Lassi is a traditional Indian Beverage, made by blending yogurt with water, salt, and spices until frothy, that is enjoyed chilled as a hot-weather refreshment. Yogurt is mentioned in ancient Indian texts, and so is buttermilk. Traditional lassi is sometimes flavored with ground roasted cumin. Traditional lassi is salty and sometimes flavored with ground roasted cumin and chilli pepper. Sweet lassi is a more recent invention, flavored with sugar, rosewater and/or lemon, mango, strawberry or other fruit juice. Saffron lassis, which are particularly rich, are a specialty of Jodhpur, Rajasthan. Another popular variation on the Lassi is the Mango Lassi, which is orange in color and mango flavored. The Lassi is very popular on hot summer days where it is only made of water, salt, yoghurt and sometimes lemon.

Salty lassi
Lassi is a south Indian drink, and one of the easiest things to make. There are many ways of making it, but essentially it is buttermilk (yoghurt whisked with water), and you can choose almost any consistency that you like, from the thinnest to the thickest.

Salty Lassi
Ingredients

½ cup plain yogurt

1 ¼ cups of cold water

½ tsp cumin seeds

¼ tsp salt

¼ tsp finely crimbled mint

Method
1. Add all the ingredients together and put them in a blender.
2. Blend for 3 seconds.
3. Serve cold.

Sweet lassi
Ingredients

½ cup plain yogurt

1 ¼ cups of cold water

2 tsp sugar

Method
Add all the ingredients together in a blender and blend for 3 seconds. Serve cold.

Mango Lassi
Mango Lassi is a traditional South Asian non-alcoholic beverage. In fact it is one of the most popular beverages in Northern India. Mango Lassi is also a favorite at Indian restaurants. This drink is a cross between a smoothie and a milk shake.

Ingredients

1 1/4 cups plain low fat yogurt

1/2 teaspoon lemon juice

1/2 cup fresh mango pulp

1/3 cup cold water

1 to 2 tablespoons honey or sugar (depending on how sweet you want it)

9 to 10 standard-size ice cubes

Canned or frozen mango may be substituted

If using a fresh mango, peel and remove the flesh from the pit; cut mango into small pieces.

Method
1. In a blender, add yogurt, lemon juice, mango pulp, water, and honey or sugar.
2. Blend approximately 2 to 3 minutes or until you see a little forming in the mixture. Add the ice and blend until frothy!

Some people like to pour the mango mixture over ice cubes instead of blending the ice cubes in the drink.