Lassi is a traditional Indian beverage made by blending yoghurt with water, salt, and spices until frothy, and enjoyed chilled as a hot-weather refreshment. Traditional lassi is salty and usually flavored with ground roasted cumin and chili peppers. Sweet lassi is a more recent invention, flavored with sugar, rosewater and/or lemon, mango, strawberry or other fruit juice.
Lassi has also become quite popular on hot summer days in Turkey, where it typically contains only water, salt, yoghurt and lemon.
During 2002, commercial products resembling sweet lassi began appearing on the U.S. market, with names like "Drinking Yogurt" and "Yogurt Smoothie".
1 Recipes
1.1 Traditional salty (namkin) lassi
- 4 c (1 litre) yoghurt
- 3 c (750 ml) cold water
- 1 c (250 ml) crushed ice
- fresh green chili peppers (quantity according to taste), chopped
- 1 ts cumin, roasted and ground
- 3 tbThe tablespoon is a measure of volume used in cooking. It has various values around the world. tablespoon 1/2 U. 8 ml) The traditional British tablespoon was never standardised, and could vary from 1/2 to 5/8 imperial fl. 8 ml) :1 metric tablespoon 15 ml lime or lemon juice
- 2 ts salt
Combine all ingredients except ice in blender and blend until smooth. Then add ice and continue blending until frothy.
1.2 Mild salty lassi
Here is one possible recipe for a Salty Lassi:
- 0.25L (1 cup) Full-Fat Yoghurt
- 0.25L (1 cup) Chilled milk
- 1 teaspoon (4g) Cumin seeds
- 2 teaspoons lime or lemon juice
- 1/2 - 1 teaspoon (2-4g) Salt
- 0.1L (1/2 cup) Ice cubes
- 1/4 teaspoon Mint (finely crumbled, dried; optional)
Dry-roast cumin seeds by cooking them over low heat in small pan until you can smell the seasoning, about 2 to 3 minutes. Cool and grind. In blender, blend cumin seed powder with yoghurt, milk, lemon juice, salt and ice cubes. Optionally scatter with crumbled mint. Serve chilled. (4 servings.)
1.3 Sweet (mithi) lassi
- 4 c (1 litre) yoghurt
- 3 c (750 ml) cold water
- 1 c (250 ml) crushed ice
- 6 tbThe tablespoon is a measure of volume used in cooking. It has various values around the world. tablespoon 1/2 U. 8 ml) The traditional British tablespoon was never standardised, and could vary from 1/2 to 5/8 imperial fl. 8 ml) :1 metric tablespoon 15 ml sugar or honey
- 1 tbThe tablespoon is a measure of volume used in cooking. It has various values around the world. tablespoon 1/2 U. 8 ml) The traditional British tablespoon was never standardised, and could vary from 1/2 to 5/8 imperial fl. 8 ml) :1 metric tablespoon 15 ml rosewater
- 1/4 ts ground cardamom
Combine all ingredients except ice in blender and blend until smooth. Then add ice and continue blending until frothy.
