Saffron Mango Lassi

ow summer is not my most favorite season but for some reason I have a strange sense of longing now that it is almost over. This drink is an ode to summer saying goodbye and what better than to do that with with king of summer fruits ~ the Mango! The sound of 'Lassi' reminds me of hot summer afternoons, a tall glass filled with a chilled frothy yogurt drink. Summers in India are even harsher than here but they still used to be fun. Not just because we used to have long vacation away from school and we were allowed to just go out and play, visiting grandparents, all the pampering .. but also because the season would bring a lot of fun and cool food and fruits and berries - mangoes, jamun, lassi, a million varities of kulfi, soda pops, ice-chuski and the list goes on.

Lassi is a sweet chilled yogurt based drink is especially loved by all n very popular all over India especially in the northern and north-western parts of the Indian Subcontinent. Being made of yogurt it has a cooling effect so just the right thing to do to gulp own a tall glass before you head out in the scorching sun. 

Here I present the sweet form of the drink but lassi is also sometimes made in its savory form (and it supposed to be better for you). Salted lassi is prepared by blending yogurt, water, ice, salt and pepper and some spices like ground roasted cumin and black salt. The basic sweet lassi on the other hand is prepared with yogurt, sugar (or honey), saffron and rosewater. It is also sometimes combined with fruits for variation and among that Mango lassi is the most popular. It can be made using different kinds of mangoes (alphonso works the best). Use a sweet, ripe and a non-fibrous mango for best results. It is ridiculously easy to make yet because of its pleasant and exotic taste has risen to international fame.

I add in a few of my secret ingredients - like ginger juice and rose water just to add more to the exotic quotient but you can skip one or the other and the taste is still unbeatable.

Ingredients:

Mango ............................ 1 large cubed small about 1 1/2 cups or 1 cup mango puree

Yogurt ............................ 1 cup whisked

Milk ............................... 1/2 cup

Crushed ice ...................... 1/4 cup

Cardamom powder ............. 1/8 tsp

Sugar ............................. 1-2 tbsp or to taste

Saffron ........................... 1/2 tsp soaked in 1 tbsp warm milk

Ginger juice ..................... 1/2 tsp
Rose water ....................... 1 tsp (optional)

Cashew/pistachios .............. chopped for garnish (optional)

Method:

1. Add all ingredients in a blender. Blend till smooth.

2. Pour in glasses, garnish with nuts and mint. Serve immediately. ENJOY!

Notes:
1. Frozen mangoes can also be used.
2. For the ginger juice just grate some ginger and squeeze out the juice and use.
3. To make it vegan, you can use, almond, soy or coconut milk.
4. The amount of sugar depends on how sweet your fruit is so adjust to taste.

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