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    Home » Drinks

    Mango Lassi with Kefir

    Published: Jun 24, 2018 · Modified: Mar 15, 2021 · 15 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe Save Recipe Saved!
    This cold and refreshing Mango Lassi is made with Milk Kefir! Enjoy this sweet, probiotic-packed summer drink.
    This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    This cold and refreshing Mango Lassi is made with Milk Kefir!  Enjoy this sweet, probiotic-packed summer drink.

    mango lassi with kefir in juice glasses

    This will be the summer of the mango.

    Why?

    Because– after years of mangling mango after mango— I finally learned how to cut apart these tricky stone fruit.  And now we will eat them constantly.

    This mango lassi with kefir is a tasty twist on the classic Indian yogurt drink, and is an easy and healthy summer treat.

    What is a Mango Lassi?

    A lassi is an Indian yogurt drink that usually has fruit and/or spices blended in.  And a mango lassi is (obviously), a mango and yogurt drink.

    These creamy drinks can be served chilled, over ice, or with ice blended in.  They’re cold and refreshing, and perfect for hot, humid summer days.

    Is a Lassi a Smoothie?

    Pretty much!  You could even call this a Mango Lassi Smoothie.

    What is Kefir?

    Kefir (specifically, milk kefir) is a probiotic-packed milk drink.  It’s basically a drinkable yogurt.

    Where Can I Buy Milk Kefir?

    At almost every single grocery store.  It’ll be next to the milk.  Look for the plain, unflavored milk kefir.

    Milk kefir is also incredibly easy to make yourself.  Learn how to make milk kefir.

    Can I Make This Mango Lassi Vegan or Dairy-Free?

    Yes!  Swap the dairy milk kefir for coconut milk kefir, and use agave syrup instead of honey if you’re vegan.

    Cutting a mango

    How to Cut a Mango

    For years and years, I’ve mangled mangos.  Badly.  So badly, that I usually wouldn’t eat the mango– I’d toss it outside into the bushes in frustration.

    (I’m sure the deer enjoyed my sad attempts to cut mangos.)

    Don’t be like me.  Learn how to cut a mango.

    • Step one: Know that there is a large, flat pit inside the mango.
    • Then, hold your mango on end, place a chef’s knife just outside the center, and try to cut down.  If you feel resistance, rotate the mango 90 degrees, and try again.
    • Cut all the way down on each side of the pit, and then score the cut pieces into a grid with your knife.  Slice the mango off the peel.
    • Finally, trim any remaining mango off the pit.

    Optionally, you can peel the mango with a y-shaped peeler before cutting, and then simply dice the cut fruit instead of scoring and cutting it off the peel.

    Need more help?  Check out this video and tutorial from Real Simple.

    Can I use frozen mango pieces instead?

    Of course you can.

    You can also buy fresh mango, dice it, freeze it in a single layer on a baking sheet, and store it in an air-tight bag for later.

    How to Make a Mango Lassi with Kefir

    All you need are a few ingredients and a blender.  Add a little heat with some cayenne (if you want), and drink this cool and creamy drink all summer long!

    mango lassi with kefir in juice glasses

    Want more KEFIR recipes?  Try these:

    • How to Make Milk Kefir
    • Turmeric Smoothie with Kefir (Golden Milk)
    • Kefir Ice Cream
    mango lassi with kefir in juice glasses
    Print Recipe Save Recipe Saved!
    5 from 13 votes

    Mango Lassi with Kefir

    This cold and refreshing Mango Lassi is made with Milk Kefir! Enjoy this sweet, probiotic-packed summer drink.
    Author: Sarah Trenalone
    Prep Time5 mins
    Total Time5 mins
    Course: Drinks
    Cuisine: Indian
    Diet: Gluten Free, Vegetarian
    Servings: 4 people
    Calories: 81kcal
    Freezer Friendly?

    No

    Will It Keep?

    2-3 Days

    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    • 1 very ripe mango, cubed OR 1 cup frozen mango
    • 1 ½ cups plain milk kefir OR coconut milk kefir
    • 1 tablespoon honey (optional, to taste)
    • pinch cayenne powder (optional)
    • 4 ice cubes (optional)

    Instructions

    • Blend mango and kefir together.
    • Taste, and sweeten to taste with honey if desired.
    • If using fresh mango, blend ice cubes into for a colder drink.  Alternatively, serve with whole ice cubes.
    • Serve with a small pinch of cayenne (optional), and drink immediately.
    • Leftovers / Make Ahead: Smoothies can be stored in the fridge and used within 2-3 days.

