Sweet Lassi (Indian Yogurt Drink)

This popular homemade sweet lassi is a refreshing, creamy, and cooling drink for summer. Made with a blend of yogurt, sugar, and cardamom, it perfectly complements the spices in Indian food.

This simple homemade sweet lassi is very popular not only in North Indian households but also all over India. You will find it served at restaurants and also street-side dhabas, which is the best.

There are so many variations of lassi, it can be salty, sweet, spicy, or even made with fruits such as the popular Mango Lassi and Strawberry Lassi.

In North Indian states such as Punjab, it is served in tall metal glasses with a splash of cream (malai) on the top. That is the best!!

What is Lassi?

It is basically a yogurt-based drink that originated in the Indian subcontinent. It is typically a blend of yogurt (curd), water or milk, spices, and sometimes fruit.

Earlier, it was made with a wooden churner or whisk in a large pot. Nowadays, people prefer to make it in a blender as the churning process takes longer to do.

Health benefits

As Lassi is a yogurt-based drink, it has numerous health benefits:

• Aids digestion
• Prevents stomach problems
• Great source of probiotics
• Boosts immune system
• Good for skin

Different Variations of Lassi

• Rose Lassi – It is made with fresh yogurt, rose petals, and rose syrup.
• Banana Lassi – Made by simply blending banana, yogurt, sugar, and milk.
• Pineapple Lassi, Peach Lassi, Mint Lassi – Made with same ingredients sugar, milk, yogurt – Just change the fruit to make it a new and different variation.

How to make Sweet Lassi

Ingredients you’ll need:

• Yogurt: It is the main ingredient of the drink. I make yogurt in Instant Pot. It is easily available in grocery stores as well. I prefer to use whole milk yogurt.
• Milk and/or Chilled water: Choose depending on the taste of the yogurt. If it is too sour, use chilled milk. If not, then chilled water works great.
• Ice cubes
• Sugar: Traditionally, raw cane sugar is used. But feel free to try your preferred sweetener.
• Cardamom powder: It adds a unique minty, spicy, and earthy flavor to the lassi.
• Garnish: Pistachio or dried rose petals

Let’s start making lassi.

• Add all the ingredients yogurt, chilled water, milk, ice cubes, sugar, and cardamom powder in a blender. Tip: You can choose to use milk or water depending on the sourness of the yogurt.

• Blend them until it becomes frothy.

• Adjust the consistency to your taste by adding water or blending in some ice cubes.

• Pour lassi into serving glasses. Garnish with pistachio/dried rose petals.

• Keep it chilled before serving.

Tips for Perfect Lassi

• Use fresh and chilled homemade yogurt.
• Since lassi has a thick consistency, keep a check on the amount of water and milk you add.
• I prefer to use whole milk yogurt and whole milk when making lassi.
• You can refrigerate it for up to 24 hours.
• Use almond milk yogurt and almond milk to make the lassi vegan.
• You can garnish it with a spoonful of malai (cream), sprinkle some saffron strands (kesar), chopped pistachios, or dried rose petals.

Here are some more Indian beverages you might enjoy:

• Mango Lassi
• Strawberry Lassi
• Masala Chai
• Thandai
• Fig Banana Smoothie
• Masala Chaas (Indian Spiced Buttermilk)
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