If you hate refined sugar as much as I do but still want to enjoy desserts, this thick, easy to make refined sugar free Kesar Pista Mango Lassi is just for you! Perfect for summers, this Indian drink or smoothie is damn refreshing!
If you are staying in hot and humid parts of India, believe me summers can be really irritating!! Mangoes are one of the only few things I look forward too about summers (more about what other things bring me solace in summers later)! Truly called the king of fruits, mangoes offer such a luscious and rich flavour to anything that you add them too that they are enjoyed by everyone alike!
My dad is one of the craziest mango lovers that I have known till date! Come summer and he made sure that our house is stuffed with all varieties of mangoes and every guest is offered a variety of mangoes to chose from! How he buys mangoes till date is such a sight to watch, with him smelling the mangoes and trying to differentiate the subtle smell of one from another. In his words -‘The colour of a mango says so much about the flavour that lies inside’. I think a part of his fascination with mangoes has rubbed off on to me and I absolutely love them. But it’s such a shame that I still am such a novice while selecting mangoes (that part didn’t rub off on me I guess)!
So as I was saying, with my dad’s ebullient fascination towards mangoes, our house was always stocked with mangoes in summers and mom used to regularly churn Mango Lassi for us. Mango Lassi is a very common drink in India during summers, readily available at every nook and corner in small and big shops alike! A chilled glass of Mango lassi and it provides you the much needed solace from the scorching heat outside.
Are mangoes good for you?
Mangoes are abundantly rich in vitamin A, vitamin C, iron, copper and potassium that is great for the body. Mangoes are rich in beta carotene which is a precursor to Vitamin A and once converted to Vitamin A in the body, helps in healthy skin and immune system. Beta carotene works as an antioxidant in the body & helps scavenge free radicals.
Do mangoes make you gain weight?
A single mango contain 100-150 calories and 15-24% sugar and having a single mango won’t lead to you gaining weight but like everything else excess of anything is harmful, so if you start stuffing yourself with mangoes daily you sure are bound to gain weight! 😉 Hence to keep a check on the sugar levels, opt for desserts and drinks that don’t require any additional sugar.
While people love to add sugar to Mango lassi, I detest adding refined sugar to any food/drink! Instead, I like to make the drink with ripe mangoes – which are naturally sweet; add some kesar/saffron for the subtle flavour and natural yellow colour; and finely chopped pistachios and almonds for that extra crunch in the otherwise rich and creamy drink.
Sharing this really simple and delicious Kesar Pista mango lassi with you all which is completely refined sugar free! Do give it a try!
If you hate refined sugar as much as I do but still want to enjoy desserts, this thick, easy to make refined sugar free Kesar Pista Mango Lassi is just for you! Perfect for summers, this Indian drink or smoothie is damn refreshing!
- 2 cups mangoes diced and frozen
- 1.5 cups yogurt chilled
- 1 tbsp pistachios finely chopped
- 5-6 strands kesar
- 1/4 cup milk low fat
- 5-6 almonds finely chopped
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In 1 tbsp of milk mix the kesar strands and keep aside for 5 minutes. The milk will turn yellowish in colour.
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In a mixer, blend the frozen/cold diced mangoes with the yoghurt. To adjust the consistency of the drink, add milk accordingly. Finally add the the kesar milk and blend once more.
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Transfer this mixture to glasses and sprinkle finely chopped pistachios and almonds over it.
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You can chill them for an hour in refrigerator or serve it just like that.
- If you want to make it a little more sweeter you can increase the quantities of mangoes and lessen the yoghurt accordingly.
- If you have a sweet tooth and want it more sweet, you can add a dash of honey too!
- you like the drink to be more chilled and little less thick add ice cubes to the mixture while blending.
Want to try some of my other recipes? Try out Honey Soy chicken