Dairy-free lassi

Dairy-free lassi

So many people are avoiding dairy these days, going strictly vegan instead, and I got to thinking about living without lassis.  Impossible… How could I possibly give up the next best drink to a milkshake, especially when it’s so healthy?

The pro-biotic lassi is so good for the digestion, and the mangos are so good for everything— skin clarity and colour— Not to mention the creamy and luscious taste— No, it’s impossible to live without a lassi!

So, I’ve been dreaming up a way to culture almond milk, which may or may not work, I’ll experiment with that later, and report on it here.  Meanwhile today in the health food section of the supermarket I found a cultured coconut milk, similar to yogurt. 


So I bought enough of that to make a lassi for myself, and to use as a base for my future experiment.  This is how I made the lassi:

1 ½ cups frozen mango pieces
1 cup cultured coconut milk
1 cup unsweetened almond milk and a bit
½ teaspoon rosewater
1 tablespoon unrefined cane sugar

I tossed all ingredients in the blender and liquefied.  I added a bit more almond milk to move the mixture when it was too thick.  You may not need to.  Pour into a pretty glass and enjoy.  

Tomorrow I will try to create some yogurtified almond milks.  I’ll make small batches, using the cultured coconut milk as one starter, and real plain yogurt as another.  Wish me luck!

Ridiculously Easy Mango Lassi

A Ridiculously Easy Mango Lassi

My daughter, Amie, warned me that in Pushkar I was not to order a bang lassi.  When we arrived in Pushkar, I saw that the restaurant had no ‘bang’ lassi on the menu, but they did have a ‘special’ lassi.  When we asked what was in it, the waiter had a giggling fit, and said “merr-ha-whanna”.

This sublime mango lassi is ridiculously easy to make!

This recipe is for a sublime and healthy mango lassi, although other fruits are delicious as well.  I frequently use frozen raspberries, blueberries, cherries or bananas.  I can’t imagine using merr-ha-whanna, because I think it would taste vile.  On the other hand, I have been known to toss in a tablespoon of hemp seed, which has no THC content, but is rich in omega-3 fats.  It will also keep you feeling full longer.  It's up to you.

1 cup plain yogurt  (home made or store bought

1 cup frozen mango chunks (or a combination of the above mentioned fruits)

1 tablespoon sugar

¼ teaspoon rose water

2 green cardamom pods, husks removed and finely ground in a mortar and pestle. 

Put the yogurt into a blender.  Then add the remainder of the ingredients.  Liquify . 

Pour into a charming glass, and have this for a light breakfast, lunch or snack.  It is absolutely sublime…

Tip:  When having guests for dinner, Set out a small jug of mango lassi with elegant liqueur glasses, so if the vindaloo is burning someone alive, they can be rescued with a cool sip of lassi.  They will thank you for it.