Mango Cardamom Lassi Is A Healthy GF Drink

Do you love mangoes? It's mango season and the mangos are ripe and plentiful- perhaps the perfect time to make a refreshing digestion pleasing healthy gluten free mango lassi-

Old time ethnic recipes like this one don't fool around. They taste great, are made from real food, and provide many health benefits unlike modern day processed convenience drinks.



What is a lassi? 

According to Wikipedia 

"Lassi is a popular traditional yogurt-based drink from the Indian Subcontinent. Lassi is a blend of yogurt, water, spices and sometimes fruit. Traditional lassi is a savory drink, sometimes flavored with ground and roasted cumin." 

Wikipedia

A mango lassi is a nutritious sweet fruit drink that originated in India where it gets extremely hot in the summer. The combination of yogurt (or almond milk)  cardamom,  and mango is especially cooling and delicious. Spices such as cardamom are packed with nutrients and antioxidants.

If you have a ripe mango, follow the easy directions below for cutting the mango into bite size chunks.

Assemble the mango chunks, the yogurt, the ice, and cardamom spice in a blender and whiz until smooth and blended. ( How to cut a mango into chunks the easy way)

( How to cut a mango into chunks the easy way) 

This is a healthy drink can also be made vegan by substituting almond milk or vegan yogurt for the yogurt. Yogurt provides protein and probiotics while the mango is bursting with Vitamin C, Vitamin A, and a significant amounts of vitamin B-6. Mangoes are also sodium free, cholesterol free and fat free.

The cardamom adds additional vitamins and other health benefits as it is an antimicrobial. Enjoy this healthy drink on a hot summer day.

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Did you know that spices are one of the most nutrient dense foods on the planet. Turmeric, cumin, cardamom are widely used in India and other Asian countries and are excellent sources of antioxidants and vitamins. 

Remember to use ground spices in your recipes as frequently as possible to take advantage of their amazing health benefits. 

  

Why not try my easy  Roasted Carrot Soup with Cardamom, cumin, and turmeric? It is a simple recipe that is rich in healthy spices and lovely to serve to company.

Green cardamom pods

Cardamom is a wonderfully fragrant spice that is often used in cookies, cake, or mango lassi. It has a mild sweet spicy flavor. It grows in pods and the seeds are removed from the pod and then ground in a food mill.

cardamom pods and seeds

One of my favorite ways to use fresh whole cardamom pods ( I get them in an Indian grocery store very reasonable) is in a homemade tea . Once you have tried this easy to steep tea, it will become a regular soothing go to tea!
 Ayurvedic Cardamom Anise tea. 

Although mango lassi is the traditional type of fruit lassi made in India, you can create your own fruit of choice lassi by choosing cantaloupe, honeydew melon, strawberries, or even pineapple.

Ingredients: 

1 cup of yogurt (or almond milk or vegan yogurt for vegans)
1/2 cup of almond milk or milk of your choice
2 cups of ripe mango chunks
12 ice cubes
sweetener of your choice
1/8 teaspoon of ground cardamom
1/8 teaspoon of turmeric
optional: Freeze your mango chunks ( or whichever fruit you are using)  and then omit the ice
Optional Variation : add a pinch of ground ginger

Directions:
Place all of the ingredients in a blender. Whiz until well blended and enjoy!

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