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A Trio Of  Lassies

Lassi is a   frothy  yogurt  based  drink  that  one  often  orders  in the  Indian  restaurants.  The  popular  vote  goes  to mango lassi  that is  sweet, fruity  with a  hint  of  tang.  The  restaurant  versions   usually are  thick  like a  smoothie and  extremely sweet. A  tall glass of  this  will be   filling   enough to  considered  light  lunch.

Lassi - Mango , salt or plain , strawberry

More  often than   not  we  order a  couple  of  mango lassi   when  we  dine   in  north Indian  restaurants.  I don’t  make  it at  home  much,  not  that it is  difficult  to make !   Out  here  the  mangoes  never  last  long enough to be put into the  blender.

Case in point , the  other day I got a big  bag  of  frozen mangoes  from the  warehouse  store  to make mango lassi for a  school  event. 2 days  later, I  searched  the  freezer  and the  bag was  there,  with  just  2    teeny slices  of  mangoes. I guess I should  have  accounted  for  that  when little humans live  under  my roof.  Lassi - Mango , salt or plain , strawberry

Boy was  I glad  that  I had   a  couple  of  cans  of  mango pulp in the pantry ! Additionally mango pulp makes the  job very  easy. It  tastes  good , but  not  fantastic !  Given  a  choice  I would  rather  make these  with  fresh  overripe   mangoes !

Lassi is not  always  sweet.  It  could be  salty , tangy or  sweet   with the  unmistakable  dairy undertones.  Plain / Sweet / Salted Lassi used  to be a   refreshing  summer  drink.  Home  made  yogurt  (Indian   dahi) is     diluted  with  water  and hand churned  in pots    using a  wooden  with  churner.  Add  salt   or  sugar as  you prefer  and  keep  churning   until  the  drink   is  frothy.  Pour  into a  glass  and sprinkle  a  dash of   spice –  cardamom /  roasted  cumin powder /  ginger  powder –   for a  refreshing   summer  drink.

This is  unlike  the   restaurant  versions  that  fill you  up  before  the  meal.

Making Mango Lassi

This is  pretty much how  you make  mango  lassi.  Yogurt  and  mango pulp blended  together.  With the  variety  mangoes  available in India  during  summer  there are  umpteen   variations  of  taste  in this  simple  theme.  The mangoes  bring  their own   flavors   to the   drink  – and   serve over a handful of  ice cubes   for a  after school snack or  breakfast  smoothie.

There are another  version  that  is popular  in our  house – Strawberry Lassi.  This is  my personal favorite  is Strawberry ,  because  fresh berries  are  local  where I live.

Which ever  flavor  you chose  to  make  all of  them  follow a pattern  mix  with  yogurt  and  blend !

A chilled  glass of  Mango Lassi  is  the perfect  cooler for  an Indian  Summer

Here  is  what  you need

  • Plain yogurt – full fat , non fat , your  preference
  • Chilled water
  • Spices or herbs
  • Salt / Sugar
  • Fruit puree

So here is the  recipe  for  Lassi

Note : You can  find  two of the  other popular  versions – sweet lassi   and  mint lassi in the  notes.

Lassi - Mango , salt or plain , strawberry

Lassi

By Syama
A frothy yogurt based  drink  that is  popular in the Indian  subcontinent. The popular  versions  include  salty ,  sweet   or  fruity. 
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Course Drinks, Snack
Cuisine Indian

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups cold plain yogurt   Note 1
  • 1 cup chilled sparkling water

For  Plain /Salt  Lassi

  • a pinch of salt
  • 1/4 Tsp Cumin  Seeds
  • 1 Lemon Notes 2

For Mango Lassi

  • 2 1/2 C Mango Chunks  or 1 C Pureed
  • Sugar    Notes 3
  • Green Cardamom  Optional

For  Strawberry Lassi

  • 1 Pint Strawberries  Fresh or  Frozen
  • 2 – 4 Tbsp Sugar  As needed

Instructions
 

  • Start  with  chilled  yogurt  and  water.

Salt Lassi

  • Blend the  yogurt  and  water  in a  blender  with a  pinch of  salt – if  you have a  whipping  attachment  use  it .   Taste  and  adjust  salt .  Keep  blending  until the  mix  is  frothy.
  • Toast  the  cumin seeds  in a  pan  for   about 1  minute or  until it  begins  to pop.   Crush to a  powder   using  a  mortar and  pestle.
  • Transfer  the  lassi to  serving  glasses  and  sprinkle  the  cumin  powder  on top.

For Mango Lassi

  • Blend  the  mango  slices  into a  smooth  pulp.  Add the   yogurt  to this  mix   and   blend.  Taste and  add  sugar  if  needed.
  • Add  enough  water  to   thin  the  mix  into pourable  consistency .

For  Strawberry Lassi

  • Wash and   remove  the  stem  from the  strawberries.     Slice   into small  pieces  if  needed.  Blend  the berries  till smooth. Add  the  yogurt  and  blend  till  uniform. Taste  and  add  sugar   if  needed.    Add  water  and  blend  for  1  minute till  frothy.
  • Pour into  glasses and  serve.

Notes

  1. Use plain  yogurt , not  strained  or  the Greek   Perferably  use  homemade  yogurt.
  2. Salt lassi tastes  better  if  the  yogurt us  Homemade  yogurts gets  more   tangy as  it  gets  older.  Use a  little  lemon  juice if  making  salt  lassi with  fresh  yogurt   and you prefer  the  tang.
  3. Mangoes vary in terms  of  sugar    Canned mango  pulp is  usually   sweetened  and  there will be   no need  to add  extra   sugar.
  4. Blend a  handful of  mint  leaves   with  ¼ C  yogurt   and  proceed  with the  salt  lassi  recipe  to  make  Mint Lassi
  5. For  Sweet Lassi  follow  the  recipe  for salt lassi and  add  2- 4  tbsp of  sugar   while  blending.  Garnish   with  powdered  cardamom.

Important: Nutrition Values are estimates. Actuals vary based on ingredients and serving size.

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Lassi - Mango , salt or plain , strawberry

Recipe Rating




Anna

Tuesday 24th of July 2018

I absolutely love lassis (especially mango) but I have never thought to make them at home. Now I know how simple they are, I can't wait to try all 3 recipes!

Syama

Tuesday 24th of July 2018

Thank you , Hope you enjoy them !

Katie Crenshaw

Monday 23rd of July 2018

love having a Lassi at my favorite Indian restaurant. I am so excited to try to make it at home. I have never had the strawberry version. It looks lovely. Thanks for sharing 3 different varieties to try.

Syama

Tuesday 24th of July 2018

Strawberry is our current favorite , thanks to summer :-)

Brian

Sunday 22nd of July 2018

What a great recipe, I've had Lassi counteless times but never thought about making it at home, must change that!

Syama

Tuesday 24th of July 2018

Thank you Brian ! Hope you make it - it is so unbelievably easy to make :-)

Ramona

Friday 20th of July 2018

I could do with all three right now - soo simple and refreshing - perfect for a hot summer ;-)

Syama

Tuesday 24th of July 2018

Thank you, Ramona! Cant agree more .. It was about 100F today and I hate to cook on these days. Lassi could keeps us all going till dinner time :-)