Mint-flavored Salted Lassi

20 Apr

Beat the heat with this cool drink – mint-flavored salted lassi. For those new to Indian cuisine: lassi is a popular yogurt-based drink that may be had sweet or salted. Sweet lassi may contain sugar, honey, and fruit like mangoes. Salted lassi is usually flavored with spices and herbs. Lassi can be served along with the main meal like lunch or dinner, or as an evening drink. It’s filling, hydrating and cooling – the perfect foil for fiery curries or scorching weather.

This lassi recipe combines the goodness of mint, cumin and pepper with yogurt. The quantities of the herbs and spices are to my taste – feel free to add more or less.

You Need:

Fresh plain yogurt – 2 cups
Fresh mint leaves – a small bunch
Pepper corns – 6
Roasted cumin powder (bhuna jeera) – 1/2 teaspoon
Black salt (kala namak) – 1/2 teaspoon [buy here]
Ice cubes – 8

How To Make Mint-flavored Salted Lassi:

Pluck mint leaves out from the stems. Wash the leaves well. Place mint leaves and pepper corns together in a blender, and churn till they are well-ground.

To the mint and pepper blend, add yogurt, black salt, roasted cumin powder and churn again. Finally put in the ice cubes and give the mix one last spin.

Pour mint-flavored salted lassi into glasses and serve immediately. [This recipe serves two; adjust the proportions for more.]

Notes:

I don’t add any white salt to this drink – kala namak (black salt) is salty enough.
I use the watery portions of homemade yogurt for salted lassi as I like its texture to be light. If you prefer it thick, put in chilled creamy curd and cut down on the ice cubes.
Lassi too heavy for you? Try the lighter buttermilk with curry leaves, ginger and mint.
Looking for other cooling drinks? Go for aam pudina panna, pineapple grapefruit juice, ripe mango milkshake.