This homemade Punjabi Sweet Lassi recipe is creamy, refreshing, and delicious. It's a popular traditional Indian yogurt-based drink that can be made in just 5 minutes using yogurt as its base ingredient.
This creamy sweet lassi (meethi lassi) is a quick and easy drink recipe that can be made in under 5 minutes with just a few ingredients. Made with homemade yogurt, whole milk, sugar, and cardamom powder to create a refreshing and delicious drink.
Traditionally, It is served in a tall steel glass with a thick layer of malai (fresh cream from boiled milk) on top.
I remember drinking a lot of sweet lassi as a child at Punjabi dhabas during our summer holiday road trips on the National Highways in India. But in the USA, the most popular lassi is mango lassi, which is available in most local Indian restaurants. Also, check out my strawberry lassi recipe.
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What is Lassi?
Lassi (pronounced luh-ssi) is a popular, and traditional yogurt-based drink, sweet or salty, from the Indian subcontinent. It is made by blending yogurt with water (or milk), sugar or salt, and flavorings like ground cardamom, roasted cumin powder, etc.
In India, the most popular lassis are the sweet lassi, sweetened with sugar, and the salty lassi, flavored with salt and spices.
Lassi is commonly served in most Punjabi homes as a side with breakfast or a meal. It is also a staple on the menu of most North Indian restaurants and dhabas.
Traditionally, it is made with a handheld wooden churner (mathani) or wire whisk in a large pot. However, you can use a regular blender or an immersion blender to make it.
The traditional Punjabi Lassi is simple, but it can be adapted to so many variations.
- Rose Lassi - Made with fresh yogurt, sugar, and Rooh Afza (rose syrup).
- Fruit Lassi - Made with fruits, yogurt, milk, and sugar. Try adding the fruits like bananas, peaches, strawberries, and mango.
- Dry fruits Lassi - Made with fresh yogurt, milk, sugar, and dry fruits like pistachios, almonds, and anjeer.
- Chocolate Lassi - Made with fresh yogurt, milk, sugar, and chocolate syrup.
Punjabi Sweet Lassi Recipe Ingredients
You need only three main ingredients to make creamy, sweet lassi at home. The other ingredients are optional.
- Plain Yogurt: Use thick, homemade whole-milk yogurt for the best results. You can also use store-bought yogurt. Greek Yogurt also works well in the recipe, add more water to thin it out.
- Milk (or Water): You will need a liquid to thin out the yogurt. Use chilled whole milk for a creamier lassi. For a lighter lassi version, use 2% milk or water. Note: if the yogurt is too sour, use chilled milk instead of water.
- Sweetener: Traditionally, raw cane sugar is used. Feel free to use your favorite sweetener of your choice.
- Ground Cardamom: Optional. I like to flavor the sweet lassi using cardamom powder. If you don't like cardamom, you can also use rose water for the lassi.
- Ice cubes: Optional. It helps to chill the lassi and thin it out a bit.
- Garnish: Optional. You can add slivered nuts like pistachios, crushed dried rose petals, or saffron strands.
How to Make the Perfect Sweet Lassi at Home
You can make this Punjabi sweet lassi recipe in two ways: with a blender or without a blender. I am sharing how to make sweet lassi at home using both methods.
Using Blender
Add all the ingredients: 2 cups homemade yogurt (curd), ½ cup chilled milk (or water), 4 tablespoons sugar, ¼ teaspoon ground cardamom, and ice cubes in a blender.
Blend until smooth and frothy. Adjust the consistency to your preference by adding more milk (or water) or blending in some ice cubes.
Pour the sweet lassi into serving glasses and top with slivered nuts, and dried rose petals. Serve immediately.
Without Blender (Traditional Method)
Add 2 cups of plain yogurt to a large bowl. Using a handheld wooden churner (mathani) or wire whisk, whisk the yogurt until smooth and creamy.
Then add ½ cup of chilled milk (or water), powdered sugar, and cardamom powder. Whisk vigorously until the sugar has dissolved and the mixture is frothy. Serve immediately.
Serving Suggestions
Traditionally, Punjabi sweet lassi is served chilled in a tall steel glass with a dollop of cream (or malai) on top. It pairs perfectly with various Punjabi dishes such as parathas or chole bhature.
Serve Lassi as a refreshing drink during the daytime on hot days or serve it as a drink or dessert after an Indian meal.
Storage Suggestions
You can store the leftover sweet lassi in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 days in an airtight container.
If you are planning to make it ahead and enjoy it later, add ice cubes while blending to maintain its freshness and chilliness.
Tips & Notes
- Fresh Homemade Yogurt: Use fresh homemade curd for the best results. But you can definitely use store-bought yogurt to make this lassi. Make sure it's fresh and is not sour or stale.
