Lassi, sweet and salted
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Chilled whisked curd, either sweetened with sugar and cardamom or salted with roasted cumin. A cooling summer drink across India.
Region: All of IndiaOccasion: Summer afternoons; with mealsTime: 10 minServes: 2Vegetarian
Ingredients
- 2 cups thick fresh curd (dahi), chilled
- ½ cup cold water or milk
- For sweet lassi: 3 tbsp sugar and a pinch of cardamom powder
- For salted lassi: ½ tsp salt, ½ tsp roasted cumin powder, a pinch of black salt and a few mint leaves
- Ice cubes (optional)
Method
- Put the curd in a deep jug and whisk until smooth, or use a mathani (wooden churner) or blender.
- For sweet lassi, add sugar and cardamom and whisk until the sugar dissolves.
- For salted lassi, add salt, black salt, roasted cumin and torn mint leaves instead.
- Add cold water or milk to reach the thickness you like and whisk until frothy.
- Pour into glasses over ice. Top sweet lassi with a little malai if you like.
History
Curd-based drinks have long been part of Indian meals. Lassi is especially associated with Punjab and North India, and buttermilk drinks are known by other names across the country.
Significance
Lassi cools the body in hot weather and helps digestion after a heavy meal. It is a common welcome drink for guests in summer.