    Notes

    Makes 2 large drinks, or 4 small.
    Recipe variations: 
    • For a thicker lassi, add a dollop of plain yogurt.
    • For a thinner lassi, add a little more milk kefir.
    • For a traditional lassi, use 1 cup of Greek yogurt + ½ cup milk instead of kefir.
    • Don’t like heat?  Add a pinch of ground cardamom instead of cayenne.
    • Mango strawberry lassi: Use ½ cup mango + ½ cup strawberries instead of all mango.
    Nutrition information is calculated without the optional honey.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 81kcal (4%) | Carbohydrates: 10g (3%) | Protein: 3g (6%) | Fat: 3g (5%) | Saturated Fat: 1g (6%) | Cholesterol: 11mg (4%) | Sodium: 47mg (2%) | Potassium: 69mg (2%) | Sugar: 10g (11%) | Vitamin A: 630IU (13%) | Vitamin C: 15mg (18%) | Calcium: 117mg (12%) | Iron: 0.1mg (1%)
    Tried this recipe?Leave a comment and rating below!
    « Turmeric Smoothie with Kefir (Golden Milk)
    Citronella Plant Simple Syrup »

    About Sarah Trenalone

    Sarah is the primary creator at Champagne Tastes. She's a photographer, food writer and traveler, and is certified in Backcountry Kitchen and Backcountry Navigation from the Colorado Outward Bound School and Identifying Wild Plants from Backpacker.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    All commentsI made this
    1. Sarah

      June 24, 2018 at 9:47 pm

      5 stars
      I absolutely love this with the kefir! My husband gets mango lassis at our local Indian restaurant, but I like that I can make this a little less sweet than the restaurant version!

      Reply
    2. Dawn

      June 25, 2018 at 5:59 pm

      5 stars
      Mango and me are not friends when it comes to cutting them so your tips are really helpful 😉 I often go for the frozen variety for convenience, but fresh is definitely yummy! And love this refreshing drink, perfect on a hot day 🙂

      Reply
    3. Annika

      June 26, 2018 at 9:54 am

      Will surely give this a try! Looks wonderful!

      Reply
    4. Jennifer

      June 29, 2018 at 2:29 pm

      5 stars
      This is the perfect recipe for summer! I love kefir and its excellent for the kids to get probiotics. I never thought to mix fruit in with it though! Thank you for the recipe, my kids are going to love it.

      Reply
    5. Christine

      June 30, 2018 at 8:46 am

      5 stars
      Ha, I confess to paying like 5x more for the pre chopped mango so thanks for the tip! This looks beautiful, and I love the sound of the strawberry version too! Delicious for summer! Thanks for the inspiration!

      Reply
    6. Tina

      June 30, 2018 at 11:00 am

      5 stars
      I’m going on a hike today, I think I’ll try this after. It sounds so refreshing! I first heard about lassi two years ago and meant to try it then. Now seems like the perfect time, especially since I LOVE kefir. Thanks for this recipe.

      Reply
    7. Marlee

      June 30, 2018 at 11:59 pm

      5 stars
      I am so excited for this recipe! I’ll definitely be making it this summer as well!

      Reply
    8. Julia

      July 01, 2018 at 6:43 pm

      5 stars
      First of all, coconut milk kefir? Wow! I did not know such a thing existed and now I am super curious to try! Second, a pinch of cayenne? Also, wow! I know you said it’s optional but I can almost taste it! I love mango and spicy pepper together. This Mango Kefir Lassi sounds fantastically delicious and refreshing! I can just imagine how tasty it would be with some rice briyani

      Reply
    9. Dana

      July 02, 2018 at 9:35 am

      5 stars
      Aren’t mangos fab? I watched a YouTube video of on old Italian man totally rocking the cutting process and how to find the pit. I’m no pro, but it helped a lot. Haha. And now, MANGOS FOREVER. I just bought some yesterday, so I’m with you. The summer of mangos! This sounds really good and nourishing!

      Reply
    10. Kris

      July 02, 2018 at 5:25 pm

      5 stars
      That looks so refreshing and absolutely delicious. We are HUGE mango fans, but I’ve never had it as a beverage (I know…where have I been?). Definitely trying this, and thanks for the info on Lassi…really cool.

      Reply
    11. Amanda

      July 05, 2018 at 6:43 am

      5 stars
      I have been wanting to try mango lassi for so long! It looks so creamy and I love the pastel yellow color. I bet it’s delicious with the kefir and that little pinch of cayenne on the top. It sounds so refreshing on a hot day. Love your tips for cutting a mango. It’s funny, I always start cutting confidently, thinking that I’m on the side that won’t meet resistance from the pit, and I ALWAYS end up having to rotate it. Every time. lol. So much for my mango reading skills!

      Reply
    12. Cheryl R

      July 09, 2018 at 10:09 pm

      5 stars
      Yummy

      Reply
      • champagne-tastes

        July 10, 2018 at 4:46 pm

        I’m glad you liked it! 😀

        Reply
    13. Sylvia

      May 18, 2021 at 3:12 pm

      5 stars
      Loved it! I used maple syrup instead of honey. Wow! Love the hint of cayenne pepper.

      Reply
      • Alisha Trenalone

        May 19, 2021 at 8:48 am

        Yay! So glad you enjoyed it. Nice idea to use the maple syrup. Thanks for letting us know.

        -Alisha at Champagne Tastes

        Reply

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