"Sweet Strawberry Lassi" ... here is a healthy sweet delicious drink prepared with fresh strawberries and skimmed milk curds that must be included in your food diet ... Yummilicious ...
** Lassi is a delicious sweet or spiced thick coolant/drink prepared with thick set fresh curds and served either cold or chilled. These are served mostly in the northern parts of India, though now it is available all over the country. But till a few decades back in the southern parts it was always spiced buttermilk in thin texture that was served compared to the thick churned curds served in the northern parts. As everybody is aware about this delicious drink Lassi, I will not run into more details about the same. However, I have to mention here that till decades back we used to get them in a few flavors like mango or kesari unlike nowadays wherein we get them fruit based too. Fresh juicy fruits and prepared into puree and added to slightly strained thick curds and they are really a delight to palate and are relish specially so during summer when the heat is on. Lassi however are actually loaded with calories when you purchase them for stores as they use full fat milk curds, make it too sweet with addition of extra help of sugar and many a time use artificial flavors of fruit or crush readily available and hardly use fresh fruit puree except to add them chopped to bit as garnishing.
** But things are changing and health conscious people avoid them totally and either prepare them at home to ensure right ingredients or rely on proper centers where they serve them prepared right in front of the customers. Strawberry Lassi is the most sought after fruit lassi so is custard apple lassi. Both of these have a lovely taste and adapt well in lassi form and are really a delight to sip on. Fresh Strawberries are bright red, juicy, sweet fruits that are excellent source of vitamin C, Potassium, Manganese folic acid and have loads of fiber that are good for health. They are believed to boost immunity, constipation, fight inflammation, good for the bones along with many other properties. You can just relish them fresh, prepare them into jams, add them to salads, prepare lassi, shrikhand, juice, desserts, cakes and many more dishes. These are the only fruit that wear their seeds on the outside of its skin. The color they impart to dishes are also a beauty to eyes, oh, that beautiful reddish pink color that looks like the drink is really blushing at the person who is going to savor it. These are available in plenty during winter and it is season now, so let’s make the best use of it.
** Coming to Milk or Curds, everybody knows of their health benefits. I am sure we have all heard enough from our Mom when she scolded us and made sure that we drank our quota of milk, curds or buttermilk of the day. Habit made during childhood is unknowingly such a boon to us that it just gets stuck with us through our lifetime. A glass of milk ensures that you have the right source of protein added on to your daily diet. They are rich in protein, less in fat when used in skimmed form, good for digestion, strengthens immune system, good for the bone along with many more properties. Churned out of skimmed milk dahi/curd “Lassi” is very tasty and extremely beneficial for our digestive system and is almost fat less except for the sugar added on which is the only culprit in the whole drink. I have added quite a few dishes of lassi, fruit curds, matta, buttermilk etc. using skimmed milk, and I do suggest that you try them out as they are really good for health all through the age. Try to prepare and use fresh homemade curds with skimmed milk, it is not only easy but also assures of quality and hygiene. Check on the link provided at the bottom of this recipe for method of setting curds.
** Here is the simple recipe for "Sweet Strawberry Lassi” … Very easy, very economical and simple to prepare in your own home ….
** To get about 2 large sized glasses of thick sweet strawberry lassi you will need very thick freshly set homemade curds of roughly about 3 glasses. If the curds is not thick in texture, then do strain it a little bit through a muslin/cotton cloth and it will give the desired texture. Do not throw away the whey ie the water drained from curds, you can add them back once the lassi is prepared if found too thick or you can prepare roti dough etc. with the same too.
** If your curds set at home are not thick textured, there is another method to ensure that you get thickness to skimmed milk curds. Just heat the skimmed milk well, remove and mix in 1 tablespoon of skimmed milk powder to the hot milk in proportion of 1 tblsp for one glass of milk ratio. Mix well and let cool, when just warm enough (tepid) add in a tablespoon of curds/culture for setting of curds and leave it aside covered in a warm place to set and you will get thick well set curds.
** Wash and wipe dry dark red colored pulpy sweet strawberries. Slice off the top stem portion and discard it, then chop the strawberries into small pieces. Now add the pieces into a mixer grinder/ blender and grind to a very smooth paste without adding water. The ground puree should be very smooth in texture. Remove and add this to the set curds and mix well seeing to it there are no lumps whatsoever and the texture is really smooth.
** Add sugar to taste to the strawberry curds lassi in the proportion of about 2 tablespoon for each large sized glass of lassi and mix well till the sugar has mixed in well. Keep this in the fridge for at least 2-3 hours to chill and then serve it in glasses garnished with chopped small pieces of strawberries (Optional). Do check out the taste before serving to ensure right thickness and sweetness in the lassi and add on the same if need be.
** "Sweet Strawberry Lassi” is done and ready to be served. Always serve it chilled with a spoon and a straw as at times if the lassi is too thick it gives joy in relishing it scooped out with a spoon. As it loses the chilled temperature lassi always somehow thins out and then it is easier to sip it on with the help of a straw. Strawberry lassi is really tasty with lots of health promoting properties in them, so do include them whenever possible. Children love strawberry flavor very much and this is one sure way to see to it that they drink milk/curds etc.
** Lassi in my opinion is somewhat a small meal in itself specially so if you add on fruit purees like strawberries, bananas, custard apple etc. I love to have these during fasting/upwas days as it not only freshens up your mood but is also very filling on tummy keeping your mind away from food. Lassi is also full of proteins and good for health specially if you prepare it with skimmed milk curds which is what I always do. Do try out this strawberry flavored combo lassi and reap in health benefits for you and your family. It's winter time and they are plenty of them available now, so go ahead and enjoy.
** Given below is the link to “Preparation Method of Perfect Set Curds”, if you are new or are unaware of its benefits, please check out out on the link given below ….
** An Earnest Request : There are many more recipes of different types in the blog. For all my Recipes, use the search option or the label section in the Blog. If you are still not able to find it or have a query, please leave a message in comment section or mail me the same. I will try my best to get back to you as soon as possible. Do try out various types of dishes included in the Blog and Enjoy them with your family and friends and do give me a feedback if possible.
** I am happy to inform you that I have also started a food group for by the name "KONKANI DELICACIES" which is over and year old, with about 23 K strong members. It is a pleasure to inform that you will find in the group many more recipes posted by our expert members and you too can share some of your own. The link to the group is posted on the left side of the blog page. Do join us in our culinary journey. I strongly believe in Sharing and always endorse that "Sharing Is Caring" Thank You.
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