Sweet, luxuriously creamy, refreshing, and utterly delicious, this traditional Mango Lassi recipe comes together in 5 minutes and is the perfect accompaniment to your Indian dishes or as a stand-alone drink!
Probably the best mango lassi I’ve had was in an Indian restaurant my husband and I stumbled upon nearly 15 years ago while visiting San Francisco. I don’t remember the name of the restaurant but I do remember the experience of sipping that marvelous drink. As soon as we got back home from our trip I worked on replicating that mango lassi recipe and we’ve been enjoying them at home ever since.
What is Mango Lassi?
The term lassi refers to a drink made with yogurt and water as its base. It has a smoothie-like consistency and is commonly made with a variety of ingredients and ingredient combinations, everything from black pepper, cumin, ginger, green chilies, rosewater and almonds to fresh fruits such as strawberries and, in the case of today’s recipe, mangoes. A mango lassi is made by blending ripe mangoes with yogurt, sugar or honey, often cardamom and cinnamon, and sometimes a splash of milk or water. The result is a smooth, creamy, and sweet beverage with the distinct tropical flavor of mango combined with the peppery and floral exoticness of cardamom. Mango lassi is loved for its creamy texture, fruity sweetness and is probably the most popular type of lassi outside of India, served in most Indian restaurants throughout the world.
Where Did Mango Lassi Originate?
Mango lassi originated in the Indian subcontinent, particularly in the region of Punjab, which spans parts of India and Pakistan. It has been a traditional and popular beverage in the region for centuries. Mangoes are widely grown and cherished in India, and the combination of sweet mangoes with creamy yogurt proved to be a delightful blend, so much so that mango lassi quickly became a favorite beverage in Punjab and gradually gained popularity throughout the country and around the world.
How to Serve Mango Lassi
Mango lassi is typically served chilled and can be enjoyed on its own as a refreshing beverage or paired with various dishes. See the very bottom of this blog post for some suggested dishes. Here are some common ways to serve mango lassi:
How to Choose a Ripe Mango
The key to a great mango lassi is choosing good, ripe mangoes. You can use frozen mangoes as well, but if you’re using fresh, here are some tips to help you select a ripe mango. You’ll need to use your senses to assess its color, smell and texture. If you have some mangoes on hand that aren’t ripe you can speed up the ripening process by placing them in a paper bag at room temperature. Once they’re ripe, if you’re still not quite ready to use them you can transfer them to the fridge which will then slow down the ripening process. © Celso Diniz | Dreamstime
How to Cut a Mango
Cutting a mango can be done in a few simple steps. Here is a basic method to cut a mango: You now have mango cubes that you can eat as is, add to salads, smoothies, etc, or in this case, use them to make a delicious mango lassi! © Arx0nt | Dreamstime
Should I Use Fresh, Frozen or Canned Mango?
You can use any of those but for the best flavor we recommend fresh or frozen as the flavor of canned mango greatly pales in comparison.
Mango Lassi Recipe
Once your mango is peeled and diced the rest of the process takes just a minute or two. If you’d like to save time you can peel and dice the mango in advance and store it in the fridge, freeze it until ready to use, or use store-bought frozen mango. You can use either honey or sugar as your sweetener as well as any alternative sweetener of your choice. For the yogurt I recommend full-fat for the best texture and flavor. You can use whole cardamom pods, remove the seeds, and grind them yourself in a spice/coffee grinder or mortar and pestle, or use pre-ground cardamom. How much cardamom you use comes down to personal preference. It has a very strong flavor so it’s always best to start with less, taste, and add more as needed. © Przemyslaw Ceglarek | Dreamstime Let’s get started! To prepare a mango lassi: Enjoy!
Enjoy this Mango Lassi as part of your Indian meal with one of these favorite Indian dishes:
Chicken Tikka Masala Butter Chicken Shrimp Curry Egg Curry Masoor Dal Chicken Biryani Tandoori Chicken Balti Chicken Eggplant Curry Chicken Xacuti Dosa Saag Gosht
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