A couple of years ago, when I posted a recipe for mango and coconut lassis, a commenter suggested I also try salted lassis.
Yes, it took me two years to get around to posted the recipe. In my defense, in the mean time I did try to seek out salted lassi in whenever dining out at Indian restaurants. The conclusion? It’s damn hard to find. But given given the drink’s popularity in its home country, salted lassi’s availability on the menu, alongside the perpetual mango favorite, is a good indicator of how “authentic” your Indian restaurant is.
I don’t know why we are ingrained from childhood to equate thirst-quenching drinks with sugar, but this particular salted drink holds up well on its own. A little cumin, some mint, and the optional dash of chili powder makes it sound like an Indian entree in a glass, but somehow it works as a refreshment. And the amount of salt here is miniscule compared to what is in Gatorade.
So when the weather finally calmed down last weekend and the thermometer almost reached 70 degrees, I made this, sat on the concrete stoop, and basked in the sun. At least until San Francisco’s notorious afternoon winds picked up again. My environment wasn’t quite India, but after months of chilly weather and neverending downpours, close enough.
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Salted Lassi
Serves 2
4 cups plain, unsweetened, full fat yogurt
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon toasted cumin seeds, or ground cumin
(Optional) 1/4 teaspoon chili powder
Handful of ice cubes
Small bunch of mint leaves
Put all the ingredients in a blender and whiz until smooth and ice is broken up. Serve and enjoy!
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More drink recipes to try:
Moru (another yogurt drink, thinner than salted lassi) from Eating Asia
Coconut and Lime Lassi, Mango and Cardamom Lassi
Thai Lemongrass and Ginger Iced Tea
Vietnamese Avocado Shakes (Sinh to Bo)
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
I had this while trying throughout India in the late 90′s. You’re right, definitely refreshing, and I never knew salted drinks could be so good in the heat. I’ll bes sure to try out this recipe soon.
Yum! I could use one right now.
I have tried mango and berry lassis before but never salted. Sounds interested!
I’m not really good with Indian food but I love curry! So what is lassi anyway? Is it coconut milk??
Amy – Lassi is a yogurt drink, with either fruit or spices blended in.
This kind of reminds me of certain Vietnamese soft drinks, like soda with salty lime or salty plum, which take a little getting used to at first, but after awhile go down very smoothly.
I’ve tried a similar salted yoghurt drink in a middle-eastern cafe. It was strange at first, certainly refreshing, but it seemed a tad plainer than what this recipe is made of. I’m quite certain I didn’t pick up on the cumin and mint. Perhaps that is typical only to the indian version of this drink?
I tried this at a local Indian place because of the curiosity provided from your blog post and ended up with an extremely odd concoction. I’m sure it’s probably supposed to taste exactly like what you’ve posted, but the flavour was very strong and almost too salty. Though, watering it down to moru-like consistency was delicious.
Also, avocado shakes are delicious. (Off topic, but just have to thank you for blogging about it a while back.)
Anyway, thanks for posting this – it was an interesting item that I’d never have thought to try before. :)
re: Avocado shake. Thanks so much!
re: Lassi. It’s not supposed to be overwhelmingly salty. Sorry if you had a bad experience! Where was the restaurant?
Lassi is probably the original ‘milksahke’ or smoothie as we know it today. Lassie can be made with any fruit of your choice combined with yogurt and spices. Mango is most commonly used since it is indigenous to India. Strawbeery lassi works just as well by pulping strawberries together with yougurt and some Cardamom.