Mango Lassi Recipe: Sweet, Tangy, and Refreshing

Mango Lassi

If you’ve enjoyed a mango lassi at your favorite Indian restaurant, then you know this beloved Indian drink offers a perfect creamy balance of sweet, spicy, and tangy flavors.

But did you know that a lassi is just as easy to make as any other smoothie!? This refreshing beverage is incredibly doable to make at home and can be enjoyed even when a trip to your favorite Indian restaurant isn’t in the cards! 

Just a few hints will ensure you end up with a velvety smooth, perfectly sweet and refreshing lassi.  

Yogurt.  In India a freshly made yogurt called curd is used to make lassi. Curd yogurt is almost liquid, so use a regular thinner yogurt instead of Greek yogurt. If you only have Greek yogurt, mix it with buttermilk or milk to make it almost liquid. We often make our lassis with buttermilk instead of yogurt to mimic the tangy loose Indian yogurt.

Mango.  Mango can be fibrous, so blend it with just the milk or water and the cardamom until it is smooth. At that point, the yogurt can then be blended in. This ensures you’ll end up with a smooth lassi.

Using frozen mangoes can be a great time-saving option. Simply let them thaw slightly before blending.

Serve mango lassis ice cold!

Mango Lassi Secret Ingredient

Cardamom.

Cardamom is the spice that adds just a touch of warm and aromatic complexity to the mango lassi. It belongs to the ginger family and is typically used in both sweet and savory dishes throughout Indian cuisine. 

Cardamom grows in seed pods. The seeds inside the pods are small and black, while the pods differ in color and size by species.

If you are using cardamom pods instead of seeds, place the pods in a mortar and lightly pound with a pestle. The pods will open and the seeds will fall out. Use the pestle to crush or grind the seeds. 

Looking for more Indian inspired sweet treats flavored with cardamom? 

Saffron Cardamom Panna Cotta

Black Cardamom Saffron Fudge

Vegan Lassi / Dairy-Free Lassi

To make a vegan lassi, simply replace the yogurt with your favorite plant-based yogurt alternative. Coconut milk yogurt or soy yogurt work well and use a dairy-free milk like almond milk or oat milk. If making a vegan lassi, make sure your sugar is vegan as well (all organic sugar in the US is vegan.) 

Looking for more refreshing Indian drinks? Masala Watermelon Juice

This delicious beverage is incredibly easy to make at home and can be enjoyed any time of day.

A simple recipe that yields a delicious and authentic mango lassi and is incredibly easy to make at home – what could be better?

Let’s Get Cooking!