A Mango Lassi with Buttermilk is a sweet, tangy twist on the more traditional Mango Lassi. A Mango Lassi is an Indian drink. In this version, I use buttermilk instead of yogurt and frozen mango instead of fresh to create a refreshing, summer treat. If you have tried my Dole Whip recipe, this is very similar. You’re going to love it!

I first had a Mango Lassi at a friend’s house and knew immediately that I wanted to recreate it. Mango is one of my favorite flavors, and I loved the slight tart taste that the yogurt gave the drink. Another ingredient I didn’t expect was cardamom, just a pinch, but the hint of spice really brings out a unique taste in the drink.

With that said, you will notice that my recipe does not have cardamon or yogurt. I decided I wanted to get the tart flavor from buttermilk like I do in the Dole Whip recipe, and at the risk of getting my food blogger card taken away, I’m going to admit that I don’t have cardamom in my spice drawer. I chose to add a spice that would give a similar flavor, a pinch of nutmeg.

The results were delicious, and ALL five of my kids have been begging me to make them a Mango Lassi with Buttermilk on the regular.

More Delicious Summer Drinks You’ll Love!

• Yobert {two ingredients}
• Party Slush
• Horchata Mexican Drink
• Kool-Aid Shaved Ice
• Dole Whip
• Pina Colodas {nonalcoholic}
• Italian Sodas with Cream
• Sparkling Cucumber Limeade
• Sparkling Holiday Punch

How to make Mango lassi with buttermilk

Frequently Asked Questions about making a Mango Lassi with Buttermilk

what is mango lassi made of?

Typically, a Mango Lassi is made with fresh mango, plain yogurt, some kind of sweetener, and cardamom. In my recipe, I use buttermilk instead of yogurt, honey for the sweetener, and a pinch of nutmeg instead of cardamom. I also prefer to use frozen mango, which makes it more of a frozen drink similar to a smoothie.

Will a regular blender work or do I need to use a BLENDTEC or VITAMIX?

Most blenders should work fine. I use a Bosch 800w blender, and it worked really well. If your blender has a hard time with frozen drinks, use a little extra water to help it blend more thoroughly. The extra water will make your Lassi a little thinner, but it will still taste great.

can I use fresh mango?  does it need to be frozen?

Yes, you can definitely use fresh mango. This recipe is set up to work best with fresh mango, but the only adjustment you would need to make is eliminating the cup of water. If you use fresh mango, I would suggest just adding the buttermilk and only adding a little water at a time, if needed for consistency.

if I don’t have buttermilk, what can be used as a substitute?

If you don’t have buttermilk, you can use yogurt, which is traditionally used. You can even get creative by using a flavor like coconut or strawberry to customize the flavor of your Lassi a little more. If you don’t have yogurt and you don’t mind missing out on the extra tartness in the drink, you can use almond milk or cow’s milk. Using whole milk will give the creamiest result.

can I use a different sweetener besides honey?

Yes. You can use regular granulated sugar, agave nectar, Splenda, or any kind of sweetener. Heck! Throw in a scoop of vanilla ice cream, if you want.

is mango lassi a dessert?

Mango Lassi can definitely be a dessert. Some people prefer to drink it along with their meal, but the way I have prepared this drink, it’s thick and more like a smoothie or milkshake consistency. It’s fun for a light, after-dinner dessert.