Sweet lassi is a traditional Punjabi drink that is made with sweetened yogurt. It has a creamy, satisfying taste. It is like having a milkshake on a hot day. The best sweet lassi I ever had came from a small dairy stand in Bombay that I used to go to with my friends when I was a kid.
Their secret was to add some malai. This recipe gets as close to theirs in flavor as possible while still using readily available ingredients.
About this Recipe
Sweet lassi is a quick, easy drink to put together. The ingredients are combined and whipped together in a blender. You can use a fork or whisk, if you replace the ice with cold milk, but you will have to put some muscle into it. It is important to get some air into the yogurt and ensure the sugar is fully combined.
My recipe is unusual because it uses whipped cream on top, which is not traditional. I added the whipped cream to make the lassi like I would get at the dairy near where I grew up. My friends and I would stop there for their super-rich “malai lassi” which had a layer of malai on top with a simple sprinkle of cardamom.
Theirs also would have been made with buffalo milk, which has a higher proportion of milk fat. I wanted to get the mouthfeel of malai without the trouble of boiling milk to make malai. It gives that little bit of extra luxuriousness.
Recipe
Sweet Lassi
Sweet lassi is a traditional Punjabi drink that is made with sweetened yogurt with a creamy, satisfying taste.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups whole milk Greek yogurt
- 1/2 cup ice
- 2 Tbsp sugar
- 2 Tbsp heavy cream (optional)
- Whipped cream topping (optional)
- Pinch of cardamom
Instructions
- Combine yogurt, ice, sugar, and, optionally, heavy cream, in a blender.
- Blend until smooth.
- Pour into a glass. Top with whipped cream and a pinch of cardamom.
Notes:
Lassi is usually served in large glasses in Punjab, so this recipe makes one large serving. Personally, I prefer a smaller glass for 2 servings.
