🥛 Mint Ginger Buttermilk

(Neer Mor)

A cooling South Indian yogurt drink infused with mint, ginger, and gentle spices

— refreshing comfort for hot summer days.

Spice Level: 🌶️
Prep Time: 10 mins | Cook Time: 5 mins | Serves: 4
Calories (approx): 75 kcal per serving

🍲 Sacred Spoons & Simmered Memories

🌿 Introduction

There are some recipes that do not belong to celebrations or festivals.

They belong to ordinary afternoons.

The kind where the summer sun lingers overhead, the kitchen feels warm,

and all you crave is something cool, soothing, and nourishing.

Neer Mor has long been a staple in South Indian homes during the hotter months.

Fresh yogurt, cooling herbs, ginger, and a simple tempering come together

to create a drink that refreshes both body and spirit.

🌿 "Some recipes don't ask to be noticed. They simply arrive when comfort is needed most."

“A chilled glass of Neer Mor is summer's gentlest answer to the heat.”

Mint Ginger Buttermilk

(Neer Mor)

South Indian style okra fry with onions, spices, and yogurt, served in a simple white bowl.

Photo by Stirred By Spice

📝 Ingredients

🌿 For the Buttermilk

  • 10 mint leaves

  • Few coriander leaves

  • 1 green chilli

  • 1 inch ginger

  • 1 cup thick yogurt

  • Pinch asafoetida

  • Salt to taste

  • ¼ tsp roasted cumin powder

  • 1 tbsp lemon juice

  • 1 cup water

  • 10 ice cubes

🌶️ For Tempering

  • 1 tbsp ghee

  • ½ tsp cumin seeds

  • Few curry leaves

🍽️ Instructions

  • Step 1 — Prepare the Herbs

    Add mint, coriander, ginger, and green chilli to a blender.

  • Step 2 — Add Remaining Ingredients

    Add yogurt, cumin powder, lemon juice, water, hing, and salt.

  • Step 3 — Blend

    Blend until smooth, frothy, and pale green.

  • Step 4 — Prepare Tempering

    Heat ghee. Add cumin seeds and curry leaves. Allow them to splutter.

  • Step 5 — Finish

    Pour the tempering into the buttermilk and mix gently.

  • Step 6 — Serve

    Serve chilled with extra mint leaves and ice.


🧡 Curious what tools I use in my everyday kitchen?


You can find my trusted cookware and appliances here → My Kitchen Resources

🍷 Optional Serving Notes

🥛 Perfect alongside South Indian lunches

🥛 Serve with lemon rice or curd rice
🥛 Wonderful during hot summer afternoons

For the Curious Home Cook

Spices are more than heat or color — they’re the quiet backbone of everyday Indian cooking.


Used with care, they bring warmth, balance, and depth to even the simplest meals.

If you’ve ever wondered why certain spices are paired together, or how masalas shape flavor without overwhelming it,

I’ve gathered those foundations into a gentle, practical guide.

💬 Soulful Note

In many South Indian homes, buttermilk is more than a beverage.

It is a quiet act of care offered after meals, during travel,

and throughout long summers.

📚 Cook’s Wisdom / FAQs

📚Cook's Wisdom:

  • Use chilled yogurt for best flavor

  • Adjust water for preferred consistency

  • Fresh mint gives the brightest flavor

  • Tempering is optional but adds wonderful aroma

💡Helpful Tips

✨ For an extra cooling effect: Chill the yogurt, water, and serving glasses before blending.

✨ Adjust the consistency: Add more water for a lighter, drinkable version or use less for a richer, thicker Neer Mor.

✨ Control the heat: Remove the seeds from the green chilli for a milder flavor.

✨ Serve immediately: Fresh mint tastes brightest right after blending.

✨ Make it festive: Garnish with extra curry leaves, a sprinkle of roasted cumin powder, or a few crushed mint leaves before serving.

❓FAQ

  • Can I make Neer Mor without mint?

    Yes. Traditional Neer Mor is often made with just yogurt, ginger, curry leaves, and spices. The mint adds a refreshing summer twist.

  • Can I skip the tempering?

    Absolutely. The drink is delicious on its own, but the ghee tempering adds wonderful aroma and depth.

  • How long does it keep?

    Store refrigerated for up to 24 hours. Stir well before serving, as natural separation may occur.

  • Can I make it vegan?

    Yes. Use an unsweetened plant-based yogurt and coconut oil for the tempering.

  • Can I prepare it ahead of time?

    Yes. Blend the buttermilk a few hours ahead and add the tempering just before serving for the freshest flavor.

📊 Nutrition (Per Serving — Approx.)

  • Calories 75 kcal

  • Protein 3g

  • Carb- 5g

  • Fat-4g

🍳 Helpful Kitchen Equipment

The right kitchen tools make everyday cooking smoother and more enjoyable. These are the essentials I regularly use in my kitchen for preparing Indian meals with ease.

• Pressure Cooker / Instant Pot – Perfect for cooking rice dishes, lentils, and one-pot meals quickly while preserving flavor and texture.

• High-Speed Blender – Ideal for chutneys, spice pastes, and smooth gravies that form the base of many Indian recipes.

• Stainless Steel Kadai – A versatile pan for sautéing spices, simmering curries, and building deep layered flavors.

You can find all my everyday kitchen essentials on my Kitchen Resources page here →

If You’d Like to Go Deeper..

Many of the dishes on this page are built on quiet spice knowledge —

the kind learned slowly, through observation, repetition, and care.

If you’d like a deeper understanding of Indian spices and everyday masalas —

how to choose them, use them, and build confidence over time —

you may enjoy the guide I’ve created alongside this kitchen.

Join the Table 🌿

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I share simple South Indian meals, seasonal cooking, and quiet kitchen rhythms —

straight from my stove to your inbox.

👉 Pull up a chair — I’d love to cook with you.

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🍃🌶🍃 The Bottom Line

A humble glass of Neer Mor carries everything summer asks of us

— coolness, simplicity, and a moment to pause.

Looking for more gentle summer meals?

Explore my June Seasonal Produce Guide

for seasonal South Indian cooking inspiration 🌿

🧡 Meet the Heart Behind the Spice

Maya Shetty – Stirred By Spice Author Photo

Hi, I’m Maya Shetty — cook, storyteller, and spice lover.

Through Stirred By Spice, I share recipes that warm both the kitchen and the heart — where simple ingredients and warm flavors turn everyday meals into moments of connection.

💬 I’d Love to Hear From You!

Your words, memories, and reflections mean the world to me.
Share your thoughts using the form below — I read every message.

Affiliate Disclosure:

Some links on this page are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate,

I earn from qualifying purchases —at no extra cost to you.

I only recommend tools I personally use and trust in my own kitchen.

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