Healthy Mango Lassi

Everywhere you look in SE Queensland, beautiful mango trees are dripping with fruit. Even if you don’t have a neighbourhood tree, they should be pretty cheap in stores right now across Australia. So I thought I would share my favourite way to make the most of this sweet summer fruit with this healthy mango lassi recipe.

BK (before kids), I spent 8 months in beautiful India and as such, developed quite a taste for the local cuisine. I travelled through a good part of this huge country, and each region claimed ‘the best’ lassi on the continent (and I may have tried them all). So since being back in Australia, I have experimented with many different versions of this classic smoothie including infusing a few medicinal herbs in the mix – food as medicine and it’s important to make every mouthful count, right! This is the result – not the super sweet traditional lassi because I haven’t added any other sweetener – but mango is plenty sweet enough I think.

Health benefits

Mango is a nutrient and fibre rich fruit (especially vitamin C and antioxidants) and I’ve read, the most consumed fruit worldwide.
Natural, full-fat yoghurt is a great source of calcium and protein and beneficial gut probiotics to support digestion and immune health.
Turmeric is one powerful herb – it’s a wonderful antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and a medicinal herb that benefits so many common health conditions (based on my clinical experience); so I just love to include it in our diet wherever possible. Much of the current research on turmeric is focussed on its potential to prevent dementia and various cancers.
Cardamom powder is also a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory herb. It is very calming and healing to the digestive system and supports immune function. It has a very distinctive, almost floral taste that you’ll either love or hate – personally, it is one of my most favourite flavours ever.

Traditionally this also has saffron in it, so feel free to add a few threads if you like too. So much nutrition in this delicious drink!

Ingredients

Made with fresh ripe mango, full-fat natural yogurt, turmeric, and cardamom, this recipe combines wholesome ingredients with a hint of exotic flavour. You can also add rose water for an extra fragrant touch.

How to make this healthy mango lassi recipe

Simply peel and blend the fresh mango, yogurt (or Greek yogurt), turmeric, and cardamom until smooth. Add ice, blend again, pour into serving glasses, garnish with cashew nuts or pistachios and your lassi is ready to enjoy! You can also freeze it into popsicle molds for a refreshing, healthy treat.

Serving suggestions and how to store

Serve your sweet mango lassi with a sprinkle of chopped cashews or pistachios for added crunch. If you have leftovers, freeze them into cups or popsicle moulds for a convenient snack on a hot day.

Vary this healthy mango lassi to suit

For a dairy-free or vegan mango lassi, swap the yogurt with coconut yogurt or cashew cream. You can also make a chia pudding by adding chia seeds, or replace mango with strawberries if they’re in season! If you feel your mango is not sweet or ripe enough, you might like to add a few tablespoons of maple syrup or honey for extra sweetness.

Take a look at the variations (below the main recipe) for suggestions to alter the recipe to suit your specific dietary requirements.

More delicious drinks and nutrient dense smoothies HERE.

Healthy Mango Lassi

Prep 5 minutes minutes

Total 5 minutes minutes

Serves: 2

My take on a traditional Indian Lassi, this Healthy Mango Lassi is both nourishing and delicious. Check out the variations to make it into a chia pudding or ice-blocks.

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Ingredients

• 2 mango/s -peeled and flesh removed (see note below for using frozen mango)
• 250 g natural, Greek or coconut yoghurt (1 cup)
• ½ tsp ground turmeric
• ½ tsp ground cardamom
• 1 cup/s ice
• 1 tbsp rose water (optional)

Method

• In a powerful blender or food processor, puree the mango, yoghurt and spices until smooth.
• Add the ice and puree again until it is crushed.
• Serve immediately. You can also freeze into popsicle moulds for a delicious ice-block.

Note

• You can sub the mango with frozen mango cheeks and omit the ice but also add ½ cup of water.

Serve

• With chopped cashews or pistachios.

Store

• Leftovers can be frozen into little cups or ice-block moulds for a fast, healthy snack another day.

Variations

Dairy-free and vegan

Sub the yoghurt for coconut yoghurt or cashew nut cream.

Chia pudding

Add ¼ cup of chia and allow to soak to make this into a delicious chia Indian style pudding.

It's not mango season

Replace the mango with 2 cups of fresh strawberries.

Ice-block

This is divine frozen into ice-block moulds for an icy treat.

 

 

I'd love to hear how you like my version of a lassi. It's my favourite way to eat mango and I look forward to it come easy mango season. 

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: Indian

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