Low-Carb Lassi and Variations — Day I — Basic Lassi

As the weather gets hotter and hotter, the drinks get colder and colder. To celebrate the early summer and my recovery, I decided to have a lassi week, which means that during the next seven days, I’ll publish daily an exciting low-carb lassi recipe!

As you know, lassi is a popular Indian drink. It has numerous tasty and nourishing variations. These low-carb lassi versions are mild and easy to sip rather than those thick, dessert-type drinks. These revitalizing beverages are fantastic with spicy food, or as light refreshments on a hot summer day.

Let’s start with the very basic version which is great for any occasion, with or without food!

Tips for making these lassi drinks

I strongly recommend thick, high-fat (at least 10 % fat) plain Turkish or Greek yogurt. Fat keeps you going and gives richness and good taste. Choose yogurt which doesn’t have any added milk protein or milk powder, as that stuff doesn’t belong to real yogurt but only to cheap imitations. Yes, I’m strict what I call yogurt.

For years my favorite yogurt has been organic Turkish yogurt made by a Swedish dairy, Lindahls. Their Turkish yogurt used to contain only cream, milk and souring agent, and had 10 % fat. Last time, when buying this yogurt, I was shocked because the ingredient list has got a newcomer: milk protein. I bought the yogurt anyway, but at home I wrote some feedback to the company via their Facebook page and sent also an email to them. On the next day, I received an email with a vague explanation. They said that the production of the yogurt has moved from Austria to Sweden a year and a half ago and that’s when they changed also the consistency. What makes me wonder is that the ingredient list in the yogurt container changed very recently, during the last couple of weeks.

I just ask, did the company fool the customers about the contents of the yogurt on purpose, or did they simply neglect the customers? I wouldn’t have ever bought that yogurt if I had known that it contains milk protein.

My Facebook comment was removed from the company’s wall even it was quite an objective comment, though naturally contained some criticism. What kind of company doesn’t stand any critique? What are they hiding? From now on, I have absolutely no reason to buy any products from that company.

I was pretty upset that a high-quality brand starts using crap in their products just to maximize their profits. There is no other reason for dairies to use milk powder and milk protein in their products than to make more profit with cheaper ingredients.

And why I don’t want any milk powder or milk protein in my yogurt? Since that stuff doesn’t belong to real yogurt. Actually, you should stay away from milk powder as it’s really unhealthy. Because of the manufacturing process it contains oxidized cholesterol which in turn causes vascular calcification. In simpler words, it makes you ill.

Sorry for making a fuss, but nowadays you have to fight for clean and unprocessed food as the food industry tries to fool the consumers every which way.

But let’s get back to business. These low-carb lassi drinks are very quick and easy to make. The best result you get with a powerful blender. Blending ensures also thick, frothy foam which is a beautiful topping for the drink.

I made these low-carb lassi drinks mild, thin and easy to sip. If you fancy thicker, slush-type drink, you can replace the water or part of it with crushed ice.

(Note: the nutrition facts depend on the used yogurt.)
 

Some general chit chat

My apologies for being quiet for a couple of weeks. If you follow my blog on Facebook, you might have read that I was suffering from a severe infection and was also in hospital. It was basically a usual respiratory tract infection gone bad. I also lost hearing from my left ear, but it’s supposed to recover within a few months. So, during the past couple of weeks I just didn’t have any strength (or functioning taste buds!) to work on my blog. Luckily my condition is already much better, and I’m able to reward you with these refreshing recipes for the summertime. Hope you like them!

P.S. From these lassi recipes I got an idea for a creamy, strawberry-flavored drink which I’m going to publish on my Facebook pages + a hint how to enjoy the flavor of strawberries on a ketogenic diet. My Facebook pages have currently over 63,000 followers and I’m soon going to throw a giveaway!

Related posts:

White Wine Spritzer DIY Diet Dr Pepper Low-Carb Lassi and Variations — Day II — Mint Lassi Low-Carb Lassi and Variations — Day III — Sweet Lassi with Rose Water and Cardamom