Healthy Yogurt Drinks for Summer :: Traditional Indian Recipes

By
Eena Attreya
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0

Summer is here, and as moms, we always look for healthy snacks for our kids. Pre-packaged juices and sodas are fun occasionally but not good for our bodies in the long run.

» » » » » » » » » »  RECOMMENDED RESOURCE: Ultimate Guide to Summer  « « « « « « « « « «

Let me introduce you to the world of yogurt! It is filled with amazing benefits and goodness like calcium, magnesium, vitamin A, and potassium. A hundred grams of yogurt has 11 grams of protein. Research suggests that yogurt improves our digestion, improves bone strength, helps build immunity, and provides many other health benefits.

After a long day at school in my home country of India, I would look forward to coming home and being welcomed with a big glass of Lassi prepared by my grandfather to keep me full and hydrated until dinner time. He would prepare it the traditional way–hand beaten by a wooden whisk in a tall steel jug with all the ingredients poured in and beat until it became frothy.

The traditional villages in India would originally churn fresh butter out of cream and the leftover liquid was called ‘Chaas.’ This is a famous drink in many parts of North and South India. Each state has a unique way of making Lassi or Buttermilk with their blend of spices. The sweet Lassi is a breakfast favorite accompanied by stuffed breads or Paranthas. The salted buttermilk is a Lunch accompaniment among different states across India.

It has been the most preferred and loved summer drink for all ages, and today I’d like to share it with you!

The Basic Buttermilk

  • 1 Cup yogurt (I make my own plain yogurt at home, but you can use any kind you like, including Greek yogurt)
  • 1 Cup ice
  • A splash of milk
  • 1 Cup water

Blend and serve.

Salted Buttermilk or ‘Chaas’

  • 1 Cup yogurt
  • 1 Cup ice
  • A splash of milk
  • 1 Cup water
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt/pink salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon roasted cumin

Blend and serve.

fancy lassyHow to make roasted cumin:

Dry roast a few spoons of cumin seeds on low flame, stirring it frequently, until it changes color. Let it cool completely and blend it into a powder. You can sprinkle this on your buttermilk, salads, fruits.

Spiced Buttermilk

  • 1 Cup yogurt
  • 1 Cup ice
  • A splash of milk
  • 1 Cup water
  • 1 Knob of ginger
  • A small piece of Serrano/Jalapeno pepper (optional)
  • A few sprigs of cilantro (you can also use the stems as they are full of flavor)
  • A few mint leaves (optional)

Blend all the ingredients, then sieve and serve.

Healthy Yogurt Drinks for Summer :: Traditional Indian Recipes» » » » » » » » »  RELATED READ: My Top Five Protein Packed Costco Snacks  « « « « « « « « «

The Classic Sweet Lassi

  • 1 Cup yogurt
  • 1 Cup ice
  • A splash of milk
  • 1/4 Cup sugar
  • 1 Cup water

Blend and serve.

The Fancy Lassi

  • 1 Cup yogurt
  • 1 Cup ice
  • A splash of milk
  • 1/4 Cup sugar
  • 1 Cup water
  • 3-4 Cardamom pods or 1/4 teaspoon Cardamom powder
  • A few strands of Saffron (optional)

Blend and serve. You can also top it off with crushed almonds and pistachio.

chaasThe Popular Mango Lassi

  • A small can of mango pulp or 2-3 peeled, cut, and cubed mangoes
  • 1 Cup ice
  • A splash of milk
  • 1/4 Cup sugar (This depends on the sweetness of mangoes. If using canned pulp, use less sugar. The key is tasting to find the correct sweetness.)

Blend and serve.

Things to know:

  • Non-dairy yogurt and tofu blended with water and ice are a great way to substitute for our friends who don’t consume dairy.
  • Sweet buttermilk is often called Lassi and the salted or plain buttermilk is known as Chaas or even salted Lassi.
  • You can change the consistency of the buttermilk to your liking.
  • Another great way to encourage water intake is to make a pitcher of a thin consistency buttermilk and flavor it just with roasted cumin or mint leaves.
  • The milk is not necessary, but it makes the buttermilk creamier. Oat milk or almond milk are great substitute options.
  • I suggest going to a world market or Asian grocery store to get the ‘Alphonso’ or ‘Kesari’ mango pulp. It makes all the difference.
  • Use your child’s favorite fruit and blend with the yogurt to create a fun and healthy breakfast drink.
  • Freeze it to make popsicles!
  • Plain frozen yogurt cubes or fruit blended are great snacks for our little teethers.

And finally, a fun little story.

When I was pregnant with my son, I was craving anything and everything yogurt, but it somehow also made me sick. So, the enlightenment struck, and I invented the “Buttermilk Soda.” I simply substituted the water with sparkling water and poured it over my salted/spiced blended buttermilk after pouring it into a glass.

I absolutely loved it, but my husband despised it. So, it’s either a “I love it” or “This is revolting!” kind of drink.

I hope you enjoy these healthy drinks this summer!

The opinions expressed in this post are those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of ABQ Mom, its executive team, other contributors to the site, its sponsors or partners, or any organizations the aforementioned might be affiliated with.

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