If you’re Indian and you’re not obsessed with the incoming mango season, are you really even enjoying the summers? While everyone goes gaga over the fruit and puts it in or on almost everything from waffles, milkshakes, cakes, cheesecakes and even salads and salsas, it is the classics that remain a fan-favourite. Lassi is typically a yoghurt-based drink that originates from the northern parts of India, where thick set yoghurt is beaten with sugar and a bit of water to turn it into a creamy and cooling drink. While lassi is great on its own, the addition of mangoes takes the flavours a notch higher than usual.
Traditionally, the summers are meant for meals consisting of piping hot puris dunked into aamras, which is pureed mango pulp with some sugar in it, the lassi is a drink you can enjoy during hot summer afternoons, to cool off. Touted as one of the best ways to enjoy mangoes, we’ve come up with two fun recipes where you can enjoy a glass of cold lassi for all that it’s worth. Time to drink up!
Vegan Mango Lassi
Image Credits: Slowly Veggie
If you’re unable to enjoy dairy due to dietary restrictions or personal preferences, this vegan mango lassi recipe is for you. You don’t have to miss out on the joys of draining your glass of cold lassi just because it has yoghurt in it.
Ingredients
- 2 cups diced mango
- 1 cup coconut milk
- ½ cup coconut yoghurt
- 2 teaspoons honey
Method
- Add all the ingredients to a blender jar and blitz until the mixture is creamy. Check for sweetness and adjust with more honey, if necessary.
- Pour into a glass of your choice and top with more chopped mangoes before serving chilled.
Rose-Mango Lassi
Image Credits: Parveens Kitchen
While the flavour combinations of mango and rose might seem unusual at first, the cooling rose element in the form of gulkand (candied rose petals), combined with sunshine yellow, ripe mangoes, are perfect together. A cross between lassi and sherbet, this drink is better than the original, we promise!
Ingredients
- 2 cups diced mango
- 1 cup fresh yoghurt
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 tablespoon gulkand
- Dried rose petals, for garnish
Method
- Add all the ingredients to a blender jar and blitz until the mixture is creamy. Taste to check if the level of sweetness is right.
- Pour the contents out into a smoothie bowl and top with dried rose petals.