Strawberry lassi

Strawberry lassi is a gently fruity and colorful twist on the classic Indian yogurt-based drink. It's kind of a light smoothie, made with just a handful of ingredients, that's smooth, creamy and refreshing.

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We didn't go out for dinner all that often when I was a kid, other than when traveling, but when we did, a local Indian restaurant was high on the list. It was a pretty good one, too, and is probably part of what fueled my early interest in Indian food, along with family ties as I got older. 

Lassi was, as for many foreigners, one of the first Indian drinks I grew to know and I instantly loved it. Over the years, I have tried some a few variations, from the more common mango lassi to less typical ones like peach lassi. This strawberry version is another one that's easy and delicious.

What are the origins of lassi?

Lassi is from the Punjab region of India and has been around for centuries. "Lassi" means yogurt mixed with water in Punjabi and was developed as a way to beat the heat. Most traditionally, it's made with buffalo milk yogurt but other types are common, too.

In other parts of the world, mango lassi is probably the best known lassi variation. But in India, the most common are sweet lassi and salt lassi. Though you will also find various fruit variations as well, depending on the fruits available locally and in season.

Sweet and fruit lassis are a little thicker and enjoyed more as a pick-me-up. They are similar to a milkshake or smoothie, just a little thinner. They have that lovely balance of creaminess and being refreshing.

Ingredients in lassi

All styles of lassi have a base of plain yogurt, which you thin out a little with either water or milk. You can also add ice cubes or crushed ice to help make it cooler. Then, you add some seasonings to give a little flavor.

Most sweet lassis have some sugar and then typically ground cardamom for flavor. You might also add some mint for a little freshness, though this is often considered a different version of lassi in itself.

Salt lassi can be more plain, with just yogurt, water and salt, and is usually thinner. It's more typically drunk alongside a meal as it is believed to aid digestion, and the salt helps replenish what you might have lost with the heat.

Making strawberry lassi

Fruit versions are primarily a sweet lassi with added blended fruit, though you sometimes use different flavors. To make strawberry lassi, you simply blend the strawberries with a little sugar to form a puree. Then, add the remaining ingredients and blend again.

Make sure you use really ripe strawberries for best flavor and sweetness. If you need to add a little more sugar, you can do so, but this is more of a gently sweet than very sweet drink. 

Strawberries pair well with rose water so that's a common addition in this version, as I have used here. Rose water has a delicate, aromatic flavor (also used in falooda). It may not be to everyone's taste, so feel free to skip, though it's only a very small amount here so is hardly noticeable.

Strawberry lassi is a super easy and wonderfully refreshing Indian drink that's perfect to cool you down on a warm day. It's creamy, fruity but not so thick that it feels heavy. A great drink for everyone to enjoy, all summer long.

Try these other refreshing drinks:

• Strawberry agua fresca (a lovely bright and light Mexican strawberry drink)
• Cherry lemonade (a delicious fruity lemonade variation)
• Mango dragon fruit smoothie (we love it as a bowl but you can drink as well)
• Plus get more drink recipes in the archives.

See some of my favorite cooking tools and ingredients in the Caroline's Cooking Amazon store. 

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