Indian Lassi Recipe

In India, the perfect cooling and soul-soothing summer drink is lassi. This Indian lassi recipe is well known for its cooling effect. It requires yogurt, sugar or salt, spices, and flavoring with dry fruits, saffron, and green cardamon. There are many variations of lassi. However, in this post, I will share two sweet and salty lassis with you. They both are common variations. It takes only 10 minutes to prepare. So, let’s try these flavorful variations of lassi.

About Indian Lassi Recipe

Lassi is a common and popular drink in the northern parts of India. Primarily, Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh are already familiar with it. Lassi is one of their favorite drinks. They drink it daily with their meals. Lassi is basically a blended yogurt with added sugar, salt, spices, and flavoring with green cardamom or dry fruits.

There are many variations of lassi, like mango lassi, masala lassi, fruity lassi, and bhang lassi. But sweet and salty lassi has a unique place in everyone’s heart. They are both very simple and easy to prepare. Both variations are my favorite. I never say no to this delicious lassi.

Why try this Indian Lassi Recipe

• Energetic and refreshing drink

• Best for its cooling effect

• Better for digestion

• Good source of calcium & minerals

• Keeps you hydrated

Ingredients

Yogurt- Yogurt is the main essential to make lassi. Plain yogurt is good for making this lassi recipe. In India, we made it with homemade yogurt, which was made with whole milk. But store-bought yogurt can also be used. Check the expiry date of yogurt before buying. Be sure that the yogurt is not sour.

Water- If you want thin lassi, then you need water to thin the consistency. Milk can also be added instead of water. But I rarely used the liquid in my lassi. I like to prepare it with only yogurt because I like the thick & creamy taste of lassi.

For the sweet lassi- I used sugar, green cardamom powder, and nuts. I used regular white sugar, but brown sugar or raw sugar (jaggery) can also be added.

For the salty lassi- I used cumin powder and black salt. Rock salt can also be used, but black salt gives a better taste. Herbs like coriander or mint leaves are good for garnishing.

About Sweet Lassi

In summer vacation when I was kid I went to my Nani’s house. One of mama’s friend and his family also came there from Delhi. When my nani served lassi to them then they said this is sour. So they all add sugar in lassi and then drink. I was like, how can they drink lassi like this? But now I think I laughing at myself back then. What did I think at that time? Now, the sweet lassi is also a favorite of mine. I also think that no other variation of lassi beats sweet lassi.

In my home, a few years ago, lassi was prepared with a wooden churner. My mother went through this process. But a wired whisk is also good for making this lassi recipe. Sweet lassi needs blended yogurt with added sugar and cardamom powder and garnished with some dry fruits.

(Step-by-step)

How to make Sweet Lassi

1. First put 2 cups of yogurt in a large bowl. The yogurt can be cold or at room temperature.

2. Then whip it with a churner or a wired whisk that you have. Whip it until it’s smooth in texture.

3. The yogurt, when blended, should have a smooth texture.

4. After that, add 3 to 4 tbsp of sugar or as required. Add 1 cup of water or milk if you want a thin texture for lassi. I rarely add water because I like the thick and creamy taste of lassi.

5. Now add 1 tsp green cardamom powder and whip it again.

6. Now garnish with chopped almonds and cashews. Pour it into a large glass with some ice cubes.

About Salty Lassi

Salty lassi is the same process as sweet lassi, only spices are added instead of sugar. The salty lassi is also prepared in many ways. Some people simply blend yogurt with added water or salt and drink it. This is also a good process. But I prefer to add roasted cumin powder to lassi, which is also good for digestion.

This salty lassi is a blended yogurt with black salt or cumin powder and garnished with mint leaves. Coriander leaves can also be garnished. Some people also like to add chaat masala and red chili powder to lassi. But I like this simple version, which I always prepare at my home.

(Step-by-step)

How to make Salty Lassi

1.Put 2 cups of yogurt in a large bowl. I add homemade fresh curd.

2. Whip it with a churner or a wired whisk until it is smooth in texture.

3. When the yogurt is smooth in texture. Then add 1 cup of water or milk and blend again. If you want a thin consistency. I do not add because I like thick consistency.

4. After that, add 1 tsp roasted cumin powder or 1 tsp black salt. Blend it again.

5. Now, do a taste test. If you feel less salty, then add more salt.

6. After that, serve it in a large glass with garnished mint leaves. Add some ice cubes for more better taste.

Tips:-

• Always use fresh yogurt to make a delicious lassi. Homemade yogurt works well. But if you buy store-bought check the yogurt not sour in taste.

• You can store leftover lassi in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. But it is best to consume it when you made it.

• For a thin consistency of lassi, you can use water and milk.