This bright and refreshing 5-minute dairy free mango lassi is the perfect warm weather drink! A vegan twist on a classic yogurt based Indian drink that’s made with with fresh or frozen mango, dairy free yogurt, ice, cardamom, and (optional!) cayenne for a little bit of heat.

Two jars of golden hued mango lassi, side by side on a small rectangular wooden tray with large pink carnations in the frame. Hand placing a straw in one of the drinks from the right hand side of the image.

When mango season is in full swing, it’s always my mission to take advantage of the sweet fruit in as many ways as possible!

And this dairy free mango lassi is one of my favorite ways to highlight the flawless flavor of a perfectly ripe mango.

This lassi makes an excellent breakfast or snack that tastes surprisingly like dessert (YES!), and could not be easier to make.

With a few simple ingredients that are customizable based on what you have on hand, you’ll be sipping on one of these refreshing blended drinks in NO TIME!

If you love a homemade dairy free smoothie as much as we do be sure to check out our recipes for this 5-Minute Mango Turmeric Ginger Smoothie, 3-Ingredient Strawberry Banana Smoothie, Tropical Green Smoothie Made with Coconut Milk, a gorgeous Beet and Berry Smoothie, or this 5-Minute Frozen Mango Smoothie!

Measuring cup filled with golden mango lassi with a honey dipper leaning up against the side of the glass against a white back drop next to a pink carnation.

Pouring golden mango lassi into one of two side by side smoothie jars next to a pile of honey mangoes and pink carnations

Now you might be wondering…

What exactly IS a mango lassi?

Mango lassi is a popular Indian drink that is typically made with fresh or frozen mango, yogurt, and some varied spices.

Lassi is actually a broader term for a blended yogurt drink that can be made either sweet or salty.

This mango lassi definitely falls into the sweet category, although I do include a *tiny* pinch of salt in the recipe to balance out the flavors.

Unlike more traditional recipes that use sugar, this recipe relies on the natural honeyed sweetness of super ripe mango.

If the mango you’re using is not very sweet, you can always add a little bit of honey or maple syrup to sweeten the drink up a bit.

This mango lassi is:

Perfectly sweet + tart
Lightly spiced
Easy to make
Light yet satisfying
Crave-able
Refreshing!

How to make a spiced vegan mango lassi

The beauty of this fruit forward beverage is that to make it all you need to do is slip the simple ingredients into your blender and process until smooth and creamy.

The finer points of making the MOST delicious lassi possible are tied more to the quality of the ingredients than the method.

Ingredients

This sweet and refreshing drink is made with just a few simple ingredients. And because of that, you’ll want to find the best that you can for the best flavor!

What you need:

Fresh or frozen mango
Dairy free yogurt
Ice cubes
Water
Honey or maple syrup to sweeten (as needed – sometimes the mango itself is sweet enough without adding any additional natural sweeteners)
Cayenne
Cardamom
A tiny pinch of salt

Ataulfo / honey mango season runs from March to September, and when they’re in the prime of their season they are the cheapest and sweetest you’ll find them all year.

They’re my absolute favorite mangoes for making this mango lassi, but other types of mango works as well!

Pro tip: When these sweet and tender mangos are on sale, often grocery stores will sell them for an even bigger discount if you buy them by the case. Grab a case or two and wait until they’re perfectly ripe before peeling and cutting into blend-able chunks. Freeze the pieces to save for a rainy day. I promise you’ll be SO happy that you did!

Close up side view of two bottles of a golden vegan mango lassi side by side on a small wooden platter against a white background

Far away side view of two bottles of a golden vegan mango lassi side by side on a small wooden platter surrounded by pink flowers against a white background

Why you’ll love this mango lassi

Hot coffee on a cold morning, slipping into your favorite pair of jeans, the ripest raspberries straight from the bush in the middle of the summer – the best things in life are simple, don’t ya think?

And this mango lassi is exactly that.

Perfectly uncomplicated & perfectly balanced in flavor and texture.

A few notes on the recipe

This mango lassi is make ahead friendly! It should keep in the refrigerator for about 2 days. If it separates during storage just give it a quick shake before drinking.
The spices are completely customizable. You can leave out the cardamom and/or cayenne if you don’t have any on hand or don’t like the taste.
If you happen to have rose water on hand (maybe leftover from this honey rose margarita?) try adding a teaspoon or so to this mango lassi!
Both fresh and frozen mango work. If you’re using frozen mango you may want to reduce or omit the ice so the lassi doesn’t end up too thick.
Don’t have any mango but still want to try your hand at making a lassi? Substitute another sweet fruit instead! Strawberries, papaya, or kiwi are all fun alternatives to mango!

If you enjoyed this recipe, we’d love it if you would take 5 seconds to rate and review it below! It’s also super helpful for other readers if you share any modifications you made to the recipe.

Thank you for sharing your kitchen with NK. We’re so grateful you’re here!