjiga literally means fenugreek buttermilk. In Hindi it is methi chaas.
To prepare, flavor buttermilk with cumin powder and salt. Then temper it with fenugreek, ajwain (carom), mustard seeds, green chilies and curry leaves. This is a very refreshing summer drink as both buttermilk and fenugreek are body coolants.
Menthi majjiga is also a very popular side dish served with rice. Side dish version is thick in consistency, unlike the beverage which has a thin consistency. There are many versions of majjiga side dishes and one of them is a North Indian kadhi. Punjabi kadhi is one the popular kadhi recipes.
Ingredients for flavored buttermilk
Yogurt/buttermilk, fenugreek seeds, cumin are the basic ingredients. Green chilies, cilantro and curry leaves are optional although these enhance the flavor. However, please do use the optional ingredients when preparing it as a side dish.
Children might not like biting on herbs and seeds, so use the optional ingredients as per you family taste. Another option is to use fenugreek powder, as it blends into the drink and avoid biting the seeds when drinking.
Can you make buttermilk at home?
Yes you can. I usually use homemade yogurt or store bought yogurt to make buttermilk at home. Whisk yogurt and dilute it to desired consistency. Since it is so easy to prepare at home, I seldom buy buttermilk.
Is it Kids Friendly?
It depends on child's taste. Fenugreek is bitter in taste and not everyone might like it. My nephews do not like herbs and seeds in their chaas but my friend's children love it. One way to make it kids friendly is to modify the recipe a bit. Use pinch of roasted fenugreek powder instead of seeds. Roasting mellows down the bitter taste of the seeds. Also adjust green chilies accordingly.
Recipe is adapted from 'Cooking at home with Pedatha', cookbook.
This recipe was originally posted in Sept 2016. Updating the post to include a recipe card and images to meet my current theme's requirements.
Menthi Majjiga Recipe
Menthi Majjiga
Equipment
- Whisk
- Bowl
- Pan for Tempering
Ingredients
Buttermilk
- 1 ½ cups Yogurt I used nonfat homemade yogurt
- 1 - 1 ½ cups Water
- ⅛ tsp. Cumin crushed
- ½ tsp. Salt adjust to taste
- Few drops about ¼ teaspoon Lime Juice
Tempering
- 2 tsp. Oil
- ⅛ tsp. Mustard Seeds
- ⅛ – ¼ tsp. Ajwain / Carom Seeds I used less than ¼ tsp
- ⅛ – ¼ tsp. Fenugreek Seeds
- ⅛ tsp. Cumin Seeds
- Dash of Asafoetida / Hing I didn’t use
- 1 – 2 small Green Chilies chopped (adjust to taste)
- 4 Curry Leaves torn into 2-3 pieces
- 2-3 tsp. chopped Cilantro
Instructions
- Take yogurt in a bowl, add water and whisk lightly to make buttermilk.
- Add freshly ground cumin powder, lime juice, salt, mix and keep aside.
- Take oil in a pan for tempering.
- When oil is hot, add mustard seeds, fenugreek seeds, ajwain and let the fenugreek seeds turn light brown.
- Reduce the flame, add cumin seeds, asafoetida, stir and turn off the flame.
- Add curry curry, green chilies, chopped cilantro let the chilies roast in the oil.
- Pour it over buttermilk, stir and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Notes
- Fenugreek Seeds - Substitute seeds with a pinch of roasted fenugreek powder.
- Herbs - Not everyone likes herbs in their drink. Adjust herbs or skip all together.
- Side Dish - When making a side dish, use thick buttermilk and do not skip the herbs.
Nutrition
This is my contribution to Kid's Delight - Summer Coolers, an event started by Valli and I am hosting it this month. This is also my post for this month's BM#112. Check out the Blogging Marathon Page to see what my fellow marathoners are doing this BM.
Sapana says
I have never added fenugreek in spiced lassi or buttermilk.It sure does sounds very interesting.
NARMADHA says
Perfect coolant to enjoy during Summer. Beautiful pictures and it is too irresistible and tempting.
Suma Gandlur says
Did you repost this for the event sake or were you updating? This is one such classic summer cooler from south.
Usha Rao says
I updated the post and republished Suma. And it also fit the theme. Or I should say I picked this post to update as it fit the week's theme. Yes, it is a great summer cooler.
cookingwithsapana says
Buttermilk with fenugreek sounds interesting. Love the beautiful clicks.
Sandhya Ramakrishnan says
I wonder how you managed to make the classic buttermilk so beautiful! Love the clicks and this recipe is definitely one of my favorite.
themadscientistskitchen says
beautiful pictures and yum buttermilk. How you manage to do the cooking, clicking on one day I cannot understand. Its way beyond me.
Srivalli Jetti says
Usha no matter what your white on white always comes out so brilliantly!..beautiful clicks..loved all of them!..pls don't even talk about procrastination..I am the boss here..:)
Sowmya:) says
This sounds like a healthy and refreshing coolant. Will be perfect for a hot summer day
Smruti | Herbivore Cucina says
I am not a great fan of fenugreek but this recipe is so inviting!! I must try this one really soon!
Nalini says
Refreshing drink,very well captured and love those cute earthen ware..
Vaishali Sabnani says
Beautifully captured..and tempering the buttermilk with fenugreek sounds interesting..must try this .
srividhya says
Perfect coolant. We soak fenugreek in buttermilk overnight and drink it in the morning during summer.. Love that tempering.
Harini-Jaya R says
Beautifully captured. Loved the white on white pictures.
Pavani says
Such a simple and delicious majjiga Usha. Love the bright pics.
Priya Suresh says
Omg, such a refreshing and prefect thirsty quencher. I have tried adding methi powder but not methi seeds while tempering. have to give a try.
Kalyani says
Lovely capture ! I have that cookbook too & there are real gems like these ! My husband makes this for us during summers with roasted methi powder
Gayathri Kumar says
One of my fav drinks of all time. You have presented it beautifully..
Suma Gandlur says
Love how you captured the spicy buttermilk beautifully. And I am the queen of procrastination. I still need to cook two more dishes for next week and there is no sunlight in sight for the next few days' weather cast and I am worried now.