Lassie is a Curd/yogurt drink, mostly common in the -Stan countries (Hindustan, Pakistan,…) which is served either savoury or sweet. The sweet version is more of a new age style, while the savoury traditionally rooted is. I am not a big fan of the savoury ones, they remind me of loooong train journeys, so I am going to introduce you to the sweet pleasures of a cooling thick Lassie.
When traveling to India for the first time, you will experience what people call a Culture shock. You will be getting out of the Airport and you will realize, that’s nothing what you have experienced before. Your first breath will be stinging in your nose, the smell burning your eyes, the noise blasting your patience level and you will be checking your pockets holding your chest tight trying to get a overview in that mess. Left lost dog puppies, right a cow eating some plastic bag, further on some seller already hitting on you 10 mins before you could even see him. Yes, it is not for week hearts and you will learn to swim like a fish in a river, to use your intuition.
Sooner or later you will get cheated, I was out of the airport barely 5 mins when I got cheated on 200 Euro for a idiotic taxi trip, well at least I can say it wasn’t my mistake but this incident made me heal my blindness and I didn’t ever get cheated on money again.
Indians are maybe the smartest and most creative people in the world which I have met who can just earn money on anything. I wanted to get my punch of real life, I had got it. 2 days after arrival, I had started to get bad stomach cramps. What followed was diarrhea and the whole package of a food poisoning. It never stopped at that, I had Amoeba and they were eating me up inside out.
I had heard and I still suspect, that the owners of the hotel I was staying in had brought me contaminated bottled water on purpose. You see, even in illness there is money. Once you are sick, they start telling you some crap that they know a top doctor and they will insist that you have to go only to this doctor and no other. Their profit? a few 100 RS commission.
After cursing Agra and Delhi, I reached Rishikesh, still kind of sick and weak. I want to say that it wasn’t my decision to travel, but that’s an other story. Rishikesh is the first City in the Himalayas where the Ganga river passes. A beautiful view and a holy place for pilgrims. I was pretty much knocked out still mostly staying in my room weak and alone, I would go down the restaurant of the Inn to eat there when the Nepalese working there saw I wasn’t well feeling. He suggested that I d have a Lassie.
“Whats a Lassie?” looking at him tired and asking without interest. He replying “The only medicine you need now madam, curd and banana”. I went for it and I was forever thankful for that guy for suggesting that cause my loose motion was getting less the same day.
I remember that story as it was yesterday and I thought of it in this crazy heat wave which we are experiencing these days. That’s why I made 3 different Sweet Lassies today, Fruit & Nut, Herbal and Spicy. For everyone taste something, so you can surprise your friends and family with a cooling healthy Lassie drink.
Badam Banana Lassie – Serves 1
1 Banana
250 g Curd/Yogurt
3 peeled Almonds – 2 for the Lassie 1 for garnishing
1 Tbs Sugar
little Milk (only if too thick)
Peel first the Almonds and chop or grind them small. Mix all ingredient in the Mixer well.
Tulsi Mint Lassie - Serves 1
9 big leaves Tulsi
5 big leaves Mint
1 Tbs Sugar
250 g Curd/yogurt
little Milk
Mix first the herbal leaves with little curd smooth then add the rest of the curd and ingredients and mix well.
Adhrak Lassie – 1 Serves 1
1 Tsp Ginger Powder
1/2 small Green Chili without seeds
250 g Curd/yogurt
1 Tbs Sugar
sprinkle Cumin Powder
little Milk
Ginger Powder – keep the Ginger slices to dry in the sun for several hours then blend to powder
Cumin Powder – fry and toast the cumin seeds dry slightly brown, but don’t burn the seeds, and blend to powder.
Mix in a Blender Yogurt sugar, chili, ginger powder and Milk till smooth. Garnish with Cumin powder.
Have you ever had a Lassie and if yes which one is your favourite?
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
Yum, love lassie! My best friend makes the best mango lassie, I think I need to fly back to seattle so she can make me one
Your pics and recipes look delicious!
I've never tried Lassie before, and I'm really curious, it looks delicious! I'd like to try the Tulsi Mint and the Adhrak Lassie which seems interesting, sweet with some heat from the spices. Great photos!
@Frugal yes Mango lassie are realy awesome. I like them a lots too but its more of a seasonal fruit, so we get to enjoy mangos only around May here in Goa. There is a mango tree behind the bike in the picture, home grown stuff. hehe
@fooddude Oh if u havent tried it then its a must that u do one day. Best enjoyed on hot days! thx for the compliment. =)
These all sound delicious. I'm sorry your visit to India was tainted by such unpleasant incidents. This is my first visit to your blog, so I took some extra time to browse through your earlier posts. I'm so glad I did that. I really enjoyed the time I spent here and I'll definitely be back. I hope you have a great day. Blessings…Mary
@Mary thanks for passing by! unpleasant yes, but I learned a lots too which is priceless.
See u around then?!
I have heard of Lassi but haven't tried it and now I definitely want to! Thanks for the three flavors.
Oooh, I LOVE lassi! I've tried mango, banana, and plain lassis. Maybe I'm a bit of a purist, but I liked the plain one the best!
I've never tried making lassis at home, though, so I can't wait to try your recipes!
Ohhhh, I love Lassie!! And these look great!
You get stronger and smarter after the major life change. I'm glad you are in much better condition/situation now. I love lassie and you made 3 kinds!! I love the photos of top down view. So pretty!
@sumptuousspoonfuls I am glad to have given u the taste for lassie. =)
@Aimee Its funny cause I never enjoyed the plain lassie that much, because it is never realy plain, in india at least. It looks white but they add something. I am glad I got u motivated for a home try.
@Giulietta Gracie! I love lassie too. ^.^ Welcome to the lassie club! =D
@Nami exactly, I believe that too. I quote "one has to make misstakes to learn, the true fools are the ones who repeat the same misstake."
Thank u for your lovely compliments. =)
Oh my, what a story… But as you say, we learn of our mistakes (at least we should learn
), and fortunately everything turned better for you at the end!
I am a big fan of lassi, and have tried so many kinds of it… My favourites are Mango Lassi and Banana-Ginger Lassi! All 3 of yours are on my Must-Try- List now
Oh Helene, I'm so sorry you had such a distasteful experience.
That was a very wise man to tell you to have a Lassi. Yogurt is my best medicine for stomach upsets. I love the idea of adding the mint. (also good for belly upsets:) I've never tried a Lassi with any kind of flavoring. I too like it best plain. I also love the yogurt Turkish drink Ayran. Since I make yogurt at least once a week, I will now have to try one of your delicious recipes.
Thank you so much for sharing…
@tanja that true.
Banana Ginger thats sounds like a must try for me. =D thx for the idea!
@louise u r right, I like to have yoghurt too when my stomache has a problem. The mint is seen as a ayurvedic stomache smoother, as u mentioned. I v never heard of the turkish version, Ayran. I ll check that out. thx =)
Oh my gosh, what a story! I would, though, love to travel to and through India one day. All of these varieties sound awesome, I think I'd like them all. The only varieties I've ever had are mango and banana…and I loved them both!
love the lassi recipes! Cool motorbike too!
P.S. my daughter didn't just pudge out as a baby on breast milk alone…. she loved a mango lassi! And so did I!
@Heather There are a lot of foreign backpack travelers here in india. if u ever plan to come to india, let me know. my knowledge might be helpful. Mango and banana lassie r the most common and loved lassies. =)
@Megan thank u! The bike is my husbands enfield. he had cleaned it that day and it was there anyway. XD Your daughter had a good taste, in early age. =)
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