Mango Lassi

Lassi is a popular Indian drink made with yoghurt. Mango lassi is like a mango smoothie, it is thick, smooth, creamy and insanely delicious. I never ever have any guilty feelings when I down glass after glass of this drink. It has fruit, yoghurt and spice, this to me spells healthy. Okay, caution just one or two glasses a day should do.

It helps cool you off on hot days and the yoghurt in it is beneficial for soothing the digestive tract. It also helps in cooling the tongue after a spicy meal e.g pepper soup or curry sauce.

Lassi can be made and refrigerated for up to 24 hours.

Use a sweet species of mango for ultimate goodness, or you can use tinned mango pulp, though it lacks the acidity and depth of flavour the natural fruit has. Mango can be replaced with Pawpaw (papaya) or banana.

Sweetening of mango lassi is purely optional, I prefer to use honey especially if I am using fresh, organic mangoes because it adds a natural sweetness to the drink. You can also use sugar.

Instead of cardamom, you can sprinkle dry fruits (currants, raisins etc), nuts or desiccated coconut.

For the level of satisfaction you get from mango lassi, it is unbelievably easy and quick to make.

To make Mango Lassi:

1½ cups peeled and de-seeded ripe mango
1½ cups plain yogurt
½ cup orange juice (fresh or packet) or cold water
2 tablespoons honey or 1 tablespoon sugar
½ teaspoon ground cardamom
Ice cube

Cut up the flesh of the mango.

Combine mango, yoghurt, orange juice, honey, cardamom and ice cube in a blender.