Who but the Indians would know the best drink for a hot summer day? It’s the lassi, popular throughout India in savory and sweet varieties. I love mango lassis (who doesn’t?) but discovered the strawberry lassi this spring and have been making them throughout strawberry season. Now that peaches are in here’s another great lassi variation: the peach lassi, topped with slightly chopped pistachios:
peach lassi garnished with pistachios
Lassis are traditionally made with yogurt but other cultured dairy milk products also work. For a vegan version use soy or almond yogurt. I’ve been favoring unsweetened kefir lately, so that’s what I used.
I usually avoid any sweetener except fruit in a smoothie. I have smoothies for breakfast and I don’t like to put anything sugary into my empty stomach. For me, starting the day with sugar can lead to sugar cravings all day. But a lassi doesn’t taste like a lassi to me without the sweetening. I think of a lassi as more like a dessert and I have it with my dinner, when I’m open to having a little sugar (I used honey here). If you use sweetened yogurt or kefir there will be more than enough sugar from that without adding any more.
- 1 lb. fresh ripe peaches, halved, pitted, sliced
- 1 cup unsweetened kefir, yogurt, or buttermilk (or soy or almond yogurt)
- 2 Tbsp. honey
- 1 tsp. rosewater (omit if you don’t have it)
- ½ tsp. ground cardamom
- pinch salt
- 1 cup crushed ice
- pistachios, slightly chopped, to garnish
- Combine peaches, cultured milk product of choice, honey, rosewater, cardamom, and salt in blender.
- Blend until smooth.
- Add crushed ice, blend again until smooth.
- Taste, adjust salt, honey, or rosewater as desired.
- Serve, top with pistachios. Makes 2 small or 1.5 large smoothies.
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{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Twitter: applecrumbles
July 23, 2012 at 12:29 pm
Fantastic recipe. Love the topping of pistachios!
Joanne recently posted..I Felt A (Capital “A”!) AMAZING!
Twitter: healthybeehive
July 24, 2012 at 2:47 pm
Honestly, I don’t think I have ever heard of a lassi, but it looks good! I am the same way with sugar early in the morning … just makes me crave sugar all day! I will have to try this .. looks so refreshing!
Twitter: ohmyveggies
July 24, 2012 at 10:51 pm
I hate yogurt, but I love mango lassis. Had I known what they were made with, I probably never would have tried them to begin with, but the Indian restaurant we used to go to listed them as Mango Milkshakes on their menu.
Mangoes are not looking good at the supermarket lately, so peaches are a good substitute! I love the addition of pistachios too.
Kiersten recently posted..Garden Update | Long Beans: Delicious But Slightly Creepy Looking
They sucked you right in with the ‘mango milkshakes’! Yes, the pistachios are good, I keep spooning them off the top and adding more to my glass.
Twitter: tastefullyjulie
July 28, 2012 at 3:44 pm
For all the Indian restaurants we go to I still haven’t tried a mango lassi! I really need to. Peach looks delicious, too.
TastefullyJulie recently posted..{Recipe Redux} Easy Caprese Salad
Oh Mary, this looks so refreshing. I have never had a Lassi and can’t wait to try this one. The peaches, cardamom and rosewater are a magical flavor pairing. …Susan
Susan S. Bradley recently posted..Perfect Homemade Mayonnaise & Twenty Variations
Thanks! I know you are a big fan of cardamom!