Drinks: Mint-Cherry Lassi

Lassi is one of my favorite drinks especially traveling and visiting in India. It is the perfect antidote on a hot summer day and a salty lassi with hing is the best cure for an upset tummy. Here I have used some sweet cherries from the my recent farmers market shopping to create a minty cooler and the only reason I am calling it a Lassi is because of the vanilla yogurt. You may call it a shake, a cooler or even smoothie depending on the thickness but I will stick to lassi.

Recipe:
1 Cup Fresh, Ripe Cherries (I used Washington Chelan cherries almost black in color), pitted and chopped
1 4 oz Vanilla Yogurt ~ 1/2 Cup
2 to 3 cubes of Ice
1 to 2 Drops of Mint Essence
2 Tablespoons Whole Milk
Mint leaves and cherry for garnishing

Method: Put all ingredients but garnish items into a blender or use a hand blender, mix till frothy and blended. Pour into a glass and serve with cherry and mint leaves for decoration.

Yields: 1 Glass of Lassi

I loved the refreshing taste of mint and cherries combined. The yogurt gives the drink a nice background for the taste of fresh cherries and natural mint flavors. I had never made this combo before and was pleasantly surprised with the end results.