WATERMELON LASSI

Watermelon Lassi made with 2 cups fresh watermelon, no avocado, and sweetened with Lakanto monk fruit sweetener.

A lassi is a popular Indian yogurt-based drink.  Traditional lassi is more savoury than sweet and is made with yogurt, water, sugar, and spices such as cumin.  Fruit is sometimes added.  Mango lassis have become quite common in Indian restaurants here in Toronto.

For this creative non-traditional lassi, I used watermelon, avocado (optional), and a sprinkling of chili powder.  My family loved the flavour combination.  The smoothie was both refreshing and creamy with a tangy-sweet taste and just a hint of spice.

You can use either fresh or frozen watermelon for this recipe. Ripe watermelon creates a more juice-like consistency, while frozen makes the lassi colder and thicker (my personal preference).

For 2 servings, blend together until smooth:

• 2 to 3 cups ripe or frozen red watermelon, deseeded and diced

• 1 cup plain Greek yogurt (suggest higher fat) or homemade probiotic coconut yogurt

• 1/4 ripe or frozen avocado (optional)

• 1/8 tsp chili powder, adjusted to taste

• pinch of salt

• Lakanto sugar-free monk fruit sweetener, raw honey (non-vegan), stevia, or sweetener of choice, adjusted to taste (optional)

Watermelon Lassi made with 3 cups frozen watermelon, no avocado, and sweetened with honey.