- Full-fat Yogurt: The higher fat content in yogurt makes the lassi rich and creamy. While low-fat yogurt can be used, I recommend whole milk yogurt for the best results.
- Flavorings for Sweet Lassi: You can add either cardamom powder or rose water or even both of these ingredients to flavor up. You can also add a few saffron strands if you prefer.
- Consistency: The consistency of the lassi can be adjusted according to your preference. This sweet lassi recipe has a balanced consistency, neither too thick nor too thin. For a thicker, creamier lassi, add less milk (or water) or skip it entirely. For a thinner consistency, add more water (or milk).
- Vegan: To make this lassi vegan, use plant-based yogurt such as almond milk yogurt or coconut milk yogurt, and unsweetened almond milk.
- Sweeteners: Raw cane sugar is the preferred choice of sweetener. However, you can use any sweetener you prefer.
- Cream: You can add 1-2 tablespoons of fresh cream (or malai) while blending for a rich-tasting Restaurant-style lassi.
- Toppings: You can top with fresh cream, rabdi, vanilla ice cream, slivered almonds and pistachios, saffron strands, and dried rose petals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is healthy. Lassi is made with yogurt and has a number of health benefits. It has good bacteria that aid digestion and also boost immunity.
Sweet lassi tastes best with whole milk yogurt. However, you can use plant-based yogurt like almond milk yogurt, coconut milk yogurt, and unsweetened almond milk to make this lassi vegan.
Lassi is a traditional yogurt-based drink from India. You can also serve it as a healthy, creamy after-meal dessert.
More Indian Beverage Recipes
Homemade Sweet Lassi
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cups homemade yogurt (curd)
- ½ cup milk (or water), chilled
- 4 tablespoons sugar
- ¼ teaspoon cardamom powder
- few ice cubes optional
Garnish
- 1 tablespoon nuts optional
- few dried rose petals (or saffron strands), optional
Instructions
- You can make this Punjabi sweet lassi recipe in two ways: with a blender or without a blender. I am sharing how to make sweet lassi at home using both methods.
Using Blender
- Add all the ingredients: homemade yogurt, chilled milk (or water), sugar, ground cardamom, and ice cubes in a blender.
- Blend until smooth and frothy. Adjust the consistency to your preference by adding more milk (or water) or blending in some ice cubes.
- Pour the sweet lassi into serving glasses and top with slivered nuts, and dried rose petals. Serve immediately.
Without Blender (Traditional Method)
- Add 2 cups of plain yogurt to a large bowl. Using a handheld wooden churner (mathani) or wire whisk, whisk the yogurt until smooth and creamy.
- Then add ½ cup of chilled milk (or water), powdered sugar, and cardamom powder. Whisk vigorously until the sugar has dissolved and the mixture is frothy. Serve immediately.
Notes
Tips to Make the Best Homemade Sweet Lassi
- Fresh Homemade Yogurt: Use fresh homemade curd for the best results. But you can definitely use store-bought yogurt to make this lassi. Make sure it's fresh and is not sour or stale.
- Full-fat Yogurt: The higher fat content in yogurt makes the lassi rich and creamy. While low-fat yogurt can be used, I recommend whole milk yogurt for the best results.
- Flavorings for Sweet Lassi: You can add either cardamom powder or rose water or even both of these ingredients to flavor up. You can also add a few saffron strands if you prefer.
- Consistency: The consistency of the lassi can be adjusted according to your preference. This sweet lassi recipe has a balanced consistency, neither too thick nor too thin. For a thicker, creamier lassi, add less milk (or water) or skip it entirely. For a thinner consistency, add more water (or milk).
- Vegan: To make this lassi vegan, use plant-based yogurt such as almond milk yogurt or coconut milk yogurt, and unsweetened almond milk.
- Sweeteners: Raw cane sugar is the preferred choice of sweetener. However, you can use any sweetener you prefer.
- Cream: You can add 1-2 tablespoons of fresh cream (or malai) while blending for a rich-tasting Restaurant-style lassi.
- Toppings: You can top with fresh cream, rabdi, vanilla ice cream, slivered almonds and pistachios, saffron strands, and dried rose petals.
Variations of Sweet Lassi
The traditional Punjabi Lassi is simple, but it can be adapted to so many variations- Rose Lassi - Made with fresh yogurt, sugar, and Rooh Afza (rose syrup).
- Fruit Lassi - Made with fruits, yogurt, milk, and sugar. Trying adding the fruits like bananas, peaches, strawberries, and mango.
- Dry fruits Lassi - Made with fresh yogurt, milk, sugar, and dry fruits like pistachios, almonds, and anjeer.
- Chocolate Lassi - Made with fresh yogurt, milk, sugar, and chocolate syrup.
Nutrition
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