This recipe by food blogger Sangita Agrawal is an improvised version of the classic chaas and incorporates a smoky flavour into the refreshing summer drink.

Smoked Masala Chaas

Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 1½ cup plain dahi or yoghurt
• 1 green chilly, chopped
• 3 cups of water
• ½ tsp chopped ginger
• 1 tsp roasted jeera or cumin powder
• 1 tsp kala namak or black salt
• Salt to taste
• 1 tbsp green dhania or coriander or cilantro, finely chopped

For the smoky flavour

• 1 piece of charcoal
• 4 to 5 drops of ghee or clarified butter
• A pinch of red chilly powder
• A small pinch hing or asafoetida
• A small steel bowl

Method

• Blend all the ingredients except water, in a blender till smooth.
  Add the water and blend again.
  Adjust the salt and seasoning as per taste.
• Transfer the chaas into a flat, broad container, such that another smaller bowl can be placed inside it without toppling over.
  Use a cake tin or a baking tray.
• Heat a piece of charcoal till it turns reddish hot.
• Place the charcoal ino the smaller steel bowl, and place it inside the big bowl of chaas.
  Try and place the bowl is such a manner that it doesn't topple over.
  In the small bowl, add the ghee, hing, red chilly powder and cover the larger container/bowl with a large plate.
  Do things quickly while the charcoal is hot, otherwise, the smoke will not be enough to flavour the chaas.
• After 5 minutes, take off the the plate and take out the small bowl and discard the masala (the hing etc).
• Pour the smoked chaas into a tall glass and serve.

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Sangita Agrawal lives in Mumbai and publishes the food blog Bliss of Cooking.