Sambaram (Kerala Style Buttermilk)

Sambaram or Morum Vellam is Kerala style spicy buttermilk which is spiced with curry leaves, green chillies, and ginger. It is refrigerated for a few hours before serving so that the flavours of all the ingredients seep in the buttermilk. Here is how to make it.

Last year, during Onam, I was very excited to savour and experience the flavours of traditional Onam Sadya.

Basically, Onam Sadya is a huge spread of vegetarian dishes served on a banana leaf.

Luckily, I have a few Malayali friends who invited me for an authentic pre-Onam Sadhya lunch.

The simplicity of the dishes bowled me over and I was off to sample yet another Sadya at a nearby Kerala Cuisine Restaurant one weekend.

I came back home motivated to make a few of the traditional Sadya recipes at home and after a few discussions with friends over the phone and some research on the internet, I succeeded in making 10-12 recipes which tasted very close to what I ate at the friend’s place and at the restaurant.

Out of all of those recipes, I particularly loved the tangy drink called Sambaram or Morum Vellam.

And this summer, as I am making coolers every afternoon, I thought of making a fresh jug of Sambaram.

All you need is curd and basic Indian spices for making this flavorful Onam cooler. 

However, you could even serve it as a cooler.

Say bye to Spiced Buttermilk for a few days and fall in love with the flavours of the South by making Sambaram recipe!

You can make variations of Sambaram by adding boiled and pureed beets to make Beetroot Sambaram or grated cucumbers to make Cucumber Sambaram.

Step by Step Recipe

Whisk curd till it is smooth and creamy.

Add water and mix well.

Add salt, green chilli, curry leaves and ginger in the curd mixture. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving for the flavours to get infused.

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Sambaram Recipe

Sambaram or Morum Vellam is Kerala style buttermilk which is spiced with curry leaves, green chillies, and ginger. It is refrigerated for a few hours before serving so that the flavours of all the ingredients seep in the buttermilk. 

Course Beverage

Cuisine Indian

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes

Total Time 15 minutes

Servings 4 people

Calories 82 kcal

Author Neha Mathur

Ingredients

• 500 g Thick curd
• 3 cups Water
• 1 tsp Salt
• 1 Green chilli Chopped
• 15-20 Curry leaves Chopped
• 1 inch Ginger Thinly julienned

Instructions

1. Whisk curd till it is smooth and creamy.
2. Add water and mix well.

3. Add salt, green chilli, curry leaves and ginger in the curd mixture.

4. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving for the flavours to get infused.

Recipe Notes

You can discard ginger and green chilli by straining the sambaram before serving.

Nutrition Facts

Sambaram Recipe

Amount Per Serving

Calories 82 Calories from Fat 36

% Daily Value*

Fat 4g6%

Saturated Fat 2g13%

Cholesterol 16mg5%

Sodium 685mg30%

Potassium 193mg6%

Carbohydrates 7g2%

Sugar 6g7%

Protein 4g8%

Vitamin A 265IU5%

Vitamin C 77mg93%

Calcium 172mg17%

Iron 0.1mg1%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.