An epicurean adventure to: India
Thank you India for gifting the world this divinely creamy and refreshing strawberry lassi. This version is a little naughty, containing cream and full fat Greek yoghurt, but my goodness, it's heavenly!
For simplicity, we use frozen strawberries. But feel free to use the same amount of fresh strawberries if you have it available. Strawberry quality isn't the best in the UK once Wimbledon is over, so frozen strawberries make this easy to enjoy all year-round.
Fancy a curry to have it with? Try this aromatic beef curry with coconut milk or this recipe for quick chicken karahi. For other refreshing creamy drinks, why not try this Nutella milkshake or iced coffee with condensed milk.
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Fast facts - India
| Location | India is located in South Asia and shares its borders with several countries including Pakistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Myanmar. |
| Capital | New Delhi. |
| Language | India is a diverse country with numerous languages spoken across its regions. Hindi and English are the official languages of the Indian government, but there are also 21 officially recognized regional languages, including Bengali, Telugu, Marathi, Tamil, Urdu, Gujarati and many more. |
| Population | Circa 1.3 billion people. |
| Trivia | The Magnetic Hill near Leh, India, entices locals and tourists with its mysterious allure. Despite appearing to have an uphill slope that allows vehicles to move "uphill" in neutral, it's merely an optical illusion caused by the landscape. Signs along the slope guide visitors through the experience. Students from the Rajasthan Institute of Engineering and Technology confirmed that no strong magnetic forces are involved. |
What is lassi?
Traditional lassi is a yogurt-based drink from the Indian subcontinent that has gained huge global popularity. It consists of a blend of yogurt, water or milk and various flavourings or fruits.
Lassi can be either sweet or savoury depending on the ingredients used. A sweet version often contains sugar, fruit and dairy. A salty lassi incorporates spices and herbs. Common additions include mango, strawberry, cumin, mint, rose water and ground cardamom.
The traditional method for making lassi involved using a wooden churner or Mathani whisk to blend the ingredients by hand. Nowadays, blenders are mostly used.
In India, lassi is a very popular drink served alongside curries or as a snack. It's especially refreshing in hot weather. You can find lassi available in most Indian restaurants around the world, or just make your own, it's so easy!
What you'll love about this easy strawberry lassi recipe
- This strawberry yogurt drink is the perfect thirst-quenching cooler for a hot day.
- Tempers the heat when paired with fiery curries.
- Ready in just 5 minutes - barely any prep needed and requires only a handful of ingredients.
- Easy on the clean-up with minimal washing required.
- No ice cubes needed.
- Kid-friendly and sure to be a family favourite.
- You can leave the sugar out to make a sugar-free version.
- A flexible recipe - substitute ingredients to suit your tastes (see below)
Key ingredient notes and substitutions
**Please see the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the full recipe and list of ingredients.
Strawberries
Frozen strawberries are used for convenience, but feel free to use fresh when they're in season and at their sweetest.
Double cream
This is a key ingredient for making it so luxuriously creamy, but for a healthier version you can swap the cream for the same quantity of milk or water.
Whole milk
Whole milk lends body, but skim or low-fat milk can also be used.
Full-fat plain Greek yogurt
For a creamier lassi, use plain full-fat Greek yoghurt (we use 10% fat content). For less fat, try regular or low fat plain yogurt, curd, non-dairy yogurt or vegan yogurt.
You can also use coconut yogurt for a hint of tropical flavour.
Sugar
If you're lucky enough to get hold of super sweet strawberries, you might only need a little sugar, or no sugar at all.
You can also use honey, agave syrup, maple syrup or other sweetener of your choice. Adjust the amount of sweetener according to needs and tastes.
How to make homemade strawberry lassi
- Take the strawberries out of the freezer 30 minutes before starting to protect the food processor's blades from potential damage caused by frozen strawberries.
- If using fresh strawberries, wash, hull and halve them.
- In the food processor, combine the strawberries, cream, milk, yogurt and sugar. Blend on a high speed until smooth and creamy.
- Pour the lassi into tall glasses and enjoy!
Other variations
- For a stronger strawberry flavour, consider adding a small dash of strawberry syrup or a drop of strawberry essence.
- Swap the strawberries for the same amount of mango for a delicious tropical version. FYI - Mango lassi is generally the most popular lassi flavour across the globe.
- Add a pinch for cardamom powder.
- For a delicate floral note, add a drop of rose water or rose syrup for a blush-pink rose lassi.
- Garnish with mint leaves or a fresh strawberry hooked onto the rim of the glass.
FAQ
Drinking yoghurt consist mainly out of yoghurt and perhaps one flavouring, often an imitation flavour.
Lassi is mixed with other liquids, like milk, cream or water, fresh fruit and sometimes contains more than one flavouring. In a nutshell, it has similarities to drinking yoghurt, but it's not exactly the same in texture and taste. This recipe would be more akin to a strawberry yogurt smoothie.
Milkshake are made out of ice cream and lassi does not contain ice cream. It's a different flavour profile and not the same.
This will wholly depend on the yogurt that's being used in the lassi.
In order for a yogurt to be considered to contain "live and active cultures", it must contain a certain minimum amount of live cultures per gram at the time of manufacture. Different yogurt brands may contain different types and amounts of live cultures, so it is important to check the label to ensure that the yogurt you are purchasing contains the specific strains you are looking for.
No there isn't. Lassi has become a loanword from Hindi.
Yes you can. Swap the cream for lactose free milk and also the yoghurt for a lactose free version.
If you swap the double cream for skimmed milk or water, it's a very healthy drink! Here are some benefits:
Nutrient Content: Strawberries are a good source of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. They are rich in vitamin C, manganese and dietary fibre, which contribute to a healthy diet.
Probiotics: Lassi is made with fresh yogurt, which contains probiotics, which is beneficial bacteria that can promote gut health and aid digestion.
More fruity recipes
Recipe
Creamy strawberry lassi
Ingredients
- 200 gram frozen strawberries - or the same quantity fresh
- 100 millilitre double cream - or 'heavy cream'
- 200 millilitre milk
- 200 millilitre full fat Greek yoghurt - or other plain, thick yoghurt
- 3 tablespoons sugar - or to taste
Instructions
- Take the strawberries out of the freezer 30 minutes before starting to protect the food processor's blades from potential damage caused by frozen strawberries.
- If using fresh strawberries, wash, hull and halve them.
- In the food processor, combine the strawberries, cream, milk, yogurt and sugar. Blend until smooth and creamy.
- Pour the lassi into a tall glass and enjoy!
**Nutritional data disclaimer**
Please keep in mind that the nutritional information provided below is calculated by a third party and we cannot guarantee the accuracy. We try our best to give you the most accurate information, but we do not take responsibility for errors that may be present. Also, the nutritional value of the recipe may change depending on the exact brands and products used. We recommend that you consult with a qualified healthcare professional or registered dietitian for personalised advice on your dietary needs.
Nutrition
For food safety advice, including guidance on food allergies
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