Lassi / Punjabi Lassi
I used to put a plastic sheet over our dining table for
safety reasons. First, because of the cats...I don’t know what it is with the
dining table, but whatever I prepare for them, they just like to sleep on that
particular furniture. They rest their back on the extended part of the chair
and soon become soundly asleep. Sometimes they knock off the salt and pepper
shakers, tilt the vase....in short scattering everything is their most
favourite night time hobby. But whatever it is, I have come to hate the sheet
for its stickiness and shiny surface. So I finally I have removed that last
week...and I think it looks pretty without it.
Although Abidjan is mostly cold these days...I thought of
making lassis. In Kolkata, whenever I returned home after a day’s work, Ma used
to give me lassis. She prepared them long before my return...and stored them in
the fridge to get chilled. This one drink had the capability to ease out my
tiredness, frustration and dizziness in just one sip. I loved the zing that it
gave to my body, that I felt all refreshed and awaken again.
Lassi is a yogurt based drink which is churned with thick
yogurt, water, sugar and some ice. You can add any flavouring ingredients to
it, like fruits, syrups, and they just enhance the taste. There is also Malai
Lassi, which is made with malai / crème and then served with a thick layer of
malai / crème, crushed cashews, pistachios, almonds, raisins and khoya /
evaporated milk. But first let us make the plain lassi, with all the goodness
of the creamy yogurt.
Lassi
Serves 2
Ingredients:
1 cup of thick curd
1 tsp cardamom powder / 2 tsp rose water (peel the skins of the cardamom pods and crush the seeds using a grinder / mortar and pestle to make a fine powder)
2 and ½ cups of ice cold water
½ cup sugar (adjust as per taste)
1 tbsp milk powder (optional)
8-10 ice cubes
Some additional ice cubes to serve
Method:
Pour the milk powder, ice cubes, sugar, cardamom powder / rose water, cold water and
curd in a blender. If you like a thick lassi then add this much water is
suitable for you. If you want it thinner, then add ½ - 1 cup of more water.
Blend until smooth and froth builds up on top of the
mixture.
Switch off the blender.
Taste and adjust the sugar. Blend again until sugar
dissolves.
Pour the lassi in respective glasses.
Add in the ice cubes.
Serve chilled with some crushed pistachio on top of it.
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