Lassis

[Suvir Saran]

I can live on Mango lassi.  As a drink to go with Indian food.. as a dessert at times.. or just as my substitute for a small simple meal.

I love the mango lassis made with Ratnagiri mangoes.  There is something very wonderful about the mango flavor that is in the essence of those mangoes.

Even though the pulp is from a tin.. I seem to not care.

What do others think?  DO you have a favorite Lassi?  Where do you get it?

[Jason Perlow]

Mango lassis are great because they really tone down the heat of a spicy meal.

Besides mango what are the other common flavors? Tamarind?

[Priscilla]

Suvir, we love mango lassi at our house, as you describe, with an Indian meal or alone.  So good!

We have our to-go sources, but I wonder if you would describe how you make them at home for yourself?  Like other seemingly simple things they have to be just right!

Priscilla

[Suvir Saran]

I use Ratna Mango Pulp you can find at most all Indian grocery stores.

Add the pulp with some yogurt and ice cubes and blend it into a lassi.  The proportions depend on how sweet you would like your lassi.

Play with it.. you will love it made at home.  Very simple, very nice.

[anil]

Never heard of Tamarind Lassi - In North India, there are two - Salted lassi and sweet. In south india, it is chaas.

Mixing fruits is a very recent phenomena - i.e. mango lassi, it is a transmutation of fruit shakes.

[Suvir Saran]

Anil Chaas is common in the north as well. Rajasthan and Oudh both in the north have Chaas as a staple. IN fact in homes there breakfast is served with Chaas.  

It is very light, nutritive and also economical.  Since Milk is often sold by those  that have cows and water buffalos.

And yes you are dead on about fruit lassis being recent additions... how recent?  a century maybe.  Since they were served in the days of thr Raj.

But Sweet plain Lassi and Salty Lassi are the main staples.

[Jinmyo]

I like salty lassis or aryan or even kefir with a bit of sparkling mineral water added.

[Suvir Saran]

Jinmyo do you mean Ayran... Aryan are the people.... Giving you a hard time.. I know you mean Ayran... I love it too... similar to Chaas.. and is from the middle east.

[Jinmyo]

Jinmyo do you mean Ayran...

Ha ha. Yes, I do.

[Suvir Saran]

And how do you make Ayran Jinmyo?  What all would one need for it?

And Jinmyo... what do you like about Kefir... and how is it different from buttermilk or yogurt?  What do you use it for?

[Miss J]

Interestingly, there's a note in today's Guardian about London's ever-growing cocktail culture, and apparently the head barman at The Cinnamon Club is experimenting with a vodka-and-lassi combo.

The whole article is here.

Abomination? Inspired cross-cultural fertilisation? Has anyone ever tried anything like this?

I thought the note about aerating the cocktail to counter the heaviness of the yoghurt was interesting.

Miss J

[Suvir Saran]

Two years ago at our annual holiday open house in the village, we had made buckets of Lassi (mango) and it was served with dashes of Vodka, Champagne or Rum.  Depending on what one wanted.

People still remind me of that service.

I will go check out the article now.  Thanks for sharing it with us.

[alankar]

Hi! all.

I tried a uique way to prepare Lassi yesterday & I am gald to say over here, it becames so yummy & delicious, that I myself only can't belive it.

Firstly, I stir the ready Lassi, constantly for a few minutes, arouund 15min.

Added a few drops of Apple juice in it. After mixturing it fine, added choclate powder over it, mixed it well.

Then, mixes a mixture of dry fruits (powder) over it. Finally, I dropped a drops of Saffron water.

Freeze prepared Lassi for few minutes. See the difference, taste the difference.

Hoping, you all will sure try it..

Edited October 4, 2013 by alankar (log)