Lassi is a yogurt based drink originated in Punjab, India. it is either sweet made with yogurt and sugar or salted (salt and cumin powder and other spices). Every house in India will have it own version of lassi either sweet flavored with sugar and some fruits, salted or spicy.
One such famous lassi is Mango Lassi, not only is it popular in India but Americans love it too.
This is the best drink for the hot Bombay summers. I remember while in school we had a famous lassi place called Jain Dairy close to our school, we would actually save up to go get a glass of their famous malai lassi. Yum! I can still remember the taste.I have to make sure on my next trip to India I visit Jain Dairy.
So recently I was helping two of my friends N & Z to prepare mango lassi for 200 girl scouts as their project was on Indian culture. We used 2-3 blenders and made enough for the girls to enjoy. We wanted to save a glass for ourselves but had to let go as we weren't sure if there was enough of the yummy lassi!
So here goes my recipe for Mango Lassi:
1 cup plain yogurt
3/4 cup Alphanso/Kesar Mango pulp (if using fresh mango peel it first and add fresh pieces)
1-2 tblspn Sugar
3 cubes of ice
In a blender add the yogurt, mango pulp or pieces, sugar and ice and blend till smooth.
Serve with a sprig of mint as garnish.
Note;
The ice should blend with the yogurt and no cubes should be left
If using canned pulp go easy with the sugar as the pulp is sweetened.
Some people in India like to add some cardamom powder as a flavor to mango lassi and top it off with chopped almonds and pistachios but I like mine plain as I love to enjoy the flavor of mango.
You can totally skip the mangoes and just make good old plain lassi
If you want to make salted lassi just skip the mangoes and replace the sugar with few pinches of salt & 1/4 tsp cummin powder and blend.
Pic courtesy Cook Eat Share India table
