8 Delicious Buttermilk Dishes to Revitalize Your Lunch Menu

Discover the incredible versatility of buttermilk! Learn 8 simple recipes that bring cooling, gut-friendly goodness to your lunch, from savory curries to comforting rice dishes.

Buttermilk Kadhi Delight

This UP-style Buttermilk Kadhi offers a lighter, subtly tangy alternative to its richer Punjabi cousin. The preparation involves a smooth blend of besan

(gram flour) and buttermilk, elevated by a fragrant tempering of mustard seeds and fresh curry leaves. Its delicate flavor profile makes it an ideal accompaniment for a steaming bowl of rice, transforming a simple meal into a satisfying experience. The gentle tang from the buttermilk is perfectly balanced by the earthy notes of besan and the aromatic pop of the spices, ensuring a dish that is both comforting and incredibly palatable. This preparation showcases how buttermilk can be a base for delightful gravies that are easy to digest and packed with subtle flavors.

Mor Kuzhambu Refreshment

Hailing from South India, Mor Kuzhambu is a spiced buttermilk curry that derives its creamy texture from a blend of ground coconut. The flavor profile is further enhanced by aromatic spices like cumin, coriander, and dried red chilies. Often, it incorporates cooling vegetables such as ash gourd or okra, making it a profoundly cooling and comforting dish, especially during warmer weather. The interplay of tangy buttermilk, the subtle sweetness of coconut, and the gentle heat from the chilies creates a harmonious taste sensation. This dish exemplifies the restorative and nourishing qualities of buttermilk, serving as a wholesome and flavorful addition to any South Indian meal.

Spiced Chaas Ease

Spiced Chaas is a wonderfully refreshing beverage or accompaniment that pairs exceptionally well with breakfast or even after a substantial meal. It's primarily made from buttermilk, invigoratingly seasoned with the earthy aroma of roasted cumin, the zing of fresh ginger, and the fragrant notes of curry leaves, all rounded off with a pinch of salt. This drink is celebrated not just for its taste but also for its digestive benefits, actively promoting a healthy gut. Its preparation is straightforward, making it an accessible way to include the goodness of buttermilk in your daily routine, offering a revitalizing and gut-soothing experience with every sip.

Comforting Buttermilk Rice

Known affectionately as Chaas Bhaat, this dish is the epitome of a comforting one-pot meal, ingeniously combining the heartiness of rice with the cooling essence of buttermilk. The magic lies in its simple yet effective seasoning, featuring the distinct flavors of roasted red chili, toasted cumin, salt, and pepper. This combination creates a subtly spiced and savory experience that is both satisfying and easy to prepare, ideal for a quick yet nourishing lunch. The creamy texture of the buttermilk coats the rice grains, infusing them with a gentle tang and a pleasant warmth, making it a go-to for those seeking a wholesome and fuss-free meal that soothes the soul.

Savory Buttermilk Veg Curry

As its name clearly suggests, this Buttermilk Vegetable Curry is a substantial main course designed to impress. It features a medley of seasonal vegetables gently simmered in a light, flavorful buttermilk gravy. This preparation is best enjoyed alongside fluffy parotta or perfectly steamed rice, offering a delightful contrast in textures and flavors. The thin gravy, infused with the mild tang of buttermilk, allows the natural flavors of the vegetables to shine through, creating a dish that is both light and deeply satisfying. It's a testament to how buttermilk can form the base of a wholesome curry, providing a unique and refreshing taste that complements a variety of staple accompaniments.

Avial Vegetable Medley

Avial, a signature dish from Kerala, is a vibrant medley of mixed vegetables cooked to perfection with a flavorful blend of coconut and cumin. The dish is elegantly finished with a touch of buttermilk or curd, imparting a subtle, pleasing tang that ties all the flavors together beautifully. This culinary creation celebrates the diverse produce of the region, showcasing how a harmonious combination of vegetables, spices, and dairy can result in a dish that is both visually appealing and incredibly nourishing. The gentle tang from the buttermilk is crucial, balancing the richness of the coconut and the earthiness of the vegetables, making Avial a cherished and wholesome part of Keralan cuisine.

Refreshing Buttermilk Raita

Buttermilk Raita serves as an excellent side dish, designed to complement a variety of main courses, including rice and roti. This preparation involves combining fresh buttermilk with finely chopped onions and tomatoes, creating a light and creamy base. A traditional tempering, or tadka, of mustard seeds and curry leaves is then added, infusing the raita with an aromatic zest. The cool, tangy buttermilk, combined with the crispness of the vegetables and the fragrant spices, offers a palate-cleansing counterpoint to richer dishes. It's a simple yet effective way to add a burst of freshness and digestive aid to your meal.

Crispy Buttermilk Chilla

Buttermilk Chilla is a delightful breakfast or light meal option that brings together the goodness of sooji (semolina) and gram flour, expertly bound with buttermilk. This batter is then seasoned with a thoughtful mix of finely chopped vegetables and aromatic spices, ensuring a burst of flavor in every bite. Cooked on a lightly greased skillet, these chillas turn out delightfully crispy on the edges and soft in the center. The buttermilk not only contributes to the batter's consistency but also imparts a subtle tang and tenderness to the finished chilla, making it a satisfying and nutritious choice that's incredibly easy to prepare.