Three Ingredient Mango Lassi

Yesterday I found myself driving inland from the coast, an activity which is usually a minor nightmare because of traffic alone. But yesterday was extra special. Here in Southern California we were treated to an excessive heat warning, which by the coast meant somewhere in the high 80s to low 90s. I found this somewhat (sarcastically) adorable, since as I drove further east I got to watch the thermometer climb up to 111. On top of that I got the lovely privilege of navigating past a roadside brush fire along the way.

My response to all this? “Well, I guess it’s officially summer!”

Goodness but I have lived here too long.

Mango and yogurt make for a beautifully refreshing combination on days with record breaking heat.

Despite my nonchalance toward brush fires, I am surprisingly non-nonchalant towards heat. You would think that having spent my whole life in the land of perpetual summer I would be used to it; alas, this is not the case.

Needless to say after this somewhat depressingly summery excursion, I found myself in desperate need of something cool and refreshing. Air conditioning is not a thing that exists in my house, so when it’s 100+ outside and a chilly 87 inside, frequent showers and cold beverages are pretty much your only hope.

Thankfully, I was saved by a mango lassi.

For those who aren’t in the know, lassis are Indian yogurt drinks, generally blended with fruit. They tend to be cool, creamy, and refreshing; they’re a real life saver when you live in a place where triple digit temperatures and firestorms are the norm. (Or monsoons, I imagine.)

Some recipes call for added spices and sweeteners, but I went for simple here. Who wants to juggle a ton of ingredients when it’s too hot to think straight? Not me, and I usually love that sort of thing. So here you are, a lovely, refreshing drink that contains nothing but mango, yogurt, and water. It’s so luxurious and lovely on its own, I doubt you’ll miss the other ingredients either.

Three Ingredient Mango Lassi

Makes 1-2 servings

Ingredients

• 1.5-2 cups frozen mango chunks
• 1 cup full fat yogurt
• 1/2 cup water, or more for a thinner drink (If you’re feeling fancy, you can use a splash of rose water as part of this)

Blend all ingredients together until smooth and enjoy!