What are the different types of lassi?
Lassi is a yogurt drink. The two traditional styles are sweet lassi (yogurt, water and sugar, sometimes with rose water or cardamom) and salty lassi (yogurt with salt and spices such as cumin). Fruit and flavored versions, with mango the best known, plus mint, banana, strawberry, chocolate, grape and saffron-pistachio (kesar pista), are made by blending in other ingredients.
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What are the main types of lassi?
Lassi is a blended yogurt drink from the Indian subcontinent. A food article lists two traditional styles and seven fruit or flavored versions.
Traditional types
- Sweet lassi: yogurt, water and sugar, sometimes with rose water or cardamom. Cooling and mildly tangy.
- Salty lassi (namkeen): yogurt with salt, cumin and other spices. Savory and tangy; good with spicy meals.
Flavored lassi
| Type | What is added | Taste |
|---|---|---|
| Mango | Ripe mango or pulp | Sweet, fruity |
| Banana | Ripe banana | Smooth, creamy |
| Strawberry | Strawberries | Sweet, fruity |
| Mint | Fresh mint | Fresh, herbal |
| Kesar pista | Saffron and pistachios | Rich, aromatic |
| Chocolate | Chocolate | Dessert-like |
| Grape | Grapes | Lightly sweet |
Which is the most popular?
Mango lassi is the version most people outside South Asia know. We found no reliable ranking, so we do not claim a most popular type overall.
Lassi or chaas?
Cooks often separate the two: lassi is thicker, made with less water and more yogurt, and usually sweet, while chaas is thin buttermilk, diluted with plenty of water and seasoned with salt, cumin and sometimes curry leaves. Some sources call salty lassi a different drink, and regional usage varies.
Choosing or making lassi
- Use plain yogurt, then add sugar or fruit to taste so you control the sweetness.
- Cafe and bottled versions can be high in sugar; check the label.
- Serve cold. Keep homemade lassi refrigerated and drink it soon after making it.
Is lassi healthy?
It is a dairy drink, so it supplies protein and calcium, but sweet and fruit versions add sugar and calories. Read the added sugars line on bottled drinks, or make your own with plain yogurt. Lassi contains dairy, so avoid it with a milk allergy and go slowly if you are lactose intolerant.
People also ask
What are the two main types of lassi?
Sweet lassi, made with yogurt, water and sugar, and salty lassi, made with yogurt and salt or spices such as cumin.
Is mango lassi sweet or salty?
Sweet. It is blended from yogurt and mango, usually with a little sugar.
What is the difference between lassi and buttermilk?
Lassi is thicker and usually sweetened or flavored; chaas (buttermilk) is thinner, diluted and salted. Usage varies by region.
Sources
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