Spicy Cucumber Buttermilk / Vellari Neer Mor

When we were kids we always used to enjoy summer holidays at grandma's. We used to play all day with our cousins not worrying about the hot weather. Those were the days when the fast foods or bottled drinks were not famous much and all food and coolers where home made daily with fresh ingredients and lots of love by grandma and aunts. Other than the regular meals, mid-mornings and evenings are always time for something cool, like flavored buttermilk, kambu koozh (Pearl millet porridge), ragi koozh (Finger millet porridge), fruit juices, cut fruits etc.,. Time for another summer cooler now. 

Ingredients:
Curd/Yogurt - 3/4 cup
Water - 2 1/2 cups
Cucumber - 1 big - cubed - approx 1.5 cup chopped
Salt - to taste
Green chillis - 1/2 of a small one (Do not add more than that)
Cilantro / Coriander leaves - 2 twigs
Grated ginger - to garnish

Method:
Blend together the curd and water in a blender adding salt to taste. You may use buttermilk if you have. If using store bought buttermilk, dilute with some water to make about 3 1/2 cups and make sure it is not sour. Set aside. Now add the cucumber to the blender with about 1 cup of buttermilk (just made). Pop in the green chillies and cilantro. Blend until smooth and mix with the remaining buttermilk. Serve chilled with cilantro and grated ginger.
Tip: You can even garnish with little asafoetida fried in a little oil.

P.S. The green colored lining in the glass is the cucumber peel, which I used like a ribbon to give a colorful accent to the glasses..

Sending this to Serve It-Chilled event happening at Denny's Oh Taste n See.