Yoghurt- Also known as Curd.

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Lil did I remember the word, Yoghurt when I kept asking in Brussels for Curd.

Some of us buy Yoghurt from the shops. If you are interested in making the yoghurt yourself, you can boil Amul Full Cream Milk or the Australian Full Cream milk (For those living outside India).

Keep stirring, when the milk is boiling. Once the milk boils, let it cool and add a 1/4 tbsp of Yoghurt of your choice and leave aside for 10 hours.

Yoghurt helps to improve the good bacteria in the digestive tract, cools the body.

In India, the term "Panchakavyam" is used to describe all the five produts that we get from Cow. Milk, Yoghurt, Butter, Ghee and Cow's dung are considered to have medicinal properties.

After a spicy meal, I just use 1 cup of curd, lil salt, asafoetida and blend in a blender for 1/2 a minute and we get the best drink- Buttermilk which my husband also loves!

Alternate uses of Yoghurt:

1. If the yoghurt has set nicely, the cream in the milk will be in the top. You can apply it on the face and hands, leave for 20 minutes and wash. (A natural Facial)
2. If you are having dandruff related issues, you can mix yoghurt and fenugreek powder, apply on your scalp. Leave aside for 5 minutes and rinse. This is a natural conditioner for the hair.
3. Yoghurt is used in a lot of Indian recipes like More Kozhambu, Curd Pachadi etc.

4. Some of my friends, dont buy butter and ghee, as they would extract butter from the yoghurt (by blender). Heat the butter to get ghee (Clarified butter).

5. Belief in India that doing Abhishekam (Bathing the sacred idols) in Yoghurt, helps you to get out of debt related issues

6. Other variations of drinks with Yoghurt are Chaaz (N.India), Buttermilk+cumin powder and salt and other called Sambaaram (Kerala)- Spicy butter milk drink with some ground green chillies, ginger and seasoning.!

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