You guys have had lassi right? At the Indian restaurants around me, they offer mango lassi and the plain sweet kind, but the prices astound me! I don’t think people realise how easy they are to make at home, and since it only costs about a dollar to make, why not? Don’t let those restaurants bilk you! Stand up for your lassi rights!!!

Plus, it’s a great opportunity to experiment with different flavours. This fresh yogurt “smoothie” is also a wonderful way to sneak some fresh fruit into your diet, and my favorite meal or snack alternative when it’s hot outside. Plus, thanks to all that digestive bacteria in the yogurt, it will make quick work of a heavy meal.

I made three different kinds: strawberry-basil-black pepper, mango-chile-lime and my absolute favorite forever and ever, rosewater-cardamon-pistachio. Most excellent. Check it.

And yes, BTW, it’s pronounced LU-see… not like Lassie, the famous hero dog.

The recipe is mostly up to you, but here’s a guideline for the basic lassi. It tastes pretty darned good just like this:

1/2 cup yogurt
2 tbsp sugar
1/4 – 1/2 cup water
pinch of salt

For the strawberry version, I added:
1 cup strawberries
2 big basil leaves, torn
1/4 tsp black pepper (or so)

Mango version:
2 mangos, peeled and diced
1 tsp chile powder
Zest of 1 lime
Juice of 1/2 lime
Pinch of cayenne

And the princess of the party, the Rosewater version (although it’s very good with just rosewater if that’s all you have):
1/2 tsp rosewater
Small handful shelled, unsalted pistachios
Seeds of 1 cardamon pod

One note: I didn’t make the mango one watery enough. They’re not meant to very thick, so add more water so they suck up through a straw easily. These are meant to sit lightly in your tum-tum, not like a sack of rocks!
Improvise! Tell me what combinations you came up with!!

-x-
aarti