Non-Dairy Sambharam Or Namkin Lassi (Savory Spiced Lime/Lemon Mojito)

Non-Dairy Sambharam or Namkin (savory or salted) Lassi is a savory summertime mojito! It is a very popular cooling yogurt-based beverage all over India; Southern Indians call it Sambharam, Neer Mor, or Karacha Mor whereas in the North it is Namkin Lassi, Chaas, etc. This wonderful thirst-quenching beverage is also enjoyed in other areas of the world; my Armenian friends call it Tahn and Turkish call it Ayran! Some of the ingredients may vary, but the basics are the same - yogurt and water.

In India this beverage is made with cultured buttermilk; first the milk is cultured and set, then it is churned to remove the butter. What is left is low-fat buttermilk and it is consumed as is or in recipes.

Regular Sambharam was prepared especially in the summer to offer to pilgrims; my grandparents offered it to the yearly pilgrims who came by the house as well as the workers toiling in the hot tropical sun on their farm. We also enjoyed sambharam with the noon meal. If one wanted to go very light for an evening meal, one would take a small amount of cooked, mashed rice and make a kanji-like concoction with lots of the sambharam for "karacha mor sadam".

Sambharam was prepared simply with crushed lime leaves or curry leaves and a little salt in our homes. In lassi other ingredients such as roasted and ground cumin, black salt, black pepper or mint leaves maybe used. Although we mostly keep it simple at home, we do enjoy all the variations.

When we wanted to make it non-dairy, first I made it when I was making Cashew Cream/Yogurt; I added water and seasonings to the remnants left in the blender jar and voila! I had a delicious sambharam-like beverage. Shobhaa made the delicious lassai at home with coconut milk. We were at a restaurant in Delhi and the whole group wanted Namkin Lassi; not to leave me out, ingenious Shobhaa quickly went out to purchase a small carton of coconut milk and had the kitchen make the lassi for me! 

Coconut milk, plain coconut, cahew or almond yogurt, etc may be used to make Non-Dairy Sambharam/Namkin Lassi. Other unflavored non-dairy milks maybe used as well. The amount of coconut milk or yogurt and lime/lemon juice maybe adjusted to suit your preferences.

Variation: You may use Black Salt or Chaat Masala instead of the regular salt and sub Lime leaves or Mint for the Cilantro etc.

2 Servings

Ingredients:

1/2 cup Coconut Milk/Yogurt
2 cups Cool or Cold Water

1/2 tsp Salt

1/2 small Hot Green Chile (any kind)

1 stem Fresh Curry Leaves

1 Lime/Lemon, juiced (start with 1/2 the amount)

1 Tbsp fresh Cilantro/Coriander
Ice cubes

Optional Garnishes:
Finely chopped Cilantro/Coriander
A sprig of Mint
A pinch of Roasted and ground Cumin
A little sprinkle of cayenne
A Pinch of Chaat Masala
A slice of Lime/Lemon
A thin slice of Green Chile

Method:

I like to chill regular coconut milk to let the cream rise to the top and keep the cream for other uses.Then use the skimmed milk part to make the sambharam/lassi.

Place all the ingredients in the carafe of a blender; add only half the lime/lemon juice at first. Whirl until liquified. Taste and add more lime/lemon, salt, etc to taste. If you like it super cold, a few ice cubes maybe added to the blender with the ingredients or pour the sambharam/lassi over some. Add some of the garnishes if you like. Enjoy!!