You may associate a lassi, the Indian yogurt drink, with summer. Certainly, they are truly refreshing on a hot day. But this beverage, probably the world's first smoothie, has much to offer beyond sating your thirst. The one cup of frozen mango in recipe developer Jennine Rye's spiffed-up mango lassi is loaded with nutrition. It provides 1 gram of protein, 25% of your daily requirements of vitamin A, and a whopping 75% of the vitamin C you need in a day (via Healthline). Blitz mangos into yogurt's probiotics and the 49% of the calcium you need a day, and you have a satisfying drink no matter the season (per Healthline).
Lassis may be new to you, but they've been around for a long time. They originated around 1000 BC in the Punjab and Multan regions of India. Some think of lassi as the first smoothie. Lassi recipes often include unusual ingredient twists, like salt and spices, such as the cardamom in Rye's updated version of a classic mango lassi. The inclusion of spices likely stems from ayurvedic traditions that utilize herbs and spices as remedies and elixirs for good health (per Cocktail Ways).
There are many great attributes to Rye's Lassi recipe; it takes only five minutes to provide a super nutritious snack or a great accompaniment to a spicy meal -- for two. But don't worry about waste if you're cooking for one. The lassi will stay fresh in the refrigerator for 48 hours. Also, Rye doesn't skimp on flavor. She uses whole milk to create balance for the tartness of the yogurt and add richness.
Speed and nutritional value aren't the only great qualities of Rye's mango lassi; there's a special ingredient that takes the flavor to the next level. She adds a squeeze of fresh lime juice to her modern twist on this ancient classic. She explains, "I love the combination of lime with mango, and it just adds an extra dimension to the drink. There is just enough lime that it doesn't take center stage, the mango with yogurt is still the predominant flavor." We agree -- the lime really makes the mango flavor pop!
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