Sweet Lassi

(To make the syrup, add 1 part water and 2 parts sugar in a saucepan. Gently heat and stir until the sugar is completely dissolved. Heat without stirring for a few minutes until liquid is slightly thick, like a light syrup. Remove from heat and let cool. Store in the refrigerator.)

To make the lassi, mix yogurt, water, and simple syrup, either by hand or in a blender. Taste and adjust sweetness to your preference. Add more syrup to make it sweeter, or add a little bit more yogurt and/or water to reduce sweetness.

Sometimes, when I feel like pretending that I’m classy, I dip the rim of my glass in honey and coat that with raw sugar. Then I grate some fresh nutmeg over the drink. Or I add a dash of cumin, to be a bit more authentic. I usually drink the lassi too quickly to enjoy my artwork anyway, but like I said, I’m only pretending.

That’s pretty much it!

Here are a few possible variations:

1. Flavor your syrup when you make it. Try vanilla, almond, hazelnut, mint, or add maple syrup. My personal favorite is pandan, which is an Asian aromatic typically used to give steamed rice a nice nutty flavor and aroma.

2. Try adding skim milk or a combination of coconut milk and water instead of plain water for an even creamier lassi.

3. Add about a cup of your favorite fruit and make the lassi in a blender. Mangoes taste awesome with this, and mango lassis are the most common sweet lassi flavor. But experiment! Try it with avocado. Even if you’ve only thought of avocado in a savory sense, please try it. There’s a reason an entire continent treats avocado as a dessert